January 3, 2019

I am deeply grateful for the prayers and support of Lakeshore as I traveled to Bethlehem in December to hear from the Palestinian Christian community about their struggles and how the international Christian community can stand in solidarity and partnership as we work together for God’s justice in Palestine, in our own communities and throughout the world. It was a hopeful and heartening gathering of people of deep faith who continue to claim the truth of Scripture despite present realities of increasing injustice and inhumanity. Below are two specific ways the international community was encouraged to offer support and solidarity that Lakeshore will participate in this month.

Bible Study of the Kairos Palestine document. I will be leading a three week study on this document, described below, during Tuesday’s Soup and Study and Wednesday’s Bible Study and Prayer Ministry January 8/9, 15-16, 22-23. This study will explore what our faith demands of us in times great injustice, both in Palestine and our own country.

Kairos is a Greek word for a moment in time when God breaks in to human history to act in radical and redemptive ways. It is such a moment that the Palestinian Christian community is awaiting, and invites the global Christian community to participate in on their behalf. Ten years ago, Christians in the Holy Land drafted a powerful document entitled Kairos Palestine: a moment of truth – a word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering, in which they detail the dire situation of the Palestinian people, their profound faith in the God of justice and liberation, and their invitation to the larger Christian community to be part of God’s vision for justice, redemption and healing in their land.

Become an HP Free congregation. Hewlett Packard is a company that is profiting off the injustices endured by the Palestinian community in multiple ways. Palestinian Civil Society has asked the international community to boycott HP as long as they participate in structural injustices and against Palestinians. Come to the Forum on January 20 to learn more about what it means to be a HP Free congregation and why Lakeshore should consider this important decision. Lakeshore’s church council committed to seriously consider this decision and we will discuss it as a congregation at our Annual Meeting on January 27.

HP is one of a number of international campaigns targeted by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement led by the Palestinian community. The Alliance of Baptists, one of Lakeshore’s national Baptist partnerships, is an HP Free organization. To learn more about this campaign, check out fosna.org/free-your-church-hp.

I invite you to prayerfully consider how Lakeshore can partner with Palestinian Christians in love and service to the God of justice, freedom and equality.

Peace,

Allison