WCC NEWS: WCC publishes new materials for “Out of darkness” series in Palestine and Israel

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has published online new materials related to the 2024 Easter Initiative: “Out of the darkness – Easter solidarity with the Holy Land.” Full set of social media cards available here. 21 March 2024 The Easter Initiative is an annual activity of the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. The materials—which include feature stories and prayers, as well as social media and advocacy resources—connect the stories of Easter with current realities in Palestine and Israel, and spotlight the challenges of a life marked by violence, war, and occupation. The materials also nurture hope and highlight groups and individuals striving for a just peace.  Newly published are feature stories with the voices of Father Frans Bouwen, a priest in the Catholic church who has been living and working for ecumenism in Jerusalem since 1969; Nader Abu Amsha, executive director of Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches; and Robi Damelin, director of International Relations for The Parents Circle-Families Forum.  Also newly available is an advocacy outline, which offers a call to action as well as practical ways to help. The outline lifts up the call to roll away the heavy stone of violence, war, and occupation, pain, and suffering, and to remind the world of what is needed to bring about peace, and to transform swords into ploughshares. All are also invited to share a new prayer by Monsignor William Shomali, Latin Patriarchal vicar of Jerusalem (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem). It reads, in part: “Let swords be turned into ploughshares, fear to trust, despair to hope, oppression to freedom, starvation to prosperity, occupation to liberation, and peace and justice could be experienced by all.” More materials will be released as Easter approaches. Learn more: Easter Initiative 2024 See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland