Christmas Wishes and Prayers WISHES and PRAYERS 2009 Received from   AUSTRALIA   IRELAND AUSTRIA   JAPAN BELGIUM   JORDAN BRAZIL   NETHERLANDS CANADA   NEW ZEALAND COLUMBIA   PALESTINE COSTA RICA   PHILIPPINES FRANCE   PORTUGAL GERMANY   SCOTLAND GREECE   SPAIN INDIA   UNITED KINGDOM ISRAEL   UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ITALY   UNKNOWN   AUSTRALIA Dear Friends, As we watched a TV Programme last night we thought of you and we prayed at our evening prayer for PEACE, especially for our sisters and brothers in the Middle East. We belong to a small international religious congregation and some of us have lived in countries where there is violence. Blessings on all of you during Advent and at Christmas. May Jesus the prince of Peace bring you this greatest of all blessings! In solidarity and with prayer, Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus, Kew, Victoria ____________________ Dear Fellow Christians, Greetings!       May  the vulnerability of the little child show us our human vulnerability and our dependence on a great good God.  Our stony hearts of suspicion and violence can be changed overnight by waterfalls of grace towards healing.  Our prayers for your peace and happiness ask also for a conviction of Hope that our powerful God will change us. From Gandhi—‘Change.  Let it begin with me.’ Thank you to Christians in Bethlehem for caring for holy places with such devotion in difficulties, and for hosting the pilgrims of the world.  Our wish this Christmas celebration time is for you a Recurring Springing of Belief and Renewed Awareness of Great Love. ‘Let us be generous to each other as God was generous to us in Jesus’. Affectionate thoughts and prayers speed to you.       Molly Moran, Brisbane, Australia. ____________________ Dear Community May the birth of Jesus this year in Bethlehem be the bringing of peace to all the community which Christ tried to bring to all people. We are still trying to live out that message of peace, love and forgiveness. Know that your companions in the West are thinking of you again this Christmas and we pray that there will be peace in Bethlehem and upon all people. Christmas blessings upon you all Helen-Mary Langlands fcJ ____________________ Prayers and Wishes for Advent and Christmas in Bethlehem, 2009 from the City at Night Community, Canberra City Uniting Church.  In our prayers for others and in the lighting of the Advent candle for peace, we particularly remembered the people of Bethlehem of all faiths. We wrote these prayers as part of our intercessory prayers and we send them to you with peace and love.  I keep your city in my prayers this Christmas – even though I know little of your struggles. I pray for your peace. Amen.  Good luck in Bethlehem. God loves ya! OXOX. Bless Ya!  I pray for my family and friends and for those I met there.  My prayer is that you will never give up your goals, but never give up your humanity like Herod did when h feared loss of power and allowed this to guide him into evil actions. May love guide you.  May God bring peace in Gaza between Hamas and Israel and mutual love and respect grow and infighting decline and cease over the next few years.  We pray for understanding.  Dear Lord, let us always remember that you came to earth to save us and believe that peace will come someday.   When God came in Jesus to Bethlehem the only room was in a stable, but that was enough. Where there is room for God, blessings can grow. May you know this experience today.  I pray for peace and safety for all.  I pray that people find peace from war and for themselves. Don’t let go of Jesus and keep on praying. I pray that Bethlehem and the surrounding regions find peace. I pray for rest and for fun times with your children. Peace for all peoples in Bethlehem. I thank God for your continuing courage. I pray for peace and understanding in your community. I pray for your children that they may have a joyful future. May Gods blessing be upon you. I pray you feel loved this Christmas whatever else is happening. Open the eyes of the entire world, and in Bethlehem, and give us power and strength to change. We try for compromise on all sides so that peace may reign. Psalm 122 – Come Lord Jesus! Psalm 103 Behold how good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity.   We pray for those who suffer from illness and loneliness in war and in prison. May God give strength and confidence.    I pray for a fair resolution in Palestine where each community is able to trust each other and share in the resources. I send my greetings to you. I find it hard to imagine what you daily life must be like under the intolerable situations that Palestinian people are expected to live. The Advent message gives hope of a new Rule on Earth - of peace and joy to all.     My prayer is that, that will so. Peace be with you   Margaret Tonkin 122/16 Bedford Street Box Hill      3128 Australia ____________________ Dear friends, Pax Christi Australia, which forms part of Pax Christi International, the Christian Movement for Peace, once again wishes to send you a small expression of our care, solidarity and hopes for peace with justice. We send these greetings in prayer that all our Christian and Palestinian brothers and sisters will not lose hope in the One who comes among us in weakness and vulnerability with peace and calls all his followers to make peace and support all who are in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters.  We know of your struggles and long to be at your side as we make the plight of Palestinian people and the Christian minority known near and far. You have many who care and want to support you. Please be aware that you are very much in your thoughts in the continual difficulties you face. You are not forgotten by many people and please may this be a source of hope and comfort for you all.   Peace and good wishes for Christmas and the coming year.   (Father) Claude Mostowik msc National President, Pax Christi Australia ____________________ May the Infant Jesus touch your heart and grant your wishes this Christmas! Wishing you peace and joy! Merry Christmas!  Emelie De Leon Sydney, Australia ____________________  I wish to send my greetings and very best wishes to all in Palestine and Israel who are celebrating the lovely seasons of Advent and Christmas.  Everyone in the Holy Lands is in my prayers and thoughts as we travel together during these difficult times. May the Lord be with you and bring you peace in your country and personally in your heart May the Christ Child send you many blessings. Sister Patricia Nichols OP ____________________ Dear Friends, As we prepare for Christmas, my thoughts are with you, my sisters and brothers, in a special way. May you soon know real peace and may the coming of Jesus bring you great hope. You are not forgotten. Many blessings, Maryrose Dennehy ____________________ Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be known as the Children of God. But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To those who strike you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from those who take away your cloak, do not withhold your coat as well. Give to everyone who begs from you, and of those who take away your goods, do not ask them again. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Pamela A. Moll /Australia ____________________ May you receive all the blessings of peace and personal freedom that you need. God bless you. Anne Cannon/Australia ____________________ Dear sisters and brothers, I am reminded of you often as your land is familiar to me as a Christian. I send prayers and wishes of Peace, Justice, Hope and Good Will. I long with you for deep Peace to descend on your land and peoples.   Kay McPadden/Australia ____________________ Dear God, We pray for and end to the fighting and that the Wall will be no more. We pray that children will be able to go to the Church in Jerusalem and to the ocean. We pray that God will help the people who live in Bethlehem and the West bank. We pray that people will have enough money to travel and see other places and will have enough food. We pray that everyone will become friends and that soldiers will stop hurting people. We pray that people will know that God loves them and will be able to enjoy life without being sad. We pray for adequate health care and that sick people will have medicines and someone to care for them. We pray that children will get a good education and be able to get the jobs that they want.   These are the prayers of Class 6C at New Lambton Public School, Newcastle. New South Wales, Australia. ____________________ Dear friends in Bethlehem, It is impossible for us in Sydney, Australia, to appreciate the destruction of body, mind, spirit and place you have endured for so long. Be assured our prayers are with you in this season of peace and we hope you experience some peace and justice soon. St Joseph's Catholic Community, Newtown,  Sydney Australia May joy filled hearts be the norm as the day of celebrating the Birth of Jesus comes. What a blessing his arrival has been for all. Francis Brown/Australia ____________________ AUSTRIA Dear friends in Christ in Palestine! I send you my best wishes at Christmas 2009. I'm aware of the difficult situation people experience this days in Palestine. As far as it is possible I do my best to inform people around me about the political implications of the Israeli-Palestine conflict, about the wall, the segregation, and so on. Perhaps you know the song 'The wall must fall". I sing this song together with my daughter (she plays the mouth organ) at celebrations and so on, to inform people. I will pray again for you and a just peace. Do not lose hope! Meinrad Schneckenleithner from Pax Christi Austria ____________________ Dear friends, today Christ was born. We here in Austria, the heart of Europe as we see it, we are open to celebrate this day. In the evening with our families, at night at church it will be full house, all in best mood and enthusiasm. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow will be quiet days within the family, holidays, holy days! Though I have seen your country I have never spend Christmas there to understand the very special considerations which come up with you during these days. All I –better we as a family of now 15 in 3 generations – can say to you is:We stand behind you in your difficult situation, pray for you and hope very muchthat the time changes all for the good.Under this feeling all of us wish you allA Merry Christmas andA Happy New Year!May God assist your effort!Best regardsPaul ____________________ Dear sisters and brothers in Bethlehem, let me thank you for beings such faithful witnesses of hope and true peace within all the daily troubles you have to face. May the message of Christmas also strengthen and guide you on your way through the year 2010: "Don't be afraid! Rejoice for God's eternal love is among you!" Praying and hoping with you, Marianne Schallhas Pax Christi Austria, Commission for Economic Justice and Peace ____________________ Dear friends of Bethlehem and all inhabitants surrounding who like to live in peace and mutual agreement. We wish you with the help of God power and perseverance for your difficult situation. We sold olive wood carving from Bethlehem in our parish.  So we hope we can help some families. Merry Christmas and a better future for you Erich und Josefa Scheiblauer ____________________ Dear Friends, Christmas comes near and many of our thoughts go into your direction. We wish for you that this Christmas will be full of internal blessing in these hard times. May God give you comfort by the birth of his Son in your country. This cannot be taken away from you. Let us pray together: Good God, do not leave your sons and daughters in distress. Be with them and be with all people on earth who pray for justice and peace in Palestine and Israel and all over the world. Make the flock of men and women of good will grow though that at last the flame of peace will become stronger and stronger and fill our hearts with hope. Amen Gerhilde Merz Chair person of the Commission for Palestine and Israel of Pax Christi Austria     ____________________ BELGIUM Chers Frères et chères Soeurs, A vous qui habitez Bethlehem et sa Région grande Paix. Que votre profonde aspiration de Paix se réalise dans vos coeurs, vos aspirations politiques, et vos vies proches les uns des autres, pour qu'un jour vos enfants et les enfants de vos enfants vivent en frères et soeurs enfants du Dieu le Père de l'Enfant né à Bethlehem. De tout coeur, Paul Delrue missionnaire de Scheut Bruxelles. ____________________ We are praying and working for an end to the suffering of all victims of violent conflicts, especially for you, our brothers and sisters in Bethlehem. May God give us Peace. Claudette Werleigh Secretary General Pax Christi International ____________________ Our wishes for Christmas 2009     This Christmas we want to pray and ask our Lord :   Lead us from death to life, From falsehood to truth. Lead us from despair to hope, From fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, From war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, Our land, our world. Peace, Peace, Peace.   May new hope and courage be with you in your difficult situation. May Jesus Christ be your strength now and every day in 2010.      These are the Christmas wishes from your friends of Pax Christi Vlaanderen (Belgium) Jo Hanssens, president and Peter Houlleberghs, general secretary ____________________ Chers amis de Bethléem, il y a quelques mois, nous étions parmi vous, parcourant avec des militants, étudiants et journalistes cette terre Sainte que nous avons (re-)découverte avec émotion. Partout, à Hébron, Bethleem, Naplouse ou Jérusalem, nous avons pu mesurer l'ampleur de votre besoin de paix. Partout, des rencontres éclairantes et riches de cette immense foi en l'humanité que vous cherchez, malgré tout, à transmettre à vos enfants. L'approche des célébrations de Noël sont pour Pax Christi Wallonie Bruxelles l'occasion de vous réitérer son amitié et son soutien dans votre lutte juste et pacifique pour que les deux peuples vivent en paix. Avec tout notre respect et amitié, L'équipe de Pax Christi Wallonie-Bruxelles   Verbonden met het volk in Palestina wetend dat de muur het land doorkruist wil ik toch mijn hoop uitdrukken dat zij de hoop niet opgeven dat zij weten dat er mensen zijn ver over de grenzen héén die hun hoop mee willen dragen op weg naar 2010   Hilde Welffens ____________________ We wish all children, women and men of the city of Bethlehem Muslims, Jews and Christians a peaceful Christmas and a New Year of hope.   20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall there was a symbolic breakthrough through the Israeli Wall. For Israel it is a wall/fence of security and protection; for Palestinians it’s the wall of shame, ‘apartheid’, humiliation, socio-economic strangling and land robbery.   