Spring here is wintry

Cold marble in a garden

Blossom falls like snow

Jesus wept when he saw Jerusalem

View of Jerusalem from the Church of Dominus Flevit

We had a very early start, leaving our hotel at 8am. Today was the opportunity to visit some of the key Christian sites in Jerusalem. Thankfully, it was a warm sunny day, with little wind and blue skies – perfect.

  

We were to follow the route Jesus took on Palm Sunday when he entered Jerusalem to the adoration of the crowds. We drove to the top of the Mount of Olives, to the Church of the Ascension. Then we set off walking down the steep road towards the kidron valley, stopping off at the Church of the Pater Noster, where Jesus taught the disciples to pray, Dominus Flavit, where Jesus saw the view above and wept over Jerusalem. Onwards again to the garden of gethsemane and the Church of all Nations.

Then back on the coach for a drive through East Jerusalem, to a falafel shop where we stopped for a wonderful falafel sandwich.

Refreshed, we embarked on the second part of the day, the route of the Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrows. We started at the Bethesda Church where Jesus healed the paralysed man, then along the 14 stations of the cross, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is a busy route through the old market.

It was a moving experience walking in the steps of Jesus and seeing so many of the places that we read in the Bible.

We were back at the hotel just in time to meet Sami Awad, from the Holy Land Trust. He talked to us about peace and justice in the Holy Land. As we drive around and see signs of the conflict - the separation wall, the checkpoints, the soldiers, we cannot help but weep over Jerusalem today. 

Bethlehem at night

Bethlehem is alive at night. From the call to worship coming from the mosque in the early hours, to the dogs barking and children crying. Everyone seems so close - it is a crowded city. Breakfast is at 6:30am this morning, and a bit of a struggle with a 2 hour time difference. Feels just like 4:30am.

We have a busy day in Jerusalem today so I will write later about that.

We have arrived in Bethlehem

Our guest house in Bethlehem

We gathered at the Church at 5:15am in darkness. Everyone was there, all 26 excited to be starting on our adventure. Right on time the coach appeared and we eagerly boarded to set off for Luton Airport. The checking in all worked fine and gave people ample time for a hearty breakfast. At 9am we took off, heading for Tel Aviv. The flight time was nearly 5 hours and the weather looked really good as we came in to land. Airport procedures were minimal and we emerged to meet up with Bishara, our guide, and Achmed, our driver.

As we drove towards Jerusalem, Bishara started to explain. For those new to the Holy Land, it seems very complicated. Over the next few days we will get the opportunity to experience and hear more. The drive took about one hour. We skirted Jerusalem and drove into Bethlehem. The checkpoint3 and 8 metre wall were a shock to those new to the West Bank. Darkness falls as we arrive at our guest house - St Vincents.

After finding our rooms, we gather for a wonderful evening meal, followed by Compline. Finally we get to bed, having been told we have breakfast at 6:30am and leave on our first day’s visits at 8am. So much to see and do.

Back to the Holy Land

A group of people from St Johns are going to The Holy Land on 12th-21st February 2016. The trip is being organised for us by Worldwide Christian Travel and led by Embrace the Middle East. 

We will be publishing a daily blog on the Kairos Crowthorne blog. 

Kairos Britain has kindly offered to post highlights of our trip on the Kairos Britain website. 

School Bus for Jordan Valley Children

In March 2014, I visited the community at Al Samra and saw the school under construction. I heard what it meant to that community to have somewhere they could educate their children. And today I read that the school was demolished in August 2015. So, so sad. We will be visiting Jordan Valley Solidarity during our pilgrimage and hope to hear the latest news.

Talk to Windsor St George Rotary

Ken Perrett was invited to speak to the Windsor St George Rotary about his stay in the West Bank in 2014. There was a lively discussion and a great deal of interest shown in the situation in Israel and the West Bank. 

About the Peace Vigil

St John the Baptist Parish Church held a peace vigil on 23rd September 2015 as part of World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel.  It was well attended, particularly by those who will be going gone the Holy Land Trip in February 2016. The service was followed by coffee, cake and discussion.

