Ken speaks at the Deanery Synod

Ken Perrett was invited to speak to the Sonning Deanery Synod on 24th November. He gave a 30 minute talk on his stay in a refugee camp in Bethlehem, within the West Bank. Following the talk, there was time for questions. If you would like to see the presentation, click here.

Su McClellan tells us about the work of Embrace the Middle East

Su McClellan from Embrace the Middle East came to St John's on Sunday to preach at both 8am and 10am services. She told us about the work of Embrace the Middle East. Embrace the Middle East has just been included as one of the missions supported by St John's. After the 10am service there was a display of the work of all seven of the Church Missions. You can read more about these on the Church website. This was part of the Missions Sunday.

After the service we had the opportunity to talk with Su about how to work for peace and justice in the Middle East - a really helpful day.

Support bedouin communities' access to water

Israeli occupation forces confiscate a portable water tank in Al Maleh 21 June 2012 

While I was in the West Bank, I visited the Bedouin communities in Al Hadidya and Samra. The situation is just as described here by Jordan Valley Solidarity. Please read the story and help if you can. 

Ken Perrett

The majority of Bedouin communities in the Jordan Valley have no access to running water and have to collect their water using trucks and portable water tanks. Until recently families in five communities in the northern Jordan Valley have been sharing a truck, but at the beginning of October it broke down. It has been repaired by a local garage, but the families are faced with a bill for 12 000 shekels (which means 2 500 euros), which they are unable to pay.

Please donate to support these families

Demolition in Humsa 1 April 2014

Al Hadidya, Samra, Mak-hull, Homsa, and Ein El Hilwe are small, but strong and steadfast communities, whose lives are lived on the principle of 'To Exist is to Resist'. They all live in tents, and have not electricity or running water. As with all Palestinians living in 'Area C' they are prohibited by the Israeli military occupation to have any permanent structures and in recent years they have all been invaded by occupation troops, which have demolished homes, animal shelters, latrines and other shelters. Their land has been designated as 'military land' and military training is frequently carried out in the area.

Whilst struggling to survive they are determined that they will not allow the occupation forces to drive them from their land. However, the cost of repairs to their truck is a major problem,  and we would like to appeal to our supporters to help pay the repair costs.

Access to water is a major problem for all these families. When they collect the water with the portable tanks they are already having to pay for the cost of the water, plus an additional fee to the water station, fuel costs and the time spent travelling. These exorbitant costs mean that most of these families use as little as 20 litres per person per day, one fifth of the World Health Organisation's recommended amount.

Israeli water tank on the hill above Ein El Hilwe

Historically, people in the area would have sourced water from:

• water wells (the occupation now controls who can dig wells and how deep they can be - by imposing apartheid restrictions on the depth of Palestinian wells they ensure that they rarely yield any significant quantity of clean water)
• the Jordan River (which they haven't had access to since 1967);
• local natural mountain springs (all of which have declared closed military zones by the occupation forces)
• run off from the mountains (which requires concrete water tanks, which are systematically destroyed by the occupation)

In February 2013 the people of Al Hadidiya started to renovate a historic well, which pre-dated the occupation of 1967, so they would be able to have affordable water, but they were stopped by the occupation.

The truck is essential to them, and if you are able to help them you support will be very much appreciated.

Programme of Action for 2015

On 21st October 2014, the PCC of St John the Baptist Parish Church, Crowthorne, approved the following Programme of Action for 2015:-

St John the Baptist Church, Crowthorne has heard the call for peace and justice coming from all the Christian Churches in Israel and Palestine. We pledge ourselves to work for peace and justice for all people living in this Holy Land – for Israelis and Palestinians, for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Every person is made in the image of God and every life is equally precious.

During 2015, we plan to:-

· Keep ourselves informed about the situation in Israel and Palestine through the weekly newsletter, St Johns News and the website as appropriate

· Continue to keep Israel and Palestine in our prayers

· Support the development of a network of UK Kairos Communities, with emphasis on the Churches within the Oxford Diocese.

