January 19th Update Bulletin

Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP.

Image: U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, speaks druing the Emergency Summit for Gaza at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition national headquarters in Chicago. (Photo courtesy of Ben Norquist)

MLK summit for Gaza highlighted historic ties between civil rights and Palestinian liberation

Written by CMEP Ambassador Warren Clark Fellow Ben Norquist, Religious News Service

"On Friday and Saturday (Jan. 12 and 13), nearly 2,000 faith leaders, politicians, activists and operatives — heirs of the Civil Rights Movement — convened for an Emergency Summit for Gaza hosted at the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition in partnership with the Arab American Institute."

Image: Taken from Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock's website.

Senator Reverend Warnock Announces Support for Amendment Requiring Use of U.S. Supplemental Aid Comply With U.S., International Law

Reverend Raphael Warnock's Website

"Senator Reverend Warnock: 'While remaining committed to the defense of our allies, let us not lose sight of our common humanity with the millions of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of conflicts raging around the world.'"

Image: Palestinians look at the destruction of the Al-Gatshan family building after an Israeli strike in Nusseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 18, 2023. Satellite data shows that one-third of structures across Gaza have been destroyed. (AP Photo/Adel Hana, File)

Finding hope amid the rubble of our world is not naive. It is necessary.

Written by CMEP Head of Communion of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Religious News Service

"With the holiday season now behind us, the new year has begun in earnest. In ordinary times, I would be feeling the glow of the season of light, the joy that came with celebrating Christmas with my children and the hope of the new year. But 2024 will not be an ordinary year."

NEXT WEEK: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024: Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) for a week of prayer alongside Christians from around the world, focusing on Luke 10:27- "You shall love the Lord your God ... and your neighbor as yourself". Join daily for a time of prayer led by Christian Leaders from across the US and the Middle East. From January 22 to January 26 starting at 12:30 pm (EST), spend 30 minutes in prayer and participate in this global week where believers around the world gather, united by faith, throwing off division, and praying for peace.

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon will moderate a panel with Nivine Sandouka, Executive Director of Our Rights, an NGO focusing on Palestinian women's rights in Jerusalem and Netta Leovy, co-Director of the UNSCR 1325 Project at Women Lawyers for Social Justice. Together they will discuss the importance of feminist thought in peace-building, and answer the question: Why must the peace-movement focus on, and highlight women as leaders and change makers?

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Better Citizens, Better World: Courageous Small Steps To Faithful Civic Discipleship while following Jesus. Politics often divide more than they unite. In our increasingly polarized nation, the overlap between the Christian faith and civic engagement seems to get thinner and thinner. Stepping in any direction seems incapacitating, perhaps threatening and mostly overwhelming. Join us in D.C. February 2-3 for these important conversations.

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What you may have missed this week:

The first episode of the ASWR podcast sheds light on how Christian religious leaders balance the pastoral and the prophetic when observing the Advent and Christmas season. The Christmas message brings hope, especially to those who struggle under war. Listen to the experiences of Rev. Sally Azar and Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon shortly after 7 October. This episode was recorded on November 9, 2023.

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