Christmas means hope and a future for all victims of suppression, exploitation, persecution, poverty, deprivation, injustice and violence. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ prophetic breakthrough through the walls of exclusion, discrimination, injustice and prejudice in his days: he called to worship in spirit and truth rather than behind discriminating commercialized Temple walls; he referred to the behaviour of a despised and hated Samaritan as an example for Jewish priests and believers; he broke the sabbath and denied food prescriptions to heal the sick or feed the hungry; he put God’s authority above the laws and judgement of Jewish leaders and the Roman occupying forces; he restored widows, orphans, aliens, sinners, lepers and other excluded groups in their human dignity.   May Jesus’ birthday inspire us to break through walls of  fear, distrust, prejudice, hatred and revenge in our minds and hearts. May the courageous peacemakers at both sides of the Israeli Wall and all the other walls in conflict areas over the world guide us and empower us to remain hopeful and humane in hopelessly inhuman and dehumanizing situations.   Wilfried Gepts CICM-JPIC Working Group – Brussels ____________________ Beste vrienden in Bethlehem, Wij blijven hopen dat Betlehem eens een stad van vrede mag worden, en dat er geweldloze wegen mogelijk zijn naar een goed samenleven van beide volkeren.  Ook voor jullie gezinnen en families wensen en bidden wij om moed. Hartelijke groet, Marcel de Prins ____________________ BRAZIL Bom dia, caros irmãos em Cristo, Feliz Advento!  Feliz Natal! São votos de Amilton Maciel Monteiro São José dos Campos/SP - Brasil                  Feliz Advento!   Bem mais que de repente a vida se transforma... parece que ficamos todos mais felizes. O proceder tacanho muda sua norma... e a própria Natureza altera seus matizes.   As aves cantam mais! E há até bela reforma em todos os jardins perto dos quais tu pises! A caridade aumenta!  E ninguém se conforma ver pobres... e os socorrem embaixo das marquises!   - O que anda acontecendo? Me pergunta alguém que nunca ouviu dizer que existe vida além... e jamais lhe mostraram a Verdadeira Luz.   Então, eu lhe repondo cheio de confiança: o  mundo se prepara, amigo! É uma Criança que vem pra nos salvar... e seu nome é Jesus!   Amilton M. Monteiro/2009 São José dos Campos/SP - Brasil                        Feliz Natal!   Feliz Natal, irmãos! Feliz Natal! Que bom aqui estarmos novamente para brindar a data sem igual de todos os cristãos, de todo crente!   Feliz Natal, irmão, mesmo que ausente por força superior, não fará mal,  se o amor nos une espiritualmente! E isto é que é importante, no final...   Louvemos, que Jesus, de quando em quando Volta a nos visitar... E está chegando! Alegres tocam sinos na capela...   Meu coração também ficou contente e ardendo tanto ou mais que a acesa vela... Pois Deus-Menino vem ficar com a gente!   Amilton M. Monteiro/2009 São José dos Campos/SP - Brasil ____________________ CANADA Dear Friends in Bethlehem ~ I am remembering all of you with hope, concern and heartfelt prayer.  Like our Saviour -- whose birthplace you call home -- you face much uncertainty and even opposition. I hope and pray that you and your children will soon live in greater security with peace as the fruit of justice.  I am with you all in a spirit of Christian love and solidarity.  I am also remembering everyone in the Holy Land -- people of all cultures and traditions.   Christmas blessings and New Year's hope.  Come, O Sun of Justice!  Sincerely in Emmanuel, God truly with us, Sister Roma De Robertis ____________________    Hello to our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, From faraway Canada, here are our wishes for a blessed and holy Christmas for you. We pray for justice, peace and security for all people. Bonheur et Paix à tous les peuples de la terre. Therese & Tim ____________________   Chers amis de Bethléem, Je souhaite qu'il y ait enfin une trêve dans le conflit israelo-palestinien. Je partage les souffrances des palestiniens qui subissent toutes sortes d'ennuis et de vexations dans leur vie  quotidienne. Que les Palestiniens puissent parler d'une même voix pour réclamer la  paix et des conditions de vie respectueuses de leur liberté. Que les habitants de Bethléem, la ville où Jésus est né, puissent répandre autour d'eux et dans tout le Moyen-Orient cette paix désirée par tous les hommes de bonne volonté. Joseph Foucher, Québec, Canada. ____________________ I have hope that some day, solidarity will prevail. I wish you deep joy on the anniversary of the God made man. All my energy is invested in the area of social justice. The write Ron Rohlheiser says: “We are not asked to succeed but we are asket to try” Sister Auréa Cormier, NDSC from Canada   Peace and hope to our brothers and sisters in Bethlehem!   Here in Canada we are about to enter Advent, the time for all Christians to grow in a capacity to wait in hope and trust for a new vision of peace and justice, of relationships of respect and interdependence. We think of all of you in Bethlehem with love, compassion and concern.   We picture your life of insecurity and limitation, surrounded by a Wall which represents division and fear, rather than dialogue and mutual understanding. At the same time, we marvel at your patient fidelity to hope and to work for peace and reconciliation with your Israeli sisters and brothers. We are inspired by your commitment to non-violent means of calling for justice and peace. We stand in solidarity with you and we pray that the Prince of Peace who was born so humbly in your midst in a time of injustice will receive your deep desires for healing and transformation in both Palestine and Israel. We, members of Antennes de Paix in Montreal, Canada, associated with Pax Christi International, are committed to a culture of peace and non-violence in our city, our country, and the world. We know that we join large numbers of people, including yourselves, who will give birth to Love, the Source of all justice and peace. May this Season renew your strength, your vision, and your hope. And may all the poor and oppressed of our world experience Love Who embraces them. Antennes de paix Montreal ____________________   COLUMBIA JESÚS NIÑO: ENSÉÑANOS A COMPRENDER QUE DONDE HAY JUSTICIA, CARIDAD Y PAZ, ALLÍ ESTÁS TU Y ALLÍ TAMBIEN ES NAVIDAD "Dios se hizo pobre, pequeño e indefenso, para poder mostrarnos su amor y, a su vez, para que nosotros podamos amarle a Él en los pobres, pequeños e indefensos. “Lo que hagan por los demás, a mí me lo hacen. Yo también tuve hambre y sufría, yo también fui indefenso y ustedes me ayudaron”.” (Teresa de Calcuta).   ¡FELICES FIESTAS 2009 Y UN 2010 DE PAZ Y FRATERNIDAD! Son los deseos de: JUVENTUD   PAX CHRISTI En solidaridad con ustedes desde una tierra que lucha por la reivindicación de sus derechos Barrancabermeja Colombia ____________________ COSTA RICA Dear Friends, We send greetings and prayers for peace and love to come to your part of the world.  May God be with you and give you hope, comfort and special blessings at this sacred time of the year. Judy & Dan L. ____________________ FRANCE Que la lumière et l'espérance de Noël encore proche nous fassent devenir ensemble les manifestants de l'Evangile. Pour l'équipe du Service diocésain des personnes Malades. Marie-Thérèse Vedel ____________________ Chers freres et soeurs en Jesus-Christ, Nous vous ecrivons ce mel de Reims, dans l'est de la France. A l'occasion de Noel, nous voudrions tous que chacun puisse connaitre la paix et la joie. Mais nous savons que la situation au Moyen-Orient est toujours bloquee, que l'aide promise par nos dirigeants n'arrive pas, ou peu, et que votre region est toujours isolee, etouffee. Alors que le mur separant l'Allemagne de l'Est de l'Allemagne de l'Ouest etait enfin tombe, les hommes se sont remis a edifier un nouveau mur, honte pour l'humanite. Certainement, le monde ne connaitra pas la paix tant que le conflit israelo-palestinien ne sera pas regle.   L'ensemble de la population de France entend parler de vous, et espere un reglement rapide, juste et durable de ce conflit qui vous oppresse et vous dechire depuis si longtemps, et surtout l'annee qui s'acheve ! En mi-decembre, nous avons entendu l'appel de theologiens palestiniens, "Un moment de verite". Nous avons appris qu'une marche de la Liberte aura lieu à Gaza vendredi 1er janvier 2010; a Reims, une manifestation se rassemblera le mardi 29 decembre, a l'appel de l'association France-Palestine. Et d'autres manifestations de ce genre auront lieu dans d'autres villes de France, ces jours-la.   Nous recevons des temoignages sur ce que vous vivez, et nous essayons de transmettre ces informations autour de nous, dans nos paroisses, dans nos mouvements. Nous aimerions pouvoir faire bien davantage pour tenter d'ameliorer votre situation, mais ce que nous faisons semble si dérisoire...   En cette nuit de Noel, le Createur vient dans Sa création. L'Emmanuel vient parmi nous, non pas Tout-Puissant, mais sous les traits d'un enfant fragile et dependant. Vous etes pour nous le Christ souffrant, et notre pensee et nos prieres montent vers le Pere pour que justice vous soit enfin faite. Soyez dans la Paix et dans la Joie, non pas celles du monde, qui vous sont actuellement inaccessibles, mais celles que le Seigneur octroie a Ses enfants !                         Pour le groupe "Pax Christi" de Reims                                 Francois GAUDARD*************************** ____________________ The Ursulines Sisters from PARIS 5th wish you a peaceful Christmas and pray for and with you Joyeux Noël Anne Tricaud ____________________ Venez et contemplez Jésus, grand prêtre, feu et source... dans nos déserts « Le Verbe s’est fait chair et il a demeuré parmi  nous » (Jn 1,4) NOEL: Paix et joie dans les coeurs !  Aujourd’hui, il s’incarne par nos notre présence, nos geste, nos paroles pour révéler le visage de Dieu : visage de tendresse et de pitié, de compassion et d’amour. Par l’intercession de MARIE, Reine de la Paix, nous prions pour vous, demandant à l’Emmanuel de vous apporter : Paix - Peace – Salam – Frieden – Paz – Shalom – Pace   Sr Pia et communauté, de Paris ____________________ A nos frères et sœurs palestiniens , spécialement , ceux de Gaza  ….   A l’initiative de Pax Christi, les Fils de la Charité âgés ou bien malades de la maison de retraite , dimanche 20 décembre,  ont prié avec vous et pour vous. Plusieurs sont engagés dans des mouvements de  paix pour la Palestine . La plupart ont voulu exprimer un petit message de solidarité . Les voici :   « Je mes sens solidaire de tous les chrétiens quelque soit leur confession , spécialement ceux qui vivent le drame de l’enfermement à Gaza. Je prie pour que vous trouviez la force d’être témoins de notre foi et de notre espérance au milieu de ceux qui souffrent  (René B )   En cette période de Noël , nous pensons particulièrement à vous qui vivez des heures douloureuses , Salam  (Michel T)      Justice for your people with a true peace and a total territory! Foods for babies, youths and grandparents. Health and joy to the next Year 2010   God bless you, a friend and brother, happy Christmas ! ( Yves G)   Puisse la paix de Celui qui est toute Charité , notre  « Abba » vous offrir les Béatitudes de Jésus venu pour tous ….et vous êtes de ses privilégiés . Que le Seigneur Jésus vous aime et vous garde sa bonté , lui le Prince de la paix et de la vraie justice. (Michel B)   Attentif au drame du peuple palestinien et plus spécialement au sort des habitants de Gaza , emprisonnés et écrasés par la violence des armes  je veux vous exprimer ma solidarité . Je pense à toutes les familles spécialement celles qui n’ont plus les moyens de vivre ou pleurent la mort d’un être cher. Celles qui sont humiliées et souffrent pour l’avenir de leurs enfants , leur santé et leur vie . Je désire que les européens dénoncent plus fortement  ce drame et au besoin prennent des mesures économiques nécessaires pour que  soit arrêtée cette injustice  (René B)   Bon courage pour l’année 2010, restez vous-même et tenez le coup , unis dans le Christ  (Jean-Marie L)   De tout cœur avec vous tous par la pensée et la prière (André P )   Très fraternellement  (Paul B)    Avec toutes mes amitiés et ma solidarité (Jean A)   Nous avons vu meurtrie la terre et souillée la mer de Gaza. Nous souffrons avec vous dont la croix est lourde à porter.   Frères bien aimés de Jésus , je prie bien pour vous , bonne fête de Nativité (M . Rosalie)   Paix aux hommes que Dieu aime  (Pierre LC)   Merci pour votre exemple de résistance non violente , votre témoignage de courage et de foi. Avec tous les résistants du monde d’aujourd’hui , nous  croyons dans les Béatitudes de Jésus . Le Dieu de l’Alliance , le  Père qui a fait naître son Fils sur votre terre ne peut vous abandonner , nous prions avec vous , nous prions pour vous . (Michel  M)   Ne nous croyez pas ignorants de vos souffrances. Déjà , votre point d’attache si prés de Bethléem et de Nazareth suffit à ce que vos pensées soient présentes dans nos prières . Elles sont toute teintées à la lumière de l’espoir. (Jean  L)   En tant que militant au « mouvement de la paix » c’est réellement de tout cœur que je me sens solidaire de vous tous , dans votre prière , dans vos grandes souffrances et dans votre action pour la paix. (Michel  D) »  ____________________ Dear friends, Would you send to our christian brothers of Palestine this prayer that I send several years ago to our newspaper "La Croix" My husband and I wish the best for Xmas time to our brothers in Palestine. Nicole Louvet    Je ne vous oublie pas et je prie pour que le Seigneur vous donne la force de continuer la route... Paix aux hommes de bonne volonté! Chantal, une catholique française ____________________ Que la Paix vienne, et encore plus dans votre pays qui en a tant besoin. Je vous envoie ce diaporama qui est pour moi signe de cette paix que nous cherchons tous, même avec nos pauvres balbutiements et nos trop faibles moyens, et nos immenses révoltes... En avril, nous sommes un groupe de 31 personnes qui sont dans la mouvance du CCFD et de l'Action Catholique Ouvrière, qui allons visiter votre pays, celui de nos racines de croyants, celui de toutes vos luttes pour la justice et la dignité. Je prie très fort pour que tolérance, respect, partage, dialogue, justice, reconnaissance de chacun, liberté, tous ces mots si malmenés arrivent enfin chez vous et dans notre monde qui pourrait être si beau et si bon si seulement.... Anne Marie ____________________ Chers amis de Bethléem, Bien sûr, nous sommes interpellés par tant de souffrances accumulées  chaque jour par vous tous, là-bas! Nous qui sommes si confortablement installés içi, en France, nous prions pour que dans ce temps de Noël qui arrive, vos fardeaux  soient partagés et un peu plus légers à porter grâce à cette chaîne de prières et d'amitié entre nous. Osons espérer que cette nouvelle année voit les conflits s'éloigner et  débouchent enfin sur une issue de Paix et de Joie. Gardez toujours cette petite lumière "Esperance" Joyeux Noël à chacun de vous et  vos familles. Maithé de Thoux   Marie-Françoise LALLEMENT, 30, rue Carnot- 51380 VERZY - France   Message aux chrétiens qui fêtent la naissance de l'enfant-Dieu, en cette nuit de Noël, à Bethléem:   Ô Dieu, par le souffle de ton Esprit, Tu est venu naître dans nos cœurs. Berger de l'attente, dans le silence de cette nuit, nous attendons le chant céleste annonçant la paix dans un monde meurtri par les conflits et où les droits de l'homme sont à défendre. Que la justice et la joie règnent dans les cœurs et suscitent la volonté de construire de fraternité. Jésus, enfant fragile, offert pour nous tous, est venu éclairer nos pauvretés. Sachons porter les lumières de la paix et de l'amour afin de bâtir un monde fraternel, une terre nouvelle avec Jésus sauveur.  