· Undertake studies to understand more about the historical context and what the Bible has to say about Israel/Palestine.

· Look for, and advertise opportunities to hear more about the situation in Israel and Palestine

· Inform people of opportunities to take action for a just peace in Israel and Palestine

· Support initiatives by groups working for justice and peace in Israel/Palestine.

· Learn more about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) programme and consider whether we might take action as a Church or as individuals

· Inform people about, and encourage them to take up, opportunities to visit or to volunteer to work in Israel/Palestine

· Maintain the “Kairos Crowthorne” blog[1] with links to St John’s website.

In order to support this programme, we propose that the Kairos Group should be opened up to others, possibly including people from other local Churches.

The Kairos Group will report to the PCC annually and consult beforehand on any proposed collective actions by the Church.

[1] To be used for sharing news of events and networking with other Kairos Communities

Su McClellan speaking at St John's

The speaker at the 8 and 10am services on Christ the King Sunday at St John the Baptist Parish Church, Crowthorne, will be Su McClellan from “Embrace the Middle East”, formerly “Biblelands”.

“Embrace the Middle East” works with projects in many of the countries in the Middle East; Israel /Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan so do come to listen to what Su has to share with us.

There will also be a display of the Missions we support at St John's.

News from the Balfour Project

The Balfour Project's next event will be: Britain in Palestine 1917-1948: Understanding the Present Conflict will be held in St John’s, Oxford on October 30th at 7.45pm and is being organised jointly with OxPeace. The Discussion panel is confirmed as: Prof. Avi Shlaim FBA, Dr Andy Gosler, Dr Mary Embleton, Sir Vincent Fean KCVO, and Rabbi Danny Rich; chaired by Revd Dr Liz Carmichael MBE.

The Balfour project has added a number of posts to their website in recent months. The most recent is an extract from a new book soon to be published:Joseph Jeffries and the Palestine deception. The author William Mathew will be talking at SOAS on October 28th

Another recent post is by Professor Mary Grey who spoke in Northumberland recently on: Perfidious Albion: Britain's broken promises: the Balfour Declaration (1917) and its impact on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict: what are our responsibilities today?

The Balfour project has also started a new menu item of the most read articles which will be updated monthly.

UK Parliament vote on recognition of Palestine

On 13th October the UK Parliament passed the following motion by 274 votes to 12:

"That this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, as a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution."

Although the current Government is not committed to change its policy, this is a significant moment in putting right the wrongs which Britain has done to the Palestinian people. The Labour Party, if elected to power, is committed to formally recognise Palestine as Government Policy. Other European Countries (e.g. Spain and France) are considering their position. May the many wise words said in the UK debate help in working towards justice and peace for all in Israel and Palestine. 

Embrace the Middle East
Annual Service 2014 (London)

Saturday, 4 October, 2014 - 10:30 to 15:30

St Michael's Church

Chester Square

London

SW1W 9HH

United Kingdom

Embrace the Middle east invite us to their Annual Service in London. Rima Canawati, Director of Programme Development at Bethlehem Arab Rehabilitation Society, will be the keynote speaker. Entitled Beyond barriers: inspiring a new generation in the Middle East, Rima's talk will be about her work and how the rehabilitation centre is making a difference to people’s lives. Read more about Rima and her work below.

Tickets are free but must be booked in advance. A delicious, optional Palestinian lunch is available for £8 per person (must be booked by Friday 26th September). 

