Phone: 972-2-626-6800 FAX: 972-2-628.5764 ADDRESS: Muristan Rd. P.O. Box 14076 Jerusalem 91140 via Israel
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land (ELCJHL) is
known for its friendliness as it welcomes visitors and pilgrims to the Holy
Land from throughout the world. Though Palestinian Christians have been here since the first Pentecost,
the roots of the ELCJHL began in the mid 19th century when German and
English missionaries came to teach and minister to the local people. Five of
our six congregations are in Jerusalem, Ramallah and the Bethlehem area, and
one is in Amman, Jordan. The churches in Amman and Ramallah are made
up largely of families of refugees who fled their homes at the time of the
tragic wars that followed the formation of Israel. We also
operate four schools and four additional education programs.
Pastor Jadallah Shihadeh and Ass't Pastor Saliba Rishmawi confirmed 14 young people in a celebratory service with many visitors.
Sources in Hebron said that General William Fraser was about to enter the city of Hebron when a group of Israeli radical settlers rammed their car into the envoy of vehicles hitting the security escort car. The sources added that a small clash took place between the bodyguards of General Fraser and the radical settlers, then the American official turned back to Jerusalem. General William Fraser is the US President Bush administration envoy who was dispatched to the region for monitor the implementation of the road map peace plan.
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer celebrated Ascension day as they do every year on the Mt. of Olives Ascension Church. The Arabic, English and German-speaking congregations share Holy Communion and then process out to the Mt. of Olives, overlooking the Jordan Valley, to conclude the service.
A delegation of leaders from Ireland 's four main churches and ELCJHL Bishop Younan was not allowed to visit the Israeli Western Wall to pray a prayer of peace because they were wearing crucifixes. A settler threatened a confrontation if they proceeded.
Irish Church Leaders Pray for Peace with Palestinian Christian Leaders in Beit SahourApril 29, 2008 - The leaders of Ireland 's four main churches prayed for peace with justice with Palestinian Christian leaders in the chapel of one of the Beit Sahour shepherds' fields tonight. The Rev. Dr. John Finlay, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said this:
"We are here most especially to be in solidarity with the Christians of Bethlehem and throughout Palestine and Israel who suffer so much because of the current political conflict in this land. We know something of what it is to have incompatible histories, and we wish to offer hope for peace. For more, click here.
On
26 of February, the Israeli Army issued (6) military orders of closure and
eviction for (2) orphanages and (3) schools and other facilities of the
Islamic Charitable Society in Hebron charging that they support terrorism.
Lawyers for the Society have said that the IDF refuses to show them the
evidence, claiming it is secret. The lawyers are asking them to
prosecute individuals with due process and not to punish needy children and
the 500 people the organizations employ. Human rights groups,
including the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territory are working together
to keep the organizations open. Many of the children at the orphanages
have no place else to go but already large extended families.
See www.hebronorphans.blogspot.com
To see a video clip of the orphanages click here.
The ELCJHL received some well-needed new printing equipment this month for the ELCJHL print shop which prints hundreds of publications for the Arabic, German, English and Danish-speaking Redeemer Congregations as well as for other ecumenical international services with our Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian colleagues. A delegation from Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, an organization founded by Gordon and Betty Olson after the death of their missionary son, Tim, raised the funds and then visited in April to install the equipment. Pastor Russ Siler (above right), the former pastor of Redeemer's English-speaking congregation and Pastor Mark Nelson, a former volunteer pastor there, were instrumental in initiating and completing the project. Mabruk and thank you to LPGM from Printing Director Antoinette Karam (center) and all of the ELCJHL!
To see more photos of
the dedication, click here.
To read Evan Hansen's Blog about the Trip, click here.
Friday, March 28 - Bishop Younan met today with Mr. Hoybraten, the Chairman of the Christian Democratic Party and Parliamentary Group in Norway, Mr. Odd Jostein Saeter, Senior Advisor the the CDU and Morwegain Representative Mr. Sten Arne Rosnes, about the ministries of the ELCJHL and prospects for peace with justice.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the US Episcopal Church Visits Holy Land for Holy WeekSee Ann Hafften's coverage at http://voicesforpeace.blogspot.com/
See the US Episcopal Church website
Sat. March 15 - The Environmental Education Center, an educational program of the ELCJHL, organized over 100 people including students from the Ramallah School of Hope to plant trees in Biddu Village near both Ramallah and Jerusalem. The village is about 10 kilometers from Jerusalem but a world away. The area villages once had 6000 dunums of land, but 4000 has been confiscated for illegal Israeli settlements. One man kept his house only through the action of the Supreme Court, and the most of his land was confiscated except for about 10 ft. on all sides that are now enclosed by a fence from the settlement. All visitors must be out of the house by 6 pm, and a loud radio or TV brings the IDF. See pictures.
03/07/08: The Heart of Darkness: MJ Rosenberg, the Israeli Policy Forum
09/07/07: What is Pro-Israeli?
08/31/07: OCHA: The Humanitarian Impact on Palestinians of Israeli Settlements and Other Infrastructure in the West Bank (over 20 megabytes, long download time)