Please Join us at Trinity Church, Sarnia for a “Watch Party” to hear Archbishop Elias Chacour. Oct. 10. 6:15 PM. Opportunity for Questions and Answers afterward. Everyone Invited. If you are unable to join us for this event, here is the direct link to the Live Stream Presentation (Oct 10, 2024 at 6:30 PM) so that you can watch it at home.
https://www.youtube.com/live/m78mqJ6GY_Q?si=jpyXPeABpPIBBMke
A Curated list of Resources.
We hope that hearing Abuna Elias Chacour speaking about Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation might stimulate in participants a desire to go a bit deeper. Here are some recommended resources.
Canon Vicars Hodge, Trinity Church, Sarnia
Books by Elias Chacour
Blood Brothers, expanded edition (Grand Rapids: Chosen Books, 2003.)
An excellent first read on this topic. Chacour tells his childhood story of loss and expulsion from his village in Galilee in 1948. Instead of making him bitter, this experience is used by God to make Chacour into an amazing pastor, bishop, and peacemaker.
Faith Beyond Despair: Building Hope in the Holy Land. London: Canterbury Press, 2008)
A great second read that takes one deeper into the peacemaking heart of Abuna Chacour.
A later autobiography that takes the story from Blood Brothers forward through a life of peacemaking and service.
Other suggested Books:
Atteek, Naim: A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2008)
Fr. Ateek is an Anglican Priest, serving in Jerusalem. He is an articulate voice for reason and justice. He leads Sabeel, a grassroots liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians and their friends. https://sabeel.org/
Brueggeman, Walter: Chosen? Reading the Bible amid the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Westminster-John Knox Press. 2015
This is an easily read theological reflection on the questions about the land covenants of the Torah and Prophetic writings -- and how they should be understood today in light of the present situation in the Holy Land. Brueggeman, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, is a thoughtful and gracious voice offering reflection on a topic that is usually discussed in shrill tones.
Burge, Gary M.: JESUS and the LAND Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010)
Burge offers a careful survey of the Biblical materials regarding the Land Covenants with Israel and how they should be read and interpreted. This is a serious work of Biblical Theology for those who want a deeper dive. Burge, is Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School.
Kairos Palestine: A moment of truth: A word of faith, hope, and love (Jerusalem:: World Council of Churches, 2009)
The Kairos Palestine document is published by the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem as an appeal to "hear the cry of hope that our children have launched in these difficult times that we still experience in this Holy Land." This is worth reading to understand the situation of the Christians of the Holy Land today. You can read or download the PDF of this work at this link: https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/kairos-palestine-document
Or at https://www.trinitytour.org/uploads/8/1/9/1/81914970/kairos_palestine_document.pdf
Land of Promise?: An Anglican exploration of Christian attitudes to the Holy Land. A report from the Anglican Communion Network for Inter Faith Concerns. (Anglican Consultative Council. London: 2016.) You can read /download a free PDF version at:
https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/39759/land_of_promise.pdf
Title certainly sounds dry, however, this is an excellent document. The historical overview (pg. 35) is very helpful in making sense of the confusing history of the Holy Land. Have a look… this is a great resource and it is free.
Other Resources
Podcast “The Holy Post” with Skye interviewing Robi Damelin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdCqK4o9nno&list=PLkxgki8fW77Lc0rUh2r3eLj9ORx8nvYSk
This was recently suggested to me. I’ve only listened to a couple posts from Damelin but what I have heard is worthwhile. She is a Jewish Israeli working as an activist seeking peace between Jews and Palestinians. (Start listening at 49:29)
Amos Trust: https://www.amostrust.org/palestine-justice/
A small creative human rights organisation founded in 1985 by the Rev. Garth Hewitt (a Church of England priest, songwriter, peacemaker.)
Sabeel Eccumenical Liberation Theology Center: https://sabeel.org/
A website with a number of helpful links to resources regarding peace and justice in the Holy Land.
Tent of Nations: https://tentofnations.com/
For more than 100 years a Palestinian Christian family have operated this farm. The Nassar’s are members of the Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem. The farm is now surrounded by aggressive illegal Israeli settlements who regularly disrupt their lives. Despite circumstances they continue to practise their faith and model non-violent resistance in the face of oppression. “We refuse to be enemies” declares their entrance signpost. Explore their site to learn about grassroots level peacemaking and reconciliation ministry by Palestinian Christians.
World Council of Churches: Seek Justice and Peace in the Holy Land. https://www.oikoumene.org/what-we-do/seek-justiceandpeace-in-the-holy-land
Meet 12 people with different backgrounds sharing their hopes for justice and peace in the Holy Land.