- See more at: http://www.embraceme.org/events/annual-service-2014-london#sthash.6RwkMkL9.dpuf 

Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions

Gaza, the West Bank, Israel….. and the future?
A talk and discussion All welcome
Tuesday 30 September 2014, 2 – 4 pm

All Saints Church, Ascot Heath
London Road, Ascot, Berks SL5 8DQ (near Heatherwood hospital) 

Ofer Neiman, a board member of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, and one of the courageous founders of Boycott from Within, will speak about Israel’s clampdown on internal dissent amidst the Gaza bombing, the changing political situation and what activists can do to achieve peace with justice using effective boycotts and international lobbying. This is a unique opportunity to hear an alternative Israeli perspective and ask questions. Suggested minimum donation £5, in aid of Gaza reconstruction Visit promoted by ASCENT (Ascot and the Sunnings Community Environment Network) as part of the Grassroots Festival Contact: Anne Yarwood, yarwodav@gmail.com

Prayer for peace for the Middle East

Pax Christi Interfaith Prayer for Peace

O God, you are the source of life and peace.
Praised be your name forever.
We know it is you who turn our minds to thoughts of peace. Hear our prayer in this time of crisis.
Your power changes hearts
Muslims, Christians and Jews remember, and profoundly affirm, that they are followers of the one God,
children of Abraham, brothers and sisters;
Enemies begin to speak to one another;
those who were estranged join hands in friendship;
nations seek the way of peace together.
Strengthen our resolve to give witness to these
truths by the way we live.

Give to us:
Understanding that puts an end to strife; Mercy that quenches hatred, and Forgiveness that overcomes vengeance.

Empower all people to live in your law of love. Amen

PAX CHRIST International Catholic Movement for Peace

We are now a Kairos Community

Yesterday (9th July 2014), the PCC of St John the Baptist Parish Church , Crowthorne, voted unanimously to become a Kairos Community. The PCC has asked our Kairos Group to prepare a Kairos Programme of Action of consideration at their next meeting.

This is just a small step, but hopefully many others in the UK will join Kairos Britain to respond to the call of all the Churches in Jerusalem.

Need for prayer

The abduction and killing of three young Jewish men in the West Bank has resulted in a massive increase in the Israeli Defence Force activities. Many Palestinians have been arrested and life has been made even more difficult. Feelings are running high among both Jews and Palestinians. Several Palestinians have been killed by the IDF. One young Palestinian has been killed by Jews in retaliation.

Gideon Levy writes today in Harretz, a liberal Jewish newspaper based in Jerusalem:-
The youths of the Jewish state are attacking Palestinians in the streets of Jerusalem, just like gentile youths used to attack Jews in the streets of Europe. The Israelis of the Jewish state are rampaging on social networks, displaying hatred and a lust for revenge, unprecedented in its diabolic scope. Some unknown people from the Jewish state, purely based on his ethnicity. These are the children of the nationalistic and racist generation – Netanyahu’s offspring.

For five years now, they have been hearing nothing but incitement, scaremongering and supremacy over Arabs from this generation’s true instructor, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Not one humane word, no commiseration or equal treatment.

They grew up with the provocative demand for recognition of Israel as a “Jewish state,” and they drew the inevitable conclusions. Even before any delineation of what a “Jewish state” means – will it be a state that dons tefillin (phylacteries), kisses mezuzot (doorpost fixtures with prayer scrolls), sanctifies charms, closes down on the Sabbath and keeps strict kashrut laws? – the penny has dropped for the masses.

The mob was the first to internalize its true significance: a Jewish state is one in which there is room only for Jews. The fate of Africans is to be sent to the Holot detention center in the Negev, while that of Palestinians is to suffer from pogroms. That’s how it works in a Jewish state: only this way can it be Jewish.

Today's old testament reading in Order for Anglican Morning prayer comes from Deuteronomy Chapter 24 and includes:-

You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a widow’s garment in pledge. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.

When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow.

This is the Jewish Law - how sad it no longer applies. 

Please pray for the situation in Israel and Palestine, that the current inhumanity and injustice may be replace by justice and peace for all.  

Wonderful News

There is so much bad news that it is wonderful to hear good news.

One of the places I visited in the West Bank was Battir, an amazing village where the people have farmed for 2,000 years on ancient terraces irrigated by roman pipes. It was in Battir that the house of Wafaa and Abed was destroyed by the IDF and rebuilt by the Holy Land Trust and the Amos Trust. The Israeli Government has issued another demolition order on the house, and has plans to extend the Separation Wall through the village.