Amen ____________________ Chers amis chrétiens de Bethléem, Nous sommes une petite communauté internationale de 3 soeurs, Filles de la Charité de Saint Vincent de Paul. Nous venons vous dire que nous sommes très proches de vous : vous êtes présents dans notre pensée et dans notre prière. A l'approche de la naissance de Jésus, ensemble  bâtissons des ponts de prières et de fraternité. Vous n'êtes pas oubliés . Gardez courage, gardez l'espérance et le Prince de la Paix viendra vous bénir . Tout est possible à celui qui croit ! Que Dieu vous garde dans la confiance et dans son Amour ! Bonne et heureuse fête de Noël ! malgré tout ! srs clara, Yonide et Jayamary, filles de la Charité   Merry Christmas for you all, and peace for this new year. Jacques GENET   En cette nuit de Noël, nuit de l'ESPÉRANCE, nous sommes avec vous  dans la prière pour la paix. C et M. Vincennes – France   Il y a plus de 2000 ans, le fils de Dieu s'est fait homme pour témoigner de l'amour de Dieu. Les anges chantaient "Gloire à dieu au plus haut des cieux et paix sur la terre aux hommes qu'il aime" Je prie le Seigneur Jésus de vous envoier sa paix en cette fête  de Noel. Martine DELANNOY ____________________ De Pax Christi, Annecy Nous nous sommes réunis pour le jeune et la prière le vendredi 11 décembre à Eglise Saint Maurice pour être plus près de Dieu et de vous. Nous vous adressons ces messages: malgré ce qui  vous arrive passez un bon Noël dans l'espoir d'une paix proche. Nous vous embrassons L'équipe de Pax Christi d'Annecy 74000 France   Marie: Message de Paix et d'Espoir à vous tous,mes frères. Nous prions ensemble.   Jean Pierre Que ce soit la dernière année de guerre et que Dieu soit la Paix qui vient vite pour vous! Prions ensemble.   Jean François Pour que l'étonnement soit ton plus grand mystère source d'espoir et de rencontre entre les hommes.   Danielle Avec vous tous les jours par la prière en espérant que le mur de l'incompréhension tombe un jour   Marie Christine "Et toi Bethléem,tu n'es pas le plus petit des chef lieux de Judée." Tous nos vœux de Paix vous accompagnent et je vous adresse  beaucoup d'amour à vous les habitants d'aujourd'hui en Judée.   Que ce Noël soit un jour de Paix et de bonheur, en union avec vous nos frères de cœur. Belles fêtes et union de prières.   Paulette Bonheur et Paix à tous les peuples de la terre.   Pierre Marmilloud, prêtre Depuis Annecy, nous pensons à vous et prions avec vous. Nous sommes unis dans la recherche quotidienne de la réconciliation,du dialogue,du partage. Nous faisons des groupes de femmes musulmanes et de femmes chrétiennes qui construises la paix entre nos communautés   Seigneur,puisque rien ne t'es impossible,fais de moi,de nous,chrétiens tous les hommes des artisans de Paix, là où nous vivons, là où il y a divisions, jalousies, violences. Jésus, Prince de la Paix, je t'en prie.   Françoise Bonnes et heureuses fêtes de Noël. Nous pensons à vous et nous prions pour vous.   Que Noël 2009 ouvre nos cœurs à ceux que je côtoie au quotidien et que le Seigneur nous donne son esprit et son audace pour briser les murs que nous érigeons si facilement (jugements, préjugés, ironie, indifférences) et que la paix irrigue nos cœurs.   Odile En essayant de faire tomber les murs qui sont à l'intérieur de moi, je m'associe je me défais procède la situation qui est la votre.   Michèle Le Bars Nous pensons beaucoup à vous, vous êtes dans nos prières et dans nos cœurs. Bon chemin vers Noël,et amical souvenir d'une "pèlerine" de Terre sainte" qui a été dans vos villes.   Claire De tout cœur avec vous,en ce temps accueil du Messager de la Paix. Que nos prières qui lui sont adressées pour vous participent à faire disparaitre intolérance la peur,sources des conflits et à faire naitre l'amitié entre les peuples. Avec mon amitié, mes vœux de courage et d'espérance.   Franck Chère Au delà Paix politiquée humaine,je associe à vous dans la Paix du Christ,la Paix du cœur qui surpasse toue paix. Que cette paix du cœur fasse advenir l'autre paix terrestre à plus ou moins brève échéance grâce au pardon total donné à l'autre,à l'ennemi. Je vous embrasse fraternellement.   Soyons des artisans de paix là où nous sommes. Union de prière   C. Giorgione Que l'Enfant de Bethléem vous apporte la confiance,et que la paix soit dans chacun de vos cœurs afin que les murs de la séparation soient démolis.   Micheline Marc Je vous souhaite de tout cœur un Joyeux Noël de Paix.   Sylviane Nous préparons Noël et prions pour que la Paix travaille tous les cœurs des habitants du monde,que la Lumière de Jésus éclaire tous les peuples dans l'espérance.   En cette approche de Noèl puisse le Prince de la Paix nous aider TOUS à nous engager sur le seul chemin ouvert encore aujourd'hui. Alléluia!   Simone et Paul Bouvier Que chacun s'accepte dans sa différence. Que chacun ait le droit de prier avec sa différence. Que les chrétiens soient reconnu et que tous fêtent Noël dans la Paix.   Catherine La paix du Christ.   En ce dimanche de la Paix, nous sommes de tout coeur avec vous pour prier le Prince de la Paix pour que son règne vienne et apporte justice, réconfort et paix à tous les pays et très spécialement sur cette terre où Il a vécu et qu'Il a particulièrement aimée. Merci du beau témoignage de courage et d'endurance dans l'épreuve que vous nous donné. Les Soeurs ursulines de la communauté de Caen. ____________________ PRIERE POUR LA PAIX EN PALESTINE   Dieu de justice et de paix Toi qui as choisi Bethleem pour berceau de Jésus, Ta Parole éternelle  pour ceux qui cherchent le chemin de la Vie et aspirent à l’harmonie entre les hommes. Vois, Les injustices criantes, Les traumatismes causés par les violences Les spoliations qui perdurent, Toute la souffrance des habitants de Palestine.   Envoie Ton Esprit sur les artisans de ta Paix, Ceux qui encouragent toutes les initiatives d’entraide et de compréhension, Ceux qui sont ouverts à chacun sans tenir compte de son appartenance religieuse ou nationale.   Envoie ton Esprit sur ceux qui informent le monde : Qu’ils ne se lassent pas de dénoncer Toutes les entraves à la dignité des personnes, Toutes les décisions venant contrarier les avancées de la paix. Qu’ils sachent aussi déclarer haut et fort Toutes les initiatives courageuses et aimantes tissant des liens cordiaux entre juifs et arabes. Je te redis ma confiance. L’espoir que la foi en Toi est  seule à nous donner, c’est le cadeau de Noël que je te prie de nous accorder.   