Palestinian Christians call for Peace Lamp in every church

Palestinian Christians call for Peace Lamp in every church By: Emma Halgren  Posted: Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:39 am  Email  Print   Father Raed Abusahlia, Catholic priest in the village of Taybeh, presents a Peace Lamp to Living Letters team. Photo: Emma Halgren/WCC  Its population may be dwindling, but the Palestinian village of Taybeh is striving to maintain normality in the midst of conflict, and hope in the midst of oppression. Taybeh, 14 kilometres north east of Ramallah, is one of the few predominantly Christian villages in Palestine. Like villages all over the West Bank, it is suffering as many of its people decide to emigrate, seeing no other choice given the economic and physical hardship they suffer under Israeli occupation. In the 1960s the town had a population of 3,400. The population today is 1,300. Unemployment stands at around 50 per cent. But for Father Raed Abusahlia, priest of the Latin (Roman Catholic) church of Taybeh, the grim situation only adds urgency to efforts to empower the local people spiritually and economically, as he explained to an ecumenical delegation visiting the village in March. The delegation – a Living Letters team travelling on behalf of the World Council of Churches (WCC) – visited churches, ecumenical organizations and civil society groups in Israel and Palestine from 7 to 14 March. There are three congregations in the village – Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic. The congregations worship together at Easter and Christmas, and are all actively involved in local projects. The Latin parish runs a school, a medical centre, a hostel for pilgrims, and numerous church services and youth activities. These projects are designed to give the people hope, and a reason to stay in Taybeh, says Fr Abusahlia. Its Peace Lamp initiative makes use of an abundant local product – olive oil – to promote peace and justice in the Holy Land. The lamps are produced in a workshop in Taybeh, providing jobs to 20 young men and women. The goal is to place a Peace Lamp, with accompanying olive oil and a small candle, in every church in the world, and in this way, to encourage prayer and solidarity with the people of Palestine. All revenue from the sale of the lamps goes to charitable organizations like the Caritas medical centre and Beit Afram, Taybeh's home for senior citizens. CONTINUED>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ORDER your Peace Lamp HERE OUR PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND As you light this lamp, join together with people around the world in praying for peace in the Holy Land. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9) Lord, help us to be peacemakers in the Holy Land. "Now the Lord of Peace Himself give you peace always by all means," (II Thessalonians 3:16) Lord, give the Holy Land peace by Your means. "For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. (Ephesians 2:14) Lord, be our peace and break down the walls of partition dividing the Holy Land. "I am the light of the world." (John 8:12) Lord, help us to be lights to the Holy Land. "They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and the spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, no longer will they learn how to make war." (Isaiah 2:4) Lord, fulfill this promise now in the Holy Land. "But Esau ran to meet him (Jacob), took him in his arms, threw himself on his neck and wept as he kissed him." (Genesis 33:4) Lord, help the people of the Holy Land follow the example of Jacob and Esau and reconcile themselves to each other. "Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105) Lord, as we light this lamp, let your Spirit enter into the hearts of those in the Holy Land and be a lamp unto their feet and a light to their path. "Peace I leave you with, My Peace I give to you: …" (John 14:27) Lord, we thank you for your peace and we accept it in the Holy Land. Amen!