Today I heard that Battir has been named as a World Heritage Site in Danger by UNESCO. It is so wonderful that the world is gradually becoming more willing to take action for justice in Israel and Palestine.

Ken Perrett

Kairos Training Day at Balsall Heath, Birmingham

Hazel and Brian Berry and Ken and Tracy Perrett travelled to Birmingham on Saturday 21st June to attend a national Kairos Training Day. It was very well attended with about 60 people and was most informative and encouraging. We had sessions on Kairos Theology, organising ethical visits to the Holy Land, Kairos Communities and Political Engagement. After a marvellous lunch in a small Lebanese restaurant, we attended several workshops on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions(BDS), Kairos Communities and Political engagement.

We also had the opportunity to meet Charlotte Marshall, who has been appointed as the national advocacy worker for Kairos Britain, and hope to work with her in the future.

Day of prayer and reflection

Day of prayer and reflection: 7th June 10am - 1pm

Opening Worship

Leader: 

It's time for Palestine.
It's time for Palestinians and Israelis to share a just peace.
It's time to respect human lives in the land called holy.
It's time for healing to begin in wounded souls.
It's time to end more than 60 years of conflict,
oppression and fear.
It's time for freedom from occupation.

All who are able to speak truth to power must speak it.
All who would break the silence surrounding injustice must break it.
All who have something to give for peace must give it.
For Palestine, for Israel and for a troubled world,
It's time for peace.
From Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum

Silence

Reading: Psalm 122:6-9
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
 “May those who love you be secure.
 May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." For the sake of my family and friends,
 I will say, “Peace be within you.”
 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
 I will seek your prosperity.

Silence

Reading: Luke 4:18-19

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
 because he has anointed me
 to proclaim good news to the poor.
 He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
 and recovery of sight for the blind, 
to set the oppressed free,
 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

Silence

Prayers

Leader: God full of compassion, who heals the broken- hearted and binds up their wounds, we ask you to show all your children the way of love and compassion, so that hatred ceases to scar their lives.  Jesus Lord of love,

Response: In your mercy hear us

Leader: Source of Life, we call upon you to send your abundant blessings into every home, Israeli and Palestinian, so that new hope may overcome old fears. Jesus Lord of life,

Response: In your mercy hear us

Leader: Righteous One, who exhorts us to pursue Justice, we fervently pray that a spirit of righteousness may prevail, so that both peoples find the courage to reach a just settlement of their differences. Jesus Lord of righteousness

Response: In your mercy hear us

Leader: Maker of Peace, who teaches us to be seekers of peace, we entreat you now to spread your tabernacle of shalom over all the inhabitants of your land, and to support the peacemakers among both peoples in their efforts to walk the path of reconciliation, so that a just peace may reign supreme at last speedily in our own day. Jesus Lord of peace

Response: In your mercy hear us

Adapted from Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue prayers for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Leader: Let us listen to the Lord's Prayer Aramaic (the language Jesus spoke) and then join together to say the Lord's Prayer in English

Reader 1: May God bless you with discomfort …
at easy answers, hard hearts,
half-truths, and superficial relationships.
May God bless you so that you may live
from deep within your heart
where God’s Spirit dwells.

Reader 2: May God bless you with anger …
at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people.
May God bless you so that you may
work for justice,
freedom and peace.

Reader 3: May God bless you with tears …
to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation and war.
May God bless you so that you
comfort them and turn
their pain into joy.

Reader 1: And may God bless you with
enough foolishness to believe
that you can make a difference
in this world and in your neighbourhood,
so that you will courageously try
what you don’t think you can do,
but, in Jesus Christ you’ll have
the strength necessary to do.

Reader 2: May God bless you to fearlessly
speak out against injustice,
unjust laws, corrupt politicians,
unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,
senseless wars, genocides, starvation,
and poverty that is so pervasive.