Marie-France Faure  - Pax Christi Cantal - France ____________________ GERMANY My warmest wishes and "Merry Christmas and a happy New Year" to all people in Bethlehem – including who are working at the AEI, their families and all whom I have met during my stays in Bethlehem!Isolde   6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1, 6-9   May His Light shine into Your Holy Night and into all days and nights of Your New Year. May His Light also shine through us to those in darkness to bear witness of an other reality, to encourage living and to enlighten hearts and minds. We wish You all a MERRY CHRISTMAS ! Yours Hanna Lehming Middle East Desk, Northelbian Missioncenter, Hamburg/Germany ____________________ Liebe Palästinenserinnen und Palästinenser,   in unserem adventlichen Morgengebet in unserer kath. Gemeinde haben wir für Euch gebetet: Möge Gott Euch die nötige Kraft schenken, die Ihr so dringend braucht!   Ebenso haben wir für Eure Besatzer gebetet, dass Gott sie von ihrem Hass und ihrer Verblendung befreien möge!   In herzlicher Verbundenheit Winfried Bel, Wilhelmsfeld ____________________ Dear friends in Bethlehem! Christmas is the time to remind God of his promises: peace and justice for all. Let us never give up our hopes and let us do our part of work that a just peace will come to life in the Holy Land! May God bless you all Veronika Huening Pax Christi Germany  ____________________ I wish you and your people inspite of all the darkness a blessed christmas! I got the "Word of faith and hope from the heart of Palestinian suffering", which was published last weekend in Bethlehem. A strong word! I am spreading this word and hope that it will move people round the world to change the  terrible situation! Rosemarie ____________________ Dear friends in Bethlehem, you will have to spend an other Christmas behind walls, with checkpoints, settlements and peace is so far.... In these days I am thinking for you at the birthplace of Jesus. I got the paper of former Patriarch Michel Sabah and other officials of Christian churches drawing the worldwide attention on the situation in the Holy Land. May it be successful! I wish you that you don`t lose your hope and your "sumud". My prayers are with you! Rosemarie Wechsler Munich (Germany) ____________________ For the people in Bethlehem who try to work for peace: INSTRUMENT OF PEACE After St Francis To the ice of hate may I be an axe of love, to frostbitten injury the salve of pardon, to cold waters of doubt a bridge of faith, to the dark soil of despair a seed of hope, to the snowstorm of sadness a shelter of joy, to long nights of darkness a lantern of light. (Mary Palmer) Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has. (Margaret Mead) Sent by Brigitte Wedderburn, Munich ____________________ Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, And thick darkness the peoples; But the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light And kings to the brightness of your rising.                                                  Isaiah 60, 1-2   Düsseldorf, Germany, December 6 2009   All the members of the Commission Solidarity One World of Pax Christi Germany send their very best greetings and wishes for a happy and peaceful Christmas.   May the Good Lord accompany you throughout the New Year with His blessings, protect and strengthen you in your work for peace and justice.   Christine Klissenbauer ____________________ Christmas-prayer God of life, I am happy that you did not come to us as powerful king, emperor, dictator, or politician but as small crying child in a manger. This gives me hope and strengths! Because of your unexpected coming as toddler -          I am learning to see the small steps that bring big changes, -          I am learning to see the importance of human relations, -          I am learning to look at the many people that work for good – in fact I hope that these crowd of people outnumber by far the armies, fighters, violent fathers and oppressive relationships. Give us the strengths that we will not lose hope and that we work humbly, patiently but powerful for the benefit of all human beings, no matter if Jewish, black, rich, Muslim, homosexual, Christian, Atheist,… Please help us to overcome these categories.  As for a little child in a manger those categories do not exist. Jochen Stoll/Germany ____________________ Dear inhabitants of Bethlehem, dear people living in Palestine and Israel, may this Christmas, some days before the beginning of the new decade of the new millennium, represent a time of change: a time of peace, a time of understanding, a time of forgiveness, a time of reunion, a time for laughter, a time for hugging, for holding our next's hands, and walk along a new path together, side by side. One first step, then another following... We will be thinking of you on Christmas Eve. May peace be with you! M. Cisneiros Dallmeier, Kiel, Germany. ____________________ Liebe Freunde, dear friends, as a former secretary general of Pax Christi Germany (now more private but not yet retired) I wish you in the birthplace of our “Salvador” Jesus Christ: not and never to give up the hope Jesus, our friend and master of peacemaking, has given us in a radical, human and encouraging way - of being alive after being crucified. A special wish goes to Fuad Giacaman: I remember the PCI-Meeting in Mainz/Germany in 2001, when we shared one room and much/many engagement/s.   We pray for you and with you – in difficult and sometimes dark times - for an ever lasting peace in the Holy Land after 60 years,   Yours in friendship Reinhard Voss ____________________   GREECE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Greece “Justice and Peace” Commission Very Dear Friends in Bethlehem: As we prepare to celebrate the glorious Birth of our Saviour here in Greece, we send Holiday Greetings of love and friendship to you in Bethlehem.  As we look back on 2009, certainly moments of sorrow mix with joy, but we appreciate our fundamental well-being – our freedom to think, feel, enjoy, share and be ourselves.  We reflect also on the plight of many people less fortunate than ourselves, struggling to survive, to be free, to be educated, to build a future for themselves, their children and their families. And we offer prayers of compassion for all those whose daily lives consist of fear, suffering and deprivation, and who yearn for change.   Joining our prayers with all those reading this message, we say:  “Have Mercy on us, God, and do not assess us harshly; Remember the hearts that rejoice in You and You in them!  Remember Your faithful and let not Your Hand fall on us with force but rather, in Your Mercy, lift us and place Your precepts in every heart. Amen.”   