Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force HOLY LAND ACCOMPANIMENT PILGRIMAGE SESSION 1 TWO HARD HISTORIES

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force INTRODUCTORY HANDOUT OUR PURPOSE, OUR MISSION OUR MISSION OPENING PRAYER Session 1, Slide 2 (20 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force DISCUSSION STARTERS How many of us lack understanding about or are confused by current issues in the Holy Land? How many of us lack understanding about or are confused by current issues in the Holy Land? Why is the Holy Land important to us as Christians? Why is the Holy Land important to us as Christians? Why is the Holy Land important to us as world citizens? Why is the Holy Land important to us as world citizens? What do we know/believe about the history of the region? What do we know/believe about the history of the region? Session 1, Slide 3 (10 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force A TALE OF TWO PEOPLE STEADFAST HOPE DVD CHAPTER 1 Session 1, Slide 4 (11 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REFLECTION/DISCERNMENT What have we learned? What have we learned? Do you have any new information? Do you have any new information? Does anything you have heard or seen today surprise you? Does anything you have heard or seen today surprise you? Session 1, Slide 5 (14 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force EXTENDED LEARNING Living Stones, The Christians of Palestine (Fact Sheet 2010 No.04) Living Stones, The Christians of Palestine (Fact Sheet 2010 No.04) The Stones Cry Out: The Story of the Palestinian Christians (a 56-minute film) The Stones Cry Out: The Story of the Palestinian Christians (a 56-minute film) Session 1, Slide 6

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force HOLY LAND ACCOMPANIMENT PILGRIMAGE SESSION 2 HARDSHIP ON THE GROUND 24/7

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REVIEW HANDOUT OUR PURPOSE, OUR MISSION OUR MISSION OPENING PRAYER Session 2, Slide 2 (10 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force DISCUSSION STARTERS What is the geography of the Holy Land? What is the geography of the Holy Land? Who are the people of the Holy Land? Who are the people of the Holy Land? What have you heard, seen, or read about the Holy Land in the past week? What have you heard, seen, or read about the Holy Land in the past week? What new hopes and concerns do you have for the Holy Land? What new hopes and concerns do you have for the Holy Land? Session 2, Slide 3 (10 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force THE BIG PICTURE STEADFAST HOPE DVD CHAPTER 2 Session 2, Slide 4 (17 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REFLECTION/DISCERNMENT What have we learned? What have we learned? What new information do you have? What new information do you have? Did you learn anything surprising? Did you learn anything surprising? Session 2, Slide 5 (18 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force EXTENDED LEARNING Map of disappearing Palestine Map of disappearing Palestine “Can We Call It Apartheid” Steadfast Hope DVD Chapter 3 (14 minutes) “Can We Call It Apartheid” Steadfast Hope DVD Chapter 3 (14 minutes) EAPPI Factsheets with timely, concise briefings on specific topics relating to Israel’s occupation policies in the West Bank—House Demolitions, Violence without Sanctions, Bethlehem EAPPI Factsheets with timely, concise briefings on specific topics relating to Israel’s occupation policies in the West Bank—House Demolitions, Violence without Sanctions, Bethlehem Session 2, Slide 6

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force HOLY LAND ACCOMPANIMENT PILGRIMAGE SESSION 3 TELLING THE STORY—HARD TRUTHS

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REVIEW HANDOUT OUR PURPOSE, OUR MISSION OUR MISSION OPENING PRAYER Session 3, Slide 2 (5 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force DISCUSSION STARTERS How did you first learn about the Middle East? How did you first learn about the Middle East? Where do we get our current information? Where do we get our current information? Is there a range of opinion in our sources? Is there a range of opinion in our sources? Session 3, Slide 3 (10 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force TELLING THE STORY STEADFAST HOPE DVD CHAPTER 5 (15 MIN) DVD CHAPTER 4 (14 MIN) Session 3, Slide 4 (29 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REFLECTION/DISCERNMENT What did you learn? Do you have new information? What did you learn? Do you have new information? Was any of the information surprising or disturbing? Was any of the information surprising or disturbing? Has your perception changed? If so, how? Has your perception changed? If so, how? Session 3, Slide 5 (11 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force EXTENDED LEARNING “US Foreign Aid to Israel,” Jeremy M. Sharp, Congressional Research Service, “US Foreign Aid to Israel,” Jeremy M. Sharp, Congressional Research Service, Session 3, Slide 6

