2023 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, 16th – 23rd September
“No place to lay my head”
The World Council of Churches (WCC) invites people and churches all over the world to pray, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people in the Holy Land during the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
While commemorating 75 years of Nakba (catastrophe) of the Palestinian people since 1948, the preparatory committee for this year’s materials questioned the injustice in all this for the family and chose the Bible verse Matthew 8:20 to lay down the issue as presented by Jesus Christ: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
https://www.oikoumene.org/events/world-week-for-peace-in-palestine-and-israel
During this week, which includes the International Day of Prayer for Peace on 21 September, church organizations, congregations, and people of faith are encouraged to bear a common witness by participating in worship services, educational events, and acts of support in favour of peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis.
WCC Resources https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/materials-for-world-week-for-peace-in-palestine-and-israel-16-23-september-2023
Pax Christi Resources
Pax Christi has produced a card to encourage us to ‘learn, pray and act’. One side has the prayer, ‘Among the Rubble’ by Jan Sutch Pickard and the other side some useful resources and ideas for action you can take.
Please share these as widely as possible in parishes, communities, schools and groups and let us know what action you have taken, no matter how small. Send us photos if you can.
You can download the card here –
Prayer
Among the Rubble
Compassionate God,
In our minds, we pray among the rubble,
the unholy mess of demolitions
in the land we call Holy.
In our hearts we hold
families who have lost their homes,
children who have seen their schools destroyed,
communities which no longer have a clinic.
We pray for them as they weep for all that is lost.
We pray that they will not lose hope.
And we pray, too, for
the men who drive the bulldozers,
soldiers who beat back protestors,
politicians who sign the orders –
aware that such actions destroy their humanity.
Bless those who campaign against injustice;
bless the patient rebuilders;
bless those who hope against hope
that peace with justice will prevail
in the land that we call Holy.
Amen
©Jan Sutch Pickard, UK
2022 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, 15 – 22 September
‘Faith, Hope and Love in Action: Towards Justice in Israel Palestine’.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) invites people and churches all over the world to pray, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people in the Holy Land under the strapline
“The annual world week for peace in Palestine and Israel offers an opportunity for all of us to engage in active hope towards ending the occupation,” said WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca.
Pax Christi Card: ‘Faith Hope and Love in Action’
Pax Christi has produced a card to encourage us to ‘pray, learn, act’. One side has an affirmation: Change is in the Air, by Jan Sutch Pickard and the other side some useful resources and ideas for action you can take.
Please share these as widely as possible in parishes, communities, schools and groups and let us know what action you have taken, no matter how small. Send us photos if you can.
Available at £3.00 for 50 cards from our shop.
You can download the card here.
Anemone Card
This card can be used all year round to remember the conflict in Palestine and Israel. The photo is the Palestinian anemone that blossoms in the most unlikely places, at military checkpoints, through the rubble of a home demolition and on the stony ground of the desert.
The reverse has Jan Sutch Pickard’s poignant poem, ‘Anemone – sign of life and hope’ Available from the shop 50 cards for £3.00.
2021 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
18th-25th September
Theme: ‘Forced Displacement of Palestinians’
As the 2021 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel approaches, the World Council of Churches invites people and churches all over the world to pray, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people in the Holy Land.
“The annual world week for peace in Palestine and Israel offers an opportunity for all of us who share the hope of justice and peace in the Holy Land to unite around the globe in solidarity and peaceful action, and to create a common international public witness,” reflects WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca.
WCC: https://www.oikoumene.org/sites/default/files/2021-09/2021-WWPPI-concept-web.pdf
Pax Christi Prayer Card
This card depicts photos of demolitions in the West Bank and has a prayer from Jan Sutch Pickard
To order printed copies, please email orders@paxchristi.org.uk
Cost : £3 per pack of 50 cards plus 50p P&P
What we can do
- Pray for those who have been forcibly displaced, for those working for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel
- Read and sign up to the EAPPI eye-witness blogs at https://www.eyewitnessblogs.com/
- Watch a short film, ‘Eyewitness’ about EAPPI showing accompaniment in action https://www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/eappi
- Share and take action in solidarity with Palestinians facing eviction, displacement and violence https://www.eyewitnessblogs.com/take-action/
- Campaign to ensure Dioceses and Council Pension Funds are not investing in the occupation of Palestine and that they invest ethically https://paxchristi.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/amos_trust_investing_in_peace_booklet_artwork_060618.pdf
WCC webinar on Forced Displacement of Palestinians from East Jerusalem
20th September BST 14.00-15.00 CET 15.00-15.00
With families in East Jerusalem facing growing threats of forced evictions and displacement, the World Council of Churches (WCC) will convene a webinar on 20 September to shed light on key issues at stake, currently and historically.