You have blessed us O God with the gift of FRIENDSHIP The bonding of persons in a circle of love. In this joyful season of loving and giving, may PEACE Prevail Over All The Earth. With love and blessings. Father Andreas Voutsinos                                        President of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Greece ____________________ INDIA Dear Friends in Bethlehem, Please accept my prayerful and cordial greetings of the Holy Season! Advent is a Season of Hope for all who hunger and labour for justice and peace in the world. The seed of justice and peace was sown in the soil of Bethlehem even as Jesus - the Prince of Peace and the Sun of Justice - was born there. May this Holy Season renew y/our hope and replenish y/our energy for restoring lasting peace in the Holy Land and in the entire world! Merry Christmas! And a Peace-filled New Year! In Solidarity, Antony  ____________________ May all the good people of Bethlehem peace be with you. May St.Francis of Assisi be your leader and guide in your conflict with Isreal. May you find peace, joy, hope, prosperity, happiness, and harmony in your hearts, in your families, with your neighbours, in your villages and towns, and in your state and in your person. i wish you much hope and much happiness during this Christmas Avvari Showraiah, ideas voluntary organization, Tiruvuru india ____________________ ISRAEL Le Forum International Pour la Paix vous souhaite une année 2010 porteuse de paix, de justice et de sérénité. The International Forum for Peace wishes you a new year full of peace, justice and serenity. El Foro Internacional para la Paz le desea un Año Nuevo lleno de paz, de justicia y de serenidad. שנה טובה. كل عام وانتم بخير  ____________________ My prayers are with you on your holiday, and I hope that the Christmas message of Peace on Earth and Good Will to all Humankind will soon prevail.B'Vrakha (In Blessing),Arik ____________________ ITALY Vi inviamo allegati i messaggi scritti da i banbini della scuola primaria U  Foscolo di Mira (Venezia) ____________________ "Gesù Bambino esiste", dice Angela nel bellissimo racconto che qui vi presentiamo: "Miracolo di Natale" , una storia vera scritta da Maria Winowska, che fu amica di Giovanni Paolo II e apprezzata scrittrice di agiografia Cliccate sotto per accedere... http://www.reginamundi.info/BuonNatale "Oggi, come ai tempi di Gesù, il Natale non è una favola per bambini, ma la risposta di Dio al dramma dell'umanità in cerca della vera pace. "Egli stesso sarà la pace!" - dice il profeta riferendosi al Messia. A noi spetta aprire, spalancare le porte per accoglierlo. Benedetto XVI - Angelus 20 Dicembre 2009 Si, cari amici, il nostro augurio è che possiamo tutti accogliere il Divino Bambino, che con il suo Amore vuole portare la Pace e la gioia in ogni cuore e in ogni famiglia. Buon Natale e Buon Anno da parte di tutto lo staff di Regina Mundi ____________________ IRELAND Warm greetings from Ireland  Wishing you God's blessings of peace & joy in 2010, from Sylvia Thompson, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland. ____________________ May people throughout the world pray for you this Christmas, dear friends in Bethlehem and throughout the region, that together we may bring an end to the shameful conflict in our Holy Land. May the world bring more effort to solve this problem which we have all created and which you alone, dear brothers and sisters, have to bear. May our One God help us to find the peace in our hearts which He always intended. May we find sustenance in our Holy Books, understanding in the eyes of our sisters and brothers, and courage in our hopes for our children. And may you all be blessed with joy and abundance. Joanne Carroll, Dublin, Ireland ____________________ As we prepare for our celebrations at Christmas in a city where guns and bombs no longer promote the message of hate, I pray that  Bethlehem and the whole land surrounding it will soon be able to join in a shared future of peace and, like Northern Ireland, will cease to  live in an atmosphere of fear and anxiety.  I hope that the peace you long for in your hearts will become a reality in your lives.  A TRULY HAPPY AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS TO BETHLEHAM FROM BELFAST Mairead McKeown (Pax Christi) ____________________ Greetings to everyone there who is living through such awful times, may 2010 bring better days which have to come some day just as they have come to the North of this country, where we could never imagine how that could come about. Felicity Casserly, Ireland ____________________ Prayers and good wishes from Ireland to the people in Bethlehem. Go raibh solas agus síocháin na Nollag agaibh. Beannacht an Linbh Íosa oraibh. Úna Heffernan ____________________ JAPAN Dear brothers and sisters, The birth of Jesus means peace, joy and liberation from all the forms of oppression. As we look at the reality of Bethlehem, we realize that the reality is far from what Bethlehem means to the humanity. From Japan, we send you our heart-felt greetings of solidarity to tell you that your wish and dream are our wish and dream. Our Christmas greetings is also an expression of our commitment to peace and non-violence. Shizue Hirota Catholic Council for Justice and Peace, Japan ____________________ JORDAN We wish happy holidays and hope the new year will bring us closer to justice and peace in this region!  IKV Pax Christi Amman office: Rania Fazah & Marjolein Wijninckx ____________________ NETHERLANDS To all of you my best wishes for the New Year, and to our orthodox friends among us, I wish you a Merry Christmas. March 2009 I was able to visit the AEI in Betlehem with our good friend Joyce and your work made a tremendous impression on me. Keep courage to continue with your youth and women groups, the tourism project and all the good work you are doing. These days of closure and the reality of the wall and the occupation are so difficult for the Palestinian people, but you at the AEI show by your creative projects that the spirit of humanity cannot be thrown down. At this place I recommend everybody to link to the AEI and go and see for her/himself "the things that have happened in Betlehem". Karel Jungheim ____________________ Dear friends of the Arab Educational Institute, Receive my Christmas wishes and blessings for New Year. We people don't have all things in hands. We are not able to break down iron-walls. In His Message is a way of perseverance and sumud. Kairos and going hand in hand can keep hope alive. How stubborn facts may be, how hard to learn at times we people: not to-day, but to-morrow a new time will come! That you may feel it breaking through in this Christmas season and in 2010. That you may see it coming, one day, sometimes a moment for yourself, for each other, for your children.   Last week, December 22, I went to Utrecht for the presentation of the Dutch translation of the Kairos document of your Church-leaders. I have been invited to be a member of the commission of recommendation of the Dutch Churches. Only to assure you: you don't pass out of our mind and heart. If you have still in mind to come next year with a group to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, I can assist in finding a nice place to welcome your people.   Louis L.J. Peeters, sma Helleberg 13 5508 BK Veldhoven The Netherlands ____________________ Best wishes for peace and joy. Visiting Beit Lahm at eastern I took these photo's. A concrete wall can't stop the idea It is used to be a pamflet It is pierced by thought it is demolished by dream. The child born few miles away listens to the song He understands ... He makes the dream come thruth. All the best in 2010 Hilde & Herman The Netherlands ____________________ Dear friends, In church this morning I promised to make good my failure up to now to send you a message of encouragement.  