Peace vigil held at St John's on 23rd September

VIGIL FOR PEACE IN ISRAEL/PALESTINE

Opening responses
Gather in our hearts Lord,
bring peace through our words.
Gather in our hearts Lord,
bring peace through our listening.
Gather in our hearts Lord,
bring peace through our actions.
Gather in our hearts Lord,
bring peace through our silence.
Gather in our hearts Lord,
bring peace through our lives.

Prayer of approach
Eternal God, in your love for this world,
you have made places of great beauty.

And always where heaven is present, hell is never far off.
This is our experience; it is the lot of your people.
We recognise it in the world.

Today, we come to hold before you
that land on which your son put his feet
and first walked the path to heaven,
across the terrain of the earth.

Help us, as we enter into solidarity
with those who are our brothers and sisters
in faith and in humanity,
not to keep apart Palestinian and Israeli in our prayers,
but rather to try with you, and under your guidance,
to find a way of holding the broken pieces,
that in our lives and through our prayers, some greater health and some sign of wholesomeness might come,
and a glimpse of your kingdom appear in our hearts
and on this earth.

Amen. (from ‘Fencing in God’s People, WGRG 2007)

Lighting a candle for peace
In the name of Christ, who is our peace,
we light this light for peace in Palestine and Israel.

Silence

Reading
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers.’
For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, ‘peace be within you.’
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good. (from Psalm 122).

Prayers of intercession

God of peace, encourage those who seek to establish a fair and just peace in the Middle East. Bless their efforts as they work to end conflict. Lead those who engage in violence to put down their weapons and to live in peace with one another.
God in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence

God of peace and justice
Rain down upon us your peace.
God of peace and justice,
let every heart be filled with peace.
God in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence

God of justice, bless those who work for peace through justice. Strengthen their resolve in the face of seemingly endless violence.
God in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence

Guide the leaders of the peoples of the Middle East to know your will and to support a just peace for all of your children.
God in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence

God of love, lifting up the holy land for all humankind, breathe love and compassion into our prayers with a desire for nothing other than peace: peace in our hearts, peace for all creation, and especially peace in the land that is called holy.
God in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence

God of hope, we lift up the city of Jerusalem, distracted and divided, yet still filled with promise as all the cities of the world.
God in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence

God of mercy, even as we long to understand that which is often beyond our comprehension, we lay before you the hearts, minds and bodies of all those suffering from conflict in Palestine and Israel and from the ongoing occupation. Shower upon all the people of the Holy Land the spirit of justice and reconciliation.
God in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence

God of the nations, give to all our people the blessings of well-being, freedom, and harmony, and, above all things, give us faith in you that we may be strengthened to care for all those in need until the coming of your son, our Saviour and Lord.
God in your mercy
hear our prayer

Amen. (From ACT Palestine)

May our silence speak the peace of God.
May our silence sing the peace of God.
May our silence bring about the peace of God.
Amen.
Silence

Closing responses
Pray not for Arab or Jew, for Palestinian or Israeli, but pray rather for ourselves, that we might not divide them in our prayers but keep them both together in our hearts.

When races fight,
peace be among us.
When neighbours argue,
peace be among us.
When nations disagree,
peace be among us.
Where people struggle for justice,
let justice prevail.
Where Christ’s disciples follow,
let peace be our way.
Amen.

Silence

Adapted from Christian Aid Prayer Vigil for the Middle East.

All the latest news on Kairos Britain website

Kairos Crowthorne is assisting Kairos Britain by producing assistance with the posting of news and events on the Kairos Britain website. One of the latest pieces of good news is that Veolia has pulled out of all involvement in Israel, following the pressure from the BDS movement. Read more about it by clicking here.

World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel.

World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel is 20th-26th September. There will be events around the country to pray for peace. There will be a peace vigil on Wednesday 23rd September at St John the Baptist Parish Church in Crowthorne, starting at 8pm and followed by coffee and cake and an opportunity to share information on the current situation in Israel and Palestine. All welcome.

Contact Ken for more information.

Demolition in the Cremisan Valley

As feared, Israel began its campaign of destruction on Monday 17th August, invading Beit Jala and bulldozing areas of land for the construction of the illegal separation wall through the Cremisan Valley. The confiscation of land is taking place in Bir ‘Ona archaeological site, and the wall will split the Cremisan Monastery valley in half. Read more on the Kairos Britain website.