Resources
https://paxchristi.org.uk/campaigns/israel-and-palestine/resources-and-documents /
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2020 World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel
Theme: “Creative Solidarity in Common Fragility.”
People of faith all over the world are encouraged to demonstrate the power of prayer with action which includes the International Day of Peace on 21 September. The World Council of Churches reminds us, ‘that peace is always a fragile process… The impact of wars, the aftermath of violence, the hatred and the bitterness engraved on souls, social injustices, the compromised future of two peoples and the broken message of three religions in addition to the harmful consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic only accentuate, day after day, this fragility.
‘In the extremely fragile situation in Palestine and Israel, we still believe in the power of prayer because only the Spirit of God can soften hearts and change attitudes. Prayer does not mean, however, resignation on the part of the people; rather it implies a creative solidarity combining a spiritual reference point and practical action. We need to restructure our response in a compassionate advocacy process undertaken in a spirit of goodwill and impartiality that transcends identity and religious affiliation.
In this era of extreme fragility, creative solidarity is a sign of hope that, through the power of prayer and common action, we can make the restoration of peace and justice in the Holy Land both possible and a lived reality for all people of the region.’ Biblical reflections , prayer and advocacy suggestions from the WCC
Planning your activities 
- Set aside time to pray alone or with others in your family/community. This could be in solidarity with the Friday prayer held at sunset near the checkpoint and wall in Bethlehem. Light a candle for peace. Images of hope that could be used for prayer and reflection.
- Join in the WCC on-line service on 14 September, 8.30 – 9.00 am CET with contributions from churches in the Holy Land.
- Join the on-line discussion on 16 September, ” Cry for Hope” with two Palestinian Christian leaders, Rifat Kassis and Munther Isaac
- Send a video message – a prayer, wish, poem to the AEI for their WWPPI on-line event. No longer than 30 secs. Send to tvant@p-ol.com
- Hold an online meeting with speakers to raise awareness of the present situation in the West Bank and Gaza – one of the organisations listed could help you
- Show a film with your family or friends – share in a ZOOM call or simply share the link. They illustrate how Palestinian communities are working to preserve their environment. List below
- Share a Palestine recipe with a group of friends, cook it and then gather, however you can, to enjoy eating it, play Palestinian music and share stories.
These short films illustrate how Palestinian communities are working to preserve their environment.
Existence is Resistance with Dr Mazin Qumsiyeh of The Palestine Museum of Natural History with Dr Mazin Qumsiyeh;
The Water Crisis in Palestine – a series of films from B’tselem
The Olive Tree project – a project of Embrace the Middle East
Respect for the Environment is Respect for ourselves – environmental education, produced by Palestine Institute for Biodiversity – part of Bethlehem University
Take action
- Sponsor olive trees to be planted in Palestine
- make contact with an organisation in Palestine/Israel and send them a message of solidarity and make a donation if you can;
- Buy Palestinian goods from Zaytoun or a local fair trade
- Encourage people to write to their MPs/elected representatives to raise their awareness of the situation in Palestine and Israel and ask them to contact Government Ministers to ask for those who violate international law and denials of Human Rights to be held accountable
- Pax Christi leaflet on Solidarity with Peacemakers in Palestine and Israel
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2019 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
Prayer
- Planning Card front an
d back - Action card front and back
- Powerpoint with stories from the Wall Museum matched with themes of the UN Declaration on Human Rights could be used as a meditation in a service. (Available here in pdf format for printing/copying )
- Prayer for Israel and Palestine from Mennonite Central Committee
Range of prayers for Israel and Palestine from the Church of Scotland
- Prayers for Human Rights from Faith & Worship
- Interfaith Prayer for Peace card available from our shop
Study
- Powerpoint with stories from the Wall Museum matched with themes of the UN Declaration on Human Rights. (Available here in pdf format for printing/copying )
- Fact Sheet on Detention produced by Mennonite Central Committee
- Amnesty International have a range of articles, blogs and fact sheets on human rights violations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
- Razor Wire and Olive Branches is a teaching pack produced by Quaker Peace and Social Witness in collaboration with EAPPI, exploring human rights, conflict and peace building in Palestine and Israel. It is available from: https://bookshop.quaker.org.uk/razor-wire-olive-branches_12189-2
- Useful animation giving a basic understanding of the history: Jewish Voices for Peace: Israel/Palestine 101. Not new but still relevant.
Action
Show a film to help people see what life is like in Palestine. Many films can be hired / downloaded for use with groups or church audiences. Here are some examples
- Imprisoning a Generation: is a documentary film following the stories of four young Palestinians who have been detained and imprisoned under the Israeli military and political systems
- The Wanted 18: an animation exploring in what happens when a community use creativity and nonviolent resistance against Israeli occupation
- Open Bethlehem, a film and campaign created by Leila Sansour who returns to Bethlehem to make a film about her hometown
More ideas
- Use the Investing for Peace resources, the postcard and guide, to raise awareness in your church of the importance of ethical investment in the region.
- Support the Palestinian economy – by goods oil, dates and many other wonderful products from Zaytoun... perfect for a church event/stall.
- Further resources are available from our shop
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The 2018 World Week for Peace 16 – 23 September
Investing in young people
A week of education, prayer and action for peace in Palestine & Israel, initiated by the World Council of Churches. Planned events below
This year’s theme is “Youth and Children: Raising Hope and Making Change”. Youth and children are the ones who suffer the most in conflicts and under occupation. They are also the ones who will hold the future of Palestine and Israel in their hands, the ones we pray will grow up with peace and prosperity.
2018 Promotion Flyer for sharing. the date and theme. You can order copies in sets of 100.
Pray
- Prayer and background resource from WCC, 2018
- Prayer for Palestine & Israel from the Mennonite Central Committee, 2018
- Prayer Where are you God? by Jan Sutch Pickard
Study
- Images from Pax Christi partner the Arab Educational Institute for 2018 WWPPI
- Generation potential: interviews with five young Palestinians, project of PAX for Peace, Netherlands
- 12 Faces of Hope: Seek Justice and Peace in the Holy Land: a resource from the WCC stories and video clips include Rabbi Noa Mazor, peacemaker Tarek Al-Zoughbi and communication worker Nanor Arkelian
- Video testimonies from Breaking the Silence, an organisation of veteran combatants of the Israeli Defence Forces who have served the occupation.
- Find out about the work of Defence for Children International in Palestine – important work monitoring and advocating for children who are illegally detained. Stories, date and advocacy ideas.
Act
- Invite your Church community to use the new Investing for Peace: guide for local church activists to initiate discussion on morally responsible investment.
- Take action to enhance Palestinian children’s right to education with this Ecumenical Accompaniment in Palestine and Israel resource
- Support the Palestinian economy – by goods oil, dates and many other wonderful products from Zaytoun... perfect for a church event/stall.
Resources and events from WWPPI 2017
Action card with text on reverse to be sent to MPs and Elected Representatives. Order copies in sets of 100.
Stories of young people from Palestine and Israel
Powerpoint Voices of the young with testimonies from young people. Could be used within the liturgy or each slide could be printed and enlarged to create a small exhibition.
Additional stories – A4 presentations
- From Saif , Dar al Kalim School,Evangelical Lutheran School – Beit Sahour
- From Bashar, Dar al Kalim School, Evangelical Lutheran School – Beit Sahour
- From Wadie, Lutheran School, Ramallah
Videos of children and young people talking about their lives and experiences
- My name is Sahel, an NUT project, daily life of a child in Hebron, Palestine
- Just like us : film of young people from schools in Nazareth, Israel
- Speech given by Noam Shuster, young Israeli woman, from the Israel-Arab village of Neve Shalom/Wahat al Salam, Israel
- Wissam Salman from the Evangelical Lutheran School of Beit Sahour.
- Noa Gur Golan, young Israeli woman who became a Conscientious Objector in 2017
- Ameer Sarhan, Leen abn Ajamiyyen, Lutheran School, Ramallah
