We rejoiced in Reformation Day as we recall the reformative ministry of our past, and continue to reform our church so it may one day reflect the ministry of our loving and just Christ. We further rejoiced in the long-delayed formal installation of Probst Joachim Lentz.
The Bethlehem community filled Manger Square with Joy on October 30th to celebrate another Palestinian olive harvest! Festivities included opening words from Bishop Azar among other community and political leaders. Attendees shopped among the many market booths open selling local Palestinian foods and homemade goods. Students from the Evangelical Lutheran School of Beit Sahour as … [Read more…]
Today marks the Palestinian National Olive Harvest Day. On this day, farmers, community members, and students all throughout Palestine picked olives in celebration of this annual tradition that is very important to the culture and history of Palestine. The ELCJHL was represented today by the executive director of the ELCJHL’s Environmental Education Center Simon Awad, … [Read more…]
This week, students from all ELCJHL schools participated in an olive harvest campaign. In Palestine, olive picking is a joy and an important part of the Palestinian identity, but it is a lot of work. Often, farmers recruit many family members, friends, and volunteers from the community to help harvest all the olives and ensure … [Read more…]
Unlike the Dead Sea, our Youth Ministry is full of LIFE!This Monday and Tuesday, youth from four of our five ELCJHL congregations gathered together in the wilderness to celebrate community, youth, and faith.Reverend and Youth Ministry Leader Rodny Said , with the help of Reverend Doctor Munther Isaac , organized a trip to Arab Il-Rashaed, … [Read more…]
Today, the eighth graders of the Evangelical Lutheran School of Beit Sahour, in a trip facilitated by the EEC and accompanied by an EEC educator, traveled to Sarras Farm to learn about Palestinian agriculture. In Palestine, farming is always plagued with resistance from surrounding settlers and land disputes. The Sarras farm is no different. Students … [Read more…]
Go team go! Today, our four ELCJHL schools competed in a friendly soccer competition. Teachers, principals, and students from all schools traveled to Beit Sahour to cheer on their team, and spend time as a community. Some great soccer was played! We are very proud of our players from all the schools.
It’s bird week at the Environmental Education Center! This week, students from 9 different schools, as well as several community members and government officials, are flocking to the EEC to celebrate and learn about the birds of Palestine. Today, Bishop Ibrahim Azar visited to partake in the festivities. He offered an important piece of wisdom … [Read more…]
Bishop Azar, accompanied by Reverend Gabi Aelabouni, Reverend Doctor Meghan Aelabouni, and Reverend Carrie Ballenger, met with the apostolic nuncio to the Holy Land and Cypress today. Archbishop Adolfo Tito Camacho Yllana is new to his position in the Holy Land. We warmly welcome archbishop Yllana, and look forward to hosting him at the Church … [Read more…]
On the eighth of October, 2021, Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar, along with religious leaders from various local church institutions, accompanied church member and ELCJHL school principal Anton Nassar to his family land. This land is currently undergoing extreme conflict both from the occupying Israeli government and the family’s neighbors. For many years, the Nassar family … [Read more…]