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force HOLY LAND ACCOMPANIMENT PILGRIMAGE SESSION 4 RESPONDING TO HARDSHIP, KEEPING HOPE ALIVE

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REVIEW HANDOUT OUR PURPOSE, OUR MISSION OUR MISSION OPENING PRAYER Session 4, Slide 2 (5 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force DISCUSSION STARTERS How do different groups respond to realities on the ground—Israelis? Palestinians? Christians? Americans? How do different groups respond to realities on the ground—Israelis? Palestinians? Christians? Americans? How would you respond to living with these realities? How would you respond to living with these realities? Session 4, Slide 3 (10 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force RESPONSES— THEIRS AND OURS STEADFAST HOPE DVD CHAPTER 6 (15 MIN) DVD CHAPTER 8 (15 MIN) Session 4, Slide 4 (30 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REFLECTION/DISCERNMENT What have we learned? What have we learned? Were you surprised by any of the responses? Were you surprised by any of the responses? How do you feel about Anna and Mark speaking as Jews? How do you feel about Anna and Mark speaking as Jews? Session 4, Slide 5 (10 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force EXTENDED LEARNING “Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth,” a confession of faith and call to action written by a broad spectrum of Palestinian Christian leaders affirming that resistance to injustice and oppression is firmly grounded in theological principles, christians-end-occupation “Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth,” a confession of faith and call to action written by a broad spectrum of Palestinian Christian leaders affirming that resistance to injustice and oppression is firmly grounded in theological principles, christians-end-occupation christians-end-occupation christians-end-occupation Jewish Voice for Peace, Jewish Voice for Peace, Sabeel, Voice of Palestinian Christians, Sabeel, Voice of Palestinian Christians, “Israel’s Purging of Palestinian Christians,” Jonathan Cook, CounterPunch, christians/print “Israel’s Purging of Palestinian Christians,” Jonathan Cook, CounterPunch, christians/print christians/print christians/print Session 4, Slide 6

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force HOLY LAND ACCOMPANIMENT PILGRIMAGE SESSION 5 ACCOMPANIMENT IN HARDSHIP AND HOPE

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REVIEW HANDOUT OUR PURPOSE, OUR MISSION OUR MISSION OPENING PRAYER Session 5, Slide 2 (10 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force DISCUSSION STARTERS Do we have a role in the Holy Land as Christians? Lutherans? Americans? World citizens? Do we have a role in the Holy Land as Christians? Lutherans? Americans? World citizens? Why or why not? Why or why not? Session 5, Slide 3 (10 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force TRANSFORMATION STEADFAST HOPE DVD CHAPTER 9 Session 5, Slide 4 (9 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force REFLECTION/DISCERNMENT AND CALL TO ACTION How has this study shaped or influenced your understanding of the Holy Land? How has this study shaped or influenced your understanding of the Holy Land? Can we respond to Pastor Mitri Raheb’s call for “prayers, projects, and pilgrimage”? Can we respond to Pastor Mitri Raheb’s call for “prayers, projects, and pilgrimage”? Can we respond to Bishop Younan’s invitation to “Come and see”? Can we respond to Bishop Younan’s invitation to “Come and see”? Do you feel a call to action? Do you feel a call to action? What will we do? What will we do? Session 5, Slide 5 (26 minutes)

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force EXTENDED LEARNING… AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANSWERING THE CALL TO ACCOMPANIMENT ELCJHL Easter Message for 2013, Bishop Munib Younan ELCJHL Easter Message for 2013, Bishop Munib Younan Bethlehem Voice audio interview with Bishop Younan, Bethlehem Voice audio interview with Bishop Younan, Palestine Shorts, “Keys to Understanding,” Palestine Shorts, “Keys to Understanding,” A list of resources for Answering the Call to Accompaniment can be found at the bottom of the Holy Land Accompaniment Lenten Series web page: accompaniment-overview/lenten-series A list of resources for Answering the Call to Accompaniment can be found at the bottom of the Holy Land Accompaniment Lenten Series web page: accompaniment-overview/lenten-series accompaniment-overview/lenten-series accompaniment-overview/lenten-series Session 5, Slide 6

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force Special Thanks to Don and Carol Freeman for the photographs used in this presentation

Oregon Synod Holy Land Accompaniment Task Force