Those who are celebrating the coming of Christ with Epiphany we wish a Blessed Christmas and we hope that those who have already celebrated Jesus' birth have been encouraged by the hope He brings into all our lives. We are impressed by the work you do to bring together Christians, Jews and Moslims and support you with prayers and also financially. I have sent an appeal to the Israeli ambassador in The Hague to release Abdallah Abu Rahmah and all other Bil'in prisoners. With kind regards, Clara, Hanneke, Ina and of the ZWO Committee Protestant Church Stede Broec The Netherlands   My dear friends, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, the lasting incarnation of peace of our Lord. Don´t give up in the New Year. The times of God are always changing and full of surprise. We prayed this morning in our church in Maarssen, that He may help us not to forget you. Let´s stay in communion! Gied ten Berge ____________________ Dear AEI members and friends! I would like to wish all of you a most blessed Christmas and all the best for 2010. I hope you will go on with the work wherein your strength lays: 'Cultivating talent, communicating hope and creating a new future'  (words of Rifat Kassis, director of ATG, the Alternative Travel Group, besides the Lutherian Church in Bethlehem). Rev. Guus Koelman, Rotterdam ____________________   ____________________ Hello my friends, I am Jantine Wopereis from the Netherlands and I have a wish for everybody in Bethlehem. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. And I wish you too, that this coming year will be better then last year.  I wish that you will have more luck and more love than last year. That's all I wish for you!! (I have much more to wish, but then I have to send  hundred mails to you.)  I hope that you find a little bit of hope in my letter and that you'll enter the new year happier and with a smile. Many kisses and a friendly greet from Jantine Wopereis (14 years old)   ____________________ To my dear friends in Bethlehem, Palestine,   With every Christmas I remember my visit to Bethlehem at Christmas time in 2004 with the Dutch pilgrims. I remember your faces and voices, I remember your hospitality, I remember your pride, your friendliness, the love you share within your families and between families and - most of all - your sumud. I remember what I saw, your city, your land being occupied, the military oppression, the troubles you faced in your daily lives. And I realize things have worsened since then. I realize peace is still far away. I realize that you still can't live a quiet, peaceful life and I realize that your future is still very uncertain. I'm sorry that I can do so little in changing this situation. It seems everyone of us is too small, too unimportant for politicians, states, governments and military. Whether it is in Palestine, in Israel or in Holland.   But that is not the Christmas story. Because Christmas tells us that the small ones, the unimportant ones, the ones that don't count are God's loved ones. I hope and I pray that things will change, one day, like 2000 years ago. That justice and peace will come upon you and love will reign. I know love reigns in your hearts and I pray that this love will never die. I pray that you and your children will be free, safe and happy, soon. Please, dear God, come and stay with the Palestinians, Bethlehemites, Israelites and let love rule. Merry Christmas, to you all.    Marc Wopereis,     We live in a world of hustle and bustle In which there’s not much time for dreaming. We live the life of the clock. But if we want to improve the world, we must not lose our dream. This is why we would like to ask you, just for a moment, to dream with us.   I dream ... of a barn. A really large one, filled with rice and bread. Enough to feed everyone and free them from poverty. I dream ... of school bags for boys and girls. To enable them to learn and to create the chance for a better life. I dream ... of a scale in balance. For everybody, man and woman, equal opportunities. I dream ... of medical care for expectant mothers and children. To reduce deaths, diseases and grief. I dream ... of a drug Against malaria, AIDS and pain. I wish I was ... like a warm, durable coat. To embrace the world and warm everybody. A rich and splendid garment that contributes to a better living environment. I dream, I long for a fair world without darkness Where there’s no room for exploitation and child labour. This is a dream ... that we find ways to make it come true! Rianne Randeraad     Let us hold on to our common dreams in 2010 Merry Christmas and a happy New Year Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar Naya saal aur Christmas ka bahut bhaday ho ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo! Joyeux Noël et bonne année Feliz Natal e um Bom Ano Novo The Togetthere team: Hester, Daan, Wilma, Henk, Rosa, Kelly, Judith, Theo, Roman, Henrik, Hanneke ____________________ wishing you strength to face the future. standing by with our thoughts and prayers. Peter van de Wiel catholic missionary from SVD in The Netherlands ____________________ Dear people.                                                              In the spring of this year we had a mission service on March 1, at the beginning of the Passion period. In the church of the Protestant Parish in Middenmeer there was a inspiring meeting. Together, young and old, we were singing, praying, thinking over the Word out of the Bible and making the collections. The minister (or pastor) officiates and links the several subjects of the liturgy. In this service the children’s choir “Eigenwijs”, in English they know better, made her performances. It’s clear that they by singing are staying.     Dear people.                                                               The children, mostly girls, were singing wonderful, modern songs. At the end they got a spontaneous applause. The theme in the service contributed the work of the “Kerk in Actie Interactief-projecten” in the Middle-East, especially at Jeruzalem (Sabeel/ Meta Floor) and at Betlehem (Arab Educational Institute). It was very good to be in such a service and to have the possibility to work together, in the direction of You over there.     Christmas-wish: ‘EID MILAD SA’ID KUL’AM WA ANTUM BI KHAYR WA SALAM, WA FARAH, WA AMAL. A HAPPY CHRISTMAS FULL OF GOODNESS, PEACE, JOY and HOPE The ZWO-commission in Middenmeer (The Netherlands) with seven members: Herman Bergsma, Ginie Bos-de Vries, Peggy Hiemstra-Scholtens, Piet Möhlen (author,chairman) , Bartjan Ton, Annelies van der Weijde-Oudhof en Astrid Witteveen. Dear brothers and sisters of the Christian church in Bethlehem,   The days before Christmas. In these days, when  we hope for a better future and celebrate that the Christ brought light for humanity, We members of the church in Langedijk-Noord Holland send our thoughts and prayers to all of you. May the passage from the old Testament give you strength and support. We wish you a blessed Christmas. “Yahweh bless you, and keep you, Yahweh make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you. Yahweh lift up his face toward you, and give you peace ( Num.6,24-26)     In deze tijd voor kerst wanneer wij hopen op een betere toekomst en vieren dat het licht van Christus voor de mensheid is gekomen denken we vanuit Langedijk –Noord aan u allen. Moge onderstaand citaat uit het oude testament u steunen en kracht geven. Wij wensen u gezegende kerstdagen. De Eeuwige zal u zegenen en u behoeden! De Eeuwige zal u zijn stralend gelaat toewenden en u genadig zijn! De Eeuwige zal zijn blik op u gericht houden en vrede voor u stichten! Num. 6, 24-26   On behalf, Members Prot. Church Langedijk –Noord,Holland Ingrid Spee ____________________ "EID MILAD SA'ID KUL'AM WA ANTUM BI KHAYAR WA SALAM, WA FARAH, WA AMAL.  A HAPPY CHRISTMAS FULL OF GOODNESS, PEACE, JOY AND HOPE. These are the wishes of the diaconia of the church of Sint Pancras, in the Netherlands. ____