| |  | November 2022 Check out the latest opportunities and events from
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). | | | | | | October 2022 CMEP and Churches Trip to the Holy Land: Kyle Cristofalo, CMEP's Senior Director of Advocacy and Government Relations, led a joint trip for our church partner, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, and University Presbyterian Church to the Holy Land in October. They were able to to worship with the Palestinian Christian community in Aboud, pictured above. Kevin Vollrath, CMEP's Manager of Middle East Partnerships, met with four groups traveling to the Holy Land this month! These groups were able to engage with Kevin, ask questions, and see what CMEP does in the Holy Land. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) partners with MEJDI tours to offer custom group travel to Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Turkey, and other destinations in the Middle East. Trips to the region offer pilgrimages and advocacy-oriented travel. While traveling in the Holy Land, trips provide the chance to hear multi-narrative perspectives through the use of two local guides, one Israeli and one Palestinian. They offer various perspectives on the history and current realities of the land. Click the button below to learn more about trips with CMEP. | | | | | | CMEP's Annual Report: Celebrate with Churches for Middle East Peace all that we accomplished this past year by reviewing our 2022 Annual Report. (Link will download a pdf file.) In this report we highlight our work to educate, elevate, and advocate in pursuit of our vision to actively promote a comprehensive resolution to conflicts in the Middle East with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. | | | | | | | | New this year: CMEP’s first Advent Devotional Book! CMEP is pleased to have partnered with author Kelley Nikondeha to create a devotional series entitled "The First Advent: Embodying God’s Peace Plan” that is available for purchase for you or your church group. This devotional book contains devotionals for each Sunday of Advent, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as Alternative Advent Practices written by members of CMEP’s staff. | | | | | | | | Inaugural Fr. Drew Christiansen Holy Land Lecture Series event: Join us in Washington, DC November 16th for our inaugural event in our Fr. Drew Christiansen Holy Land Lecture Series. This first talk will be "BEING CHURCH in THE LAND CALLED HOLY" with Sami El-Yousef. He will speak about the presence, aspirations, challenges, and contributions of the Church and its institutions with a focus on the Catholic church. Through this series, we will gain a deeper understanding of how we can assist our brothers and sisters in their quest for acceptance, equality, justice, and peace. We will explore the spiritual roots and practical application of our Faith through the eyes of those whose experience is rooted in the Land Jesus was born, taught, died, and was resurrected. Registration is free and required for attendance. | | | | | | | | | | Freedom of Movement Trip to the Occupied Palestinian Territories: March 7-16, 2023 CMEP invites you to visit Palestine/ Israel to participate in the annual "Freedom of Movement" marathon (half-marathon, 10k, and 5k available for walkers and runners). This trip will focus on issues related to the UN-sanctioned "right to liberty of movement" and environmental injustice in the occupied Palestinian territories. In addition to the marathon, participants will spend several days hiking in the West Bank with the option of staying with families. The geographical focus of the trip is Bethlehem and the West Bank, including a day in Jerusalem, with an optional 2-day extension in the North of Israel. Individuals and local groups are welcome to join this trip. Contact adysen@cmep.org with any questions and trip details. | | | | | | | | Engaging with Ignatians: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) was grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 2022 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in October. CMEP Outreach Manager, Jennifer Maidrand, and CMEP Catholic Advisory Council member, Julie Schumacher Cohen, co-taught a breakout session on "Justice, Equality, and Human Rights in the Holy Land" and had the opportunity to share CMEP's work with hundreds of highschoolers, college students, and Jesuit leaders over the course of the weekend. Find out how your group can connect with CMEP. | | | | | | | | Webinar Series: A Land Full of God A Land Full of God gives American Christians an opportunity to promote peace and justice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It shows them how to understand the enmity with brief, digestible, and comprehensive essays about the historical, political, religious, and geographical tensions that have led to many of the dynamics we see today. This mini-course will feature several of the book's contributors in a panel discussion on a different topic each week. We've also invited an additional guest who was not a book contributor to respond to the information shared. We'll end each session with an audience Q & A time. Reading the book is not required for participation. | | | | | | | | Action Alert: Contact Your Representative Now: End Discriminatory Visa Rules for Entering West Bank
On October 20 the Israeli government will implement new procedures for those seeking to enter the West Bank. First published by the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) in February, and revised in September, these new procedures discriminate severely against those seeking to visit the West Bank and will have a profoundly negative impact, separating Palestinian families, undermining Palestinian education, and subjecting Palestinians and foreign national visitors to intrusive data collection. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Contact Us Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 311
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 543-1222 info@cmep.org | | | | | | | |