Reader 3 May God bless you that you remember
we are all called
to continue God’s redemptive work
of love and healing
in God’s place, in and through God’s name,
in God’s Spirit, continually creating
and breathing new life and grace
into everything and everyone we touch.

Franciscan Blessing for Justice and Peace

Leader: Let us share the Peace

Prayer stations

These are the prayer stations we used for our day of prayer and reflection on Kairos.

Prayer station 1: Using water to discriminate

1: Water to discriminate 

· Israeli per capita consumption of water is four to five times higher than that of the Palestinian population of the Occupied Palestinian Territories
· In the West Bank, Settlers consume 6 times the amount of water used by the Palestinians.
· In the Jordan Valley, Settlers consume vast amounts of water for crops while the Palestinians’ water supply has been disconnected.
· Water is not scarce in the region, but..
· Israel uses water to discriminate between Israelis and Palestinians and to force the Palestinians off the land.

Fill five containers of water from the font.
Place them in front of you, one on your left and four on your right.
Look at the single container of water, and imagine that you are a Palestinian, with not enough water for your family, your animals and your crops.
Look at the four containers of water, and imagine that you are an Israeli living in the Occupied West Bank, with as much water as you ever need.
Perhaps you would like to pray for justice and equality for all in Israel and Palestine.
Please pour the water back into the font afterwards.

2: Colouring sheets

Sit quietly and as you colour, allow yourself to pray for the situation in Israel/Palestine and that justice and peace will come to the Holy Land.

3: Light a candle

Light a candle and place it in the sand tray. Spend some time in silent prayer before the candle thinking of all those who are suffering in the Holy Land at this time, but also of all those who are working for peace, justice and reconciliation. Meditate on the words from St John’s Gospel “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it”.

4: Post a prayer

Write a prayer for Israel and Palestine and stick it onto the map of Israel and Palestine. Spend a few minutes reading your own prayer and any others which have been placed on the map.

5: The Separation Wall

Information about the wall

· The barrier is over 700km long.
· Around 90% is a fence, with vehicle-barrier trenches and a 60 metre exclusion zone.
· Around 10% is an 8-metre high concrete wall.
· 85% of the wall is inside the West Bank, rather than in Israel
· The barrier separates many Palestinians from their land.
· Palestinians require a permit to leave the West Bank
· Workers queue from 4am in the morning to get through the checkpoints at the map and images of the separation barrier

The wall has been the subject of nearly 1000 graffiti images. You can even order graffiti on line and get it drawn locally!

What emotions does the wall generate in you? What message would you like to convey to the Israelis and Palestinians.

Take a blank image of the wall and draw your own message or picture, aimed at either the Israeli or Palestinian side of the wall.

Pray for the people who live on each side of the wall, that they may one day be able to live in peace with one another.

6: Take a brick from the wall

Take a brick out of the Wall and lay it on the Cross template. As you do it pray that the Wall will come down so that families and communities can be reunited and there will be proper access to work, medical resources and education.

7: Jigsaw Puzzle

Assemble the pieces of the puzzle and as you do, pray for all young people living in Israel/Palestine that though education, cultural and sporting activities they may learn to trust one another and live side by side in peace and harmony.

What is Kairos

Kairos Palestine

Kairos Palestine was issued in 2009 by the heads of all 13 Churches in Jerusalem. It is a call to Israeli and Palestinian leaders, to the International Community and to the World Churches to accelerate the achievement of justice, peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.

Kairos Britain

Time for Action, the British response to Kairos Palestine, was launched in August 2013. It calls on British Christians to:-

· Be aware of the situation in Israel and Palestine,

· To reflect prayerfully on it, and

· To respond faithfully and courageously.

St John’s Kairos Action Plan

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St John the Baptist Parish Church, Crowthorne, approved our Kairos Action Plan in October 2013.

Since then we have been learning about the situation in Israel and Palestine.

Today is our opportunity to reflect prayfully on all we have learned.

Becoming a Kairos Congregation

On 9th July, our PCC will consider whether we should become a “Kairos Congregation”.

