Advent and Christmas in Bethlehem 2011

Dear friends,

Pax Christi International, an active member of PIEF, invites constituents of the Palestine-Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) to join their initiative of solidarity by sending peace stories for Advent and Christmas in Bethlehem 2011. In the changed context of hope in the Arab world brought on by the Arab Spring, Pax Christi’s call is to “share in the new climate of hope by exchanging stories of peace”. PIEF urges all PIEF constituents to respond to the call from Pax Christi. The full text of the call from Pax Christi is shared below.

In solidarity,

Ranjan Solomon
Consultant
Palestine-Israel Ecumenical Forum

Pax Christi International Call for Peace Stories

This year has brought new prospects for freedom in the Arab world. The massive movements in Tunisia and Egypt are cries for democracy. Early in this year, Muslims and Christians came together and prayed for change in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. In other countries, the movement towards democracy and accountability seems unstoppable despite the cruel repression it has faced. Inspired and empowered by these examples, many individuals and groups everywhere now show enormous courage in using non-violent means to peace and justice.

While in the past, Pax Christi International made a call for sending wishes and prayers, we now would like to invite you to share in this new climate of hope by exchanging stories of peace.

The stories will be used in Bethlehem, Palestine, and other locations in educational and religious settings. These stories are a sign of hope, and a gesture to these movements that people from outside the Middle East and North Africa care about their destiny.

Please e-mail your inspirational Christmas stories for peace before the 25th of December 2011 (Western Christmas) and/or the 7th of January 2012 (Eastern Christmas). While English is the preferred language, non-native English speakers may also send stories of peace in their mother tongue. Messages can be e-mailed to the Arab Educational Institute at the following address: info@aeicenter.org.

More information on this action – in English, French, Spanish,German, Italian and Dutch – can be found at www.paxchristi.net

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