Middle East

Grace’s Middle East Working Group (MEWG) is focused on education and mission relating to Israel and Palestine. We seek to inform ourselves and the congregation of the history and issues that have prevented peace in the Holy Land. We seek ways that we can act for the furthering of peace.

 Currently the group is reaching out to Christians in the land of Jesus, following denominational guidelines for church partnerships.  Last summer we had three members journey to Nablus to assist with the Nablus school project supported by Grace and helped with a summer camp. Photos and information are available from The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem web site.

Members of the MEWG met with The Right Rev. Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, at a luncheon honoring the Bishop at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va., on February 27, 2010. During this luncheon, Greg Suess of the MEWG presented the Presbytery Peacemaking Committee's check to support the Diocese school run by Father Ibrahim Nairouz, priest of St. Phillip's Episcopal Church in Nablus, Palestine, with which Grace is in partnership. Bishop Dawani is also a native of Nablus. Select this link for additional photos.

On November 25, 2007, Grace entered into a partnership with two sister congregations, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and The Church of the Good Shepherd located in Rafidia, both are on the West Bank.  In a Palestinian city surrounded by nine Israeli checkpoints, our sister congregations feel very isolated.  During the 2008 Pilgrimage the Pilgrims were able to visit our sister congregations.

Father Ibrahim told us the significance of our coming was that we broke their isolation—they are no longer alone. We now look forward to having a group from Nablus return the visit in June, as we seek to build fellowship, shared experiences, understanding and common vision between the congregations. The vision statement signed by both congregations can be read through this link.

On World Communion Sunday 2008, the Middle East Working Group had the honor of the Reverend Naim Stifan Ateek, Anglican priest, author and founder of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theological Center in Jerusalem, addressing the congregation.  Reverend Ateek spoke simply of his experiences as a Palestinian Christian and the need for justice in the Holy Land. Afterwards, a small luncheon was held in his honor so members of the congregation could meet with him for discussion.

The 2008 Pilgrimage was a ten-day trip to Palestine and Israel utilizing a Christian Palestinian tour company in order to help support the local Christians. Led by Revs. Jay Click and Susan Wilder, the group consisted of members from several churches and journeyed from Caesarea Philippi, the northern most reach of Jesus' ministry (Mark 8: 27) to Jerusalem, on to the Dead Sea, and numerous holy sites in between. We also heard many voices—a kibbutz member, Israeli and Palestinian peace activists, a West Bank settler, a guide through a refugee camp, a nun working on a Christian Peacemaker Team, even the high priest of the Samaritans.  Most importantly, we went to Nablus to visit our sister congregations. We came home blessed by our opportunity to see the land of Jesus, with greater sense of the reality of the Bible and with a deeper understanding of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
 
The Middle East Working Group leads the effort at Grace to support the fall Peacemaking Offering, an annual offering of The Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. (PCUSA). The offering is used for PCUSA ministries of peace all over the world, and a
portion of each church's collection is given to a project of their choosing. In past years, Grace's portion has been sent to the Parents' Circle. Each fall Grace’s Alternative Gift Fair offers Christmas shoppers mission-minded giving opportunities. The Middle East Working Group sells Palestinian handicrafts to help support the beleaguered economy of the West Bank and Gaza. The group also sells Palestinian olive oil.  The oil comes from the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC- www.pal-arc.org), a non-profit, non-governmental organization in the West Bank who buys it from local small cooperatives.

For lively discussion and a chance to get involved, all are welcome to attend the meetings of the Middle East Working Group, usually on the third Thursday of each month. Contact Susan Wilder, chair, for more information. Suswilder@aol.com or (703) 913-5913.

Additional photos may be viewed through this link.