Please take some time this morning to help our PCC by providing your own thoughts on this issue.

If we decide to become a Kairos Congregation, we would be joining other Christians in the UK in actively seeking justice and peace for Israel and Palestine.

We would need to work out the details of how we would take this forward, but it might include some of the things listed on the sheets on the table.

Please take a sheet and tick the things which you think our Church might consider and also whether these are things that you might consider supporting personally.

Prayer Meeting for Peace at the Vatican

The Pope has invited the presidents of Israel, Shimon Peres, and Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, to join him for a Prayer Meeting for Peace. This will take place in the Vatican on the afternoon of Sunday 8 June. Please pray for then as they meet.

Kairos Day of Prayer and Reflection - Sat 7th June

At St John the Baptist Parish Church, Crowthorne, we have been spending some time learning more about the situation in Israel and Palestine as part of our Kairos Action Plan.

The second step in our plan is to reflect prayerfully on this situation. There will be an opportunity to do this on Saturday 7th June.

We will start at 10am with a short act of worship in the Church. There will then be various prayer stations around the Church for people to use to reflect and pray about the situation. There will be refreshments and further information in the hall, including some short videos and a chance to ask questions. People will then have the opportunity to express your views and to provide some input to the PCC discussion on 9th July on the third step of the plan, which is to respond faithfully and courageously. The PCC will consider whether the Church should become a Kairos Congregation. All are welcome, even if you have not taken part in earlier activities.

Click here if you would like to know more about this event.

Details of St John the Baptist Church

Destruction of the orchards at the Tent of Nations

While I was in Israel during February and March, I visited the Tent of Nations several times. I found it to be a wonderful witness in how to live peacefully under occupation. Today I heard that Israeli bulldozers moved onto the land on Tuesday morning (20th May) to demolish 1500 apricot and apple trees and vines. This action is illegal and heartless. It has no security justification - the Nasser has documentation proving ownership back to the Ottoman Empire. Israel wants the land and will do anything to steal it.

The Amos Trust has issued an appeal for action and we would urge readers to respond to that.

Ken Perrett

Kairos Training Day

Four of us are going to the Kairos Training Day on 21st June to learn more.

Talking about Israel/Palestine

Around 40 people gathered at St John's in Crowthorne to see the film "The stones cry out" and to hear about Ken Perrett's stay in Bethlehem. It was a lively evening and there were many questions.

Ken's stay in Bethlehem

As part of the Kairos Action Plan, Ken Perrett spent 8 weeks staying in the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. You can read Ken's blog at kenperrett.blogspot.com. 

Kairos Crowthorne blog goes live

Kairos Crowthorne is a group of people living in Crowthorne, Berkshire who are interested in working for peace and justice in Israel and Palestine.

Kairos Palestine - a moment of truth was published by all the Churches in Jerusalem in 2009.

It called upon the Israeli and Palestinian Leaders, the International Community and the World Churches, to accelerate the achievement of justice, peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land. Kairos Britain - a time for action was published in 2013 and calls upon British Christians to be aware of the present situation in Israel and Palestine, to reflect prayerfully on it, and to respond, faithfully and courageously.

St John the Baptist Parish Church in Crowthorne has responded to these challenges by approving a "Kairos Action Plan". The plan follows the guidance in the Kairos Britain documents and has three stages. They are:-

1. to be aware of the present situation in Israel and Palestine

2. to reflect prayfully on it, and
3. to respond faithfully and courageously. 

The Church expects to take a decision on whether to formally become a Kairos Congregation on 9th July 2014.

Palestinian evening

St John's hosted a showing of the film "Bethlehem - Hidden from view", after which Ken Perrett talked about his plans to stay in Bethlehem for 8 weeks. We also enjoyed some traditional Palestinian food.

Su McClellan from Embrace the Middle East comes to talk

Su McClennan from Embrace the Middle East gave a very inspiring talk on Israel and Palestine - Su has been invited to return to preach on 23rd November 2014 for Christ the King. The evening was well attended with lots of questions.