Phone: 972-2-626-6800 FAX: 972-2-628.5764 ADDRESS: Muristan Rd. P.O. Box 14076 Jerusalem 91140 via Israel
From May 22 - 28, 2003 Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and an eight-member delegation visited the ELCJ churches and schools; Lutheran World Federation projects; Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders and Palestinian and Israeli officials. Highlights included visits with children and teachers at ELCJ schools, the graduation ceremonies at Talitha Kumi and Beit Sahour Lutheran schools and a worship service at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Old City Jerusalem, at which Bishop Hanson preached the sermon with Bishop Younan doing the Arabic translation
On June 22, 2003 his Excellency Johannes Rau, President of the Federal Republic of Germany was welcomed to Talitha Kumi Lutheran School in Beit Jala by the students and teachers, Principal Willhelm Golller and Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan. He spent time visiting with children and touring the school complex. President Rau was very impressed by the school which the German government and related agancies help to support.
On Monday, September 1, 2003, the long-awaited dedication and grand opening of the Ad-Dar Cultural and Conference Center alongside the Lutheran Christmas Church (ELCJ) in Bethlehem was held. Many guests came from Finland (the government of Finland gave generous financial support in building the Conference Center), the United States and other countries to join the Palestinian Church and people in celebrating the event. The International Center of Bethlehem (ICB) is a Lutheran based, ecumenically-oriented institution serving the whole Palestinian community. Through empowering the local community, developing human resources, cultivating artistic talents and facilitating intercultural encounters, the ICB actively promotes the building of Palestinian civil society. Another way of building the society is the Dar al-Kalima Academy which is a small community college facility offering training in music, arts and crafts, media, communication, cultural management, tourism and Christian ministry
Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, Ms. Paula Lehtomaki the Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, and Dr. Nabeel Kassis, Minister of Planning in the Palestinian Authority, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb along with Palestinian dignitaries, the ICB, church and academy staff celebrated the dedication and grand opening with many guests. Music was provided by the National Conservatory of Music at ICB. Bishop Younan said: "Music, arts and theology will help in building a modern civil society, teaching freedom of speech, opinion and expression. I pray that Ad-Dar would play an active role where the ELCJ is seen as empowering the powerless."
On Friday, September 5, 2003 the Dar al-Kalima Health and Wellness Center celebrated its dedication and grand opening in an outdoor ceremony on the school grounds. Bishop Younan, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and Dr. As'ad Ramlawi, director of Preventive and Community Medicine at the Palestinian Ministry of Health spoke to the many guests from Palestine, the United States and the Nordic countries. Wheat Ridge Ministries from the U.S., a major contributor to the Wellness Center, was represented by a delegation of eighteen people; Mr. Gregg Smith and Dr. Richard Bimler addressed the audience. Performing were karate students from Dar al-Kalima and musicians from the community. Dar al-Kalima students sang the school anthem and released many baloons. The Health and Wellness Center tour following the program revealed exercise and training rooms, classrooms, and a beatiful swimming pool. "As the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has the theme 'For the healing of the world', such a Health and Wellness Center shows that the Lutheran Church's theology is to care for the whole perons, mentally, physically and spiritually," Bishop Younan said.
The Lutheran Good Shepherd Church in Amman, Jordan, dedicated its newly renovated congregational hall on Sunday, October 19, after the worship service. The Northelbian Mission Center in Germany (NMZ) generously donated the money for the extensive renovation and Rev. Samer Azer, the church elders and the congregation worked relentlessly to complete the work which adds a whole new dimension to the beauty of the entire church building. As Bishop Younan said, “The congregation hall will now serve the congregational work, the children’s, youth and women’s work, as well as ecumenical relations among the Amman churches and our dialogue with Muslims.”
Representatives of all the Amman churches, Muslim clerics and friends and members of the Jordanian parliament joined with the Good Shepherd congregation to celebrate the dedication. Very importantly, this work and dedication follows in the line of Bishop Emeritus Daoud Haddad’s statement when the congregation was established: “It is mission in the heart of the Arab world.” The ministry which this renovated parish hall will enable serves not only the congregation but all of Jordanian society. The ELCJ center in the Good Shepherd church is a light for everyone in Amman, Bishop Younan said in his dedication sermon.
Many thanks go to the NMZ for the funding, to Rev. Azar, the church council and members of the Good Shepherd church for their hard work in completing this renovation, and to all those who donated gifts in kind.
On Sunday, September 7, 2003 Rev. Russell Siler was installed as the pastor of the English-speaking ministry at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan installed Rev. Siler and many pastors from various countries, speaking in their languages, laid hands of blessing on Rev. Siler as part of the installation service. Bishop Younan and Rev. Siler both preached. Many guests from Jerusalem were present with the congregation, worshipping in the Cloister Chapel of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
After seven long years of prayer, work, construction, delays, curfews, closures and determination, Abraham's House (Abrahams-Herberge in German) is a reality at last. On October 30, 2003, the building and its ministry were dedicated to the glory of God in the presence of hundreds of people. Located on the church compound of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Beit Jala, Abraham's House is a retreat and study center with a guest house where youth and adults of all three Abrahamic faiths can gather to build understanding and reconciliation.
Over two-hundred people from Germany came to celebrate the dedication, representing many churches and individuals that had contributed financially to build Abraham's House, including the EKD, the NMZ and many other churches in Germany. The Lutheran Church of the Reformation was overflowing with Palestinian, Israeli, German and American people, many of whom sat outdoors or in the parish hall, listening to the service. Rev. Jadallah Shihadeh, pastor of the Reformation church, greeted the many visitors, including several Jewish rabbis and Muslim clerics. Music, God’s Word, messages, expressions of gratitude and great joy filled the people and the church. Bishop Maria Jepsen of the Northelbian Church in Germany joined ELCJ Bishop Dr. Munib Younan and Propst em. Helmut Glatte from Germany in bringing messages, and Rev. Herman Keller of Hamburg, Germany, brought the sermon.
The sanctuary of the Reformation church has also been completely remodeled as Abraham's House was being built. At the front of the church a stained glass window now towers behind the altar area, showing Abraham welcoming the three angels, as described in Genesis 18. The hospitality of Abraham is the model for what the new Abraham's House and its ministry is offering to Jews, Christians and Muslims as they gather to know and understand each other, leading to reconciliation. In Abraham's House the natural stone and beautiful Palestinian tiles and painting combine to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The guesthouse can hold about fifty people, and the youth housing also on the church compound can hold about forty.
Rev. Jadalah Shihadeh is the pastor of the Abraham's House and may be contacted about holding conferences or retreats in Abraham's House or about staying in the guesthouse. E-mail:shihadeh@luthchurch.com; Telephone: +972 - 2 - 274.2613; Fax: 2744.966
On Sunday, November 23, 2003, the congregation of the Lutheran Church of Beit Sahour rejoiced with five confirmands who affirmed their baptisms. Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan confirmed Maher Munir Odeh, Nassim Majed Nassar, Mariana Faraj El-Lati, Lu’ay Iyad Qumsieh and Samir Muhannad Qumsieh in the morning worship service. Evangelist Hani Odeh also participated in the service. The congregation and the newly confirmed young people also received the Eucharist, celebrated by Bishop Younan. Many people warmly congratulated the young people at a reception following the service.