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(Please find the PDF for Chinese version)
Dear Friends,
Greetings from ACPP-Hotline Asia!
As we prepare and celebrate Christmas in the security and comfort of our
homes and communities, people in Bethlehem,
the birthplace of Jesus Christ, will again celebrate the season in
difficult climate. Concerns on violence, peace and security, and justice
issues continue due to the conflict between Palestine
and Israel.
Nonetheless, many individuals and groups persist on searching for
non-violent ways to voice their rights and work for a peaceful and just
future. Your wishes and prayers can break through their feelings of
isolation.
You are invited to e-mail Advent and Christmas wishes and prayers for
justice and peace to our friends and peace organizations in Bethlehem. ACPP is supporting
this joint effort and tradition put forth by the Pax Christi
International’s partners in Palestine – the Arab Educational
Institute, Library on Wheels for Non-violence and Peace, the Centre for
Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, the Justice and Peace Commission of
Jerusalem and Wi’am Center.
Your personal or spiritual gestures will bring hope to the people in Bethlehem. Messages
collected will be printed and handed out as personal messages, educational
materials (at schools), in the context of interfaith prayers and in the
newly established peace house of the Arab Educational Institute opposite
the Wall at Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem.
Put Your Wish for Peace into Action
Send your prayers and messages of peace before 7 January 2009 (Eastern Christmas)
to the Arab Educational Institute at <aei@p-ol.com>. These messages
will be posted on the website of the Institute (www.aeicenter.org).
While English is the preferred language, non-native speakers may also send
wishes and prayers in their mother tongue. If you would like to send
prayers and messages in Chinese, please email to ACPP at
<hotline@acpp.org> on or before 22 December.
This initiative is jointly supported by:
> The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum of the World Council of Churches
> Pax Christi International
> The International Fellowship of Reconciliation
> Church and Peace
> The Presidency of the Conference of European Justice and Peace
Commissions
> Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples
> Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation USG/UISG
Secretariat
Please see the attachment or go to Pax Christi web site
<http://storage.paxchristi.net/PUBLIC/2009-0720-en-me-PS.pdf> or
<http://www.paxchristi.net/international/eng/Bethlehem.php> for more
information. The joint announcement of the initiative is also available in
French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese and Italian.
We look forward to your support and your messages in the web site!
Yours sincerely,
Linda Noche
Coordinator
ACPP-Hotline Asia
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