Updates

The ELCJHL is a church of prayer and action. Their Diaconal, Environmental Education, and Gender Justice Ministries embody our call to serve our neighbor. Listen to Diaconal Ministry Deacon Rana Zeidan, Gender Justice Ministry Director Ranan Issa, and Environmental Education Center Executive Director Simon Awad talk about how their ministries of the ELCJHL serve their community and beyond.

What does Lutheran education look like in Palestine and why is it important to the ELCJHL mission and values? Hear from Mrs. Eva Azar, superintendent of the ELCJHL Lutheran Schools, and three principals of schools in Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Beit Sahour.

Aimed at Young Adult leaders or leaders of Young Adults but welcome to all! This session will provide instruction and introduction to the 2025 Sumud Advent Series resources, how to use them, and where you can access them. Welcome!

Aimed at Young Adult leaders or leaders of Young Adult programming but welcoming to all, this event will provide introduction and instruction to the 2025 Sumud Advent "Rooted in Faith" series resources.

“Issa Flies” is a Children’s book that follows a Palestinian Sunbird through Palestine on the day before Christmas. He sees three different children on their way to Christmas service, and because of their locations, their journeys are all very unique. Follow along this Christmas season to learn more about what Christmas is like in Christ’s birthplace. This story is perfect to read aloud to your Sunday School classes, school classrooms, or as a nighttime story at home!  

In this introductory webinar, ELCA’s Ministry with Children Program Manager Janelle Hooper, and ELCA’s Sumud: for Justice in Palestine and Israel Program Director Maddi Froiland read this book aloud and share how you can bring this important resource into your students’ lives this Christmas.

Maddi Froiland stepped into the role of Program Director for Sumud: for Justice in Palestine and Israel in November of 2024. She first encountered Palestine and Israel when she volunteered through thr ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program in Palestine after she graduated college in 2019. While the COVID pandemic meant a rushed evacuation from the Holy Land in 2020, she was hired by the ELCA’s partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, in 2021. She served as Communication Officer to Bishop Azar in Jerusalem for three years before returning in August of 2024. Maddi began her Master of Theological Studies in Peace and Justice at St. Stephen’s University in September of 2024, and hopes to graduate in the spring of 2026. She is fiercely passionate about raising awareness in her the American Christian community about our shared role in disrupting injustice and speaking out against oppression in Palestine and Israel.

Rev. Janelle Hooper is the Program Director for Curious Christian Children:  Reimagining Kids in Worship and the Program Manager for Ministry with Children for the ELCA.  Janelle also serves on the ELEA Board.

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Join us for part 2 of ELCA Sumud's "Get to Know the ELCJHL" Webinar series this October! In this part, ELCJHL pastors from the West Bank share their experience on the ground, ministry updates, and background about the essential Christian

This four-part series kicks off with three important members of the ELCJHL: Bishop Azar, Rev. Sally Azar, and Rev. Rodny Said. These three lead ministry in Jerusalem, which means their work has unique circumstances. Hear from them about the church, the situation on the ground, what it means to lead ministry in Jerusalem as a Palestinian, and the Youth Ministry of the church.

Three national Bishops, Presiding Bishop Eaton of the ELCA, Bishop Susan Johnson of the ELCIC, and Bishop Azar of the ELCJHL, reflect and discuss North American Solidarity for justice in the Holy Land.

Advent Pilgrimage in Palestine Webinar 1: Who Does Not Have Room?

The first webinar from Sumud’s 2024 Advent Series. www.elca.org/sumud

Advent Pilgrimage in Palestine Webinar 2: Who is making room?

The second webinar from Sumud’s 2024 Advent Series. www.elca.org/sumud

Advent Pilgrimage in Palestine Webinar 3: How Can We Make Room?

The third and final webinar from Sumud’s 2024 Advent Series. www.elca.org/sumud

"We continue to call for a ceasefire, for the release of hostages and those being detained, for access to humanitarian aid, for rejecting violence as a means of solving the ongoing destruction of the Holy Land, and for recommitments to dialogue, reconciliation and humanization. Above all, we pray for God’s peace and justice to prevail for all people."

Please use passcode tm=9Z^k! to view.

Making a Difference: How to Elevate our Voices

Sumud is an Arabic word meaning “steadfastness.” The term is widely used by Palestinian theologians and others to signify Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and people. That resistance takes the form of nonviolent advocacy for political change as well as “resistance through existence,” embodied in education, social work, the arts and one’s relationships with the land and community.

On Saturday, March 16th Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls) with ELCA Witness in Society presented the Sumud Series: Taking It Local. We learned some next steps to raise awareness, build advocacy, and accompany justice in Palestine and Israel. We broke into small groups to discuss writing memorials and resolutions for Synod Assemblies, What people are doing in their particular areas, and next steps for advocacy. Watch and see how we can support you in your area!

There are two additional webinars in this series:   Saturday February 24, 2024 ( Update from the Ground and Advocacy Effort...  )  Saturday April 13th ( Go and Tell | Sumud webinar | April 13, 2024  )

Sumud is the ELCA’s new name for our church’s engagement in accompaniment, awareness-building and advocacy for justice in Palestine and Israel. Sign up for updates about Sumud and upcoming events at:b https://www.bit.ly/SumudSubscribeYou can also learn more athttps://www.ELCA.org/sumud

We had the honor of hearing from Rev. Rodny Said an update from the ground. Rev. Said is the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hope in Ramallah. He shared honestly about what the situation is like in Ramallah and the West Bank.Rev. Dr. Meghan Aelabouni presented our focus topic "Go and Tell". She presented on ways to share with others about justice for Palestine and Israel. Rev. Dr. Aelabouni also covered frequently asked questions and an overview of Sumud. Lastly, we heard from participants what they have experienced when sharing and what was helpful, and successful.

The are two additional webinars in this series:   Saturday February 24, 2024 ( Update from the Ground and Advocacy Effort...  )  Saturday March 16, 2024 ( Taking It Local | Sumud webinar | March 16...  )

Sumud is the ELCA’s new name for our church’s engagement in accompaniment, awareness-building and advocacy for justice in Palestine and Israel. Sign up for updates about Sumud and upcoming events at: https://www.bit.ly/SumudSubscribe

‍You can also learn more at https://www.ELCA.org/sumud

On Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls) with ELCA Witness in Society presented Sumud Series: Updates From the Ground and Advocacy Efforts. This was the first of a three-part webinar series. Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Rev. Gabi and Rev. Dr. Meghan Aelabouni gave us an update from the ground. And Susannah Cunningham from Witness in Society provided action steps to take to raise awareness, build advocacy, and accompany justice in Palestine and Israel.  

There are two other webinars in the series:   Saturday March 16th ( Taking It Local | Sumud webinar | March 16...  )  Saturday April 13th (Go and Tell | Sumud webinar | April 13, 2024  )

Sumud is the ELCA’s new name for our church’s engagement in accompaniment, awareness-building and advocacy for justice in Palestine and Israel. Sign up for updates about Sumud and upcoming events at: https://www.bit.ly/SumudSubscribe‍

You can also learn more athttps://www.ELCA.org/sumud

Have you heard of Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls)? Share about this new initiative from the ELCA for justice in Palestine and Israel. Stay connected by LIKING and FOLLOWING us on Facebook (ELCA Sumud) and Instagram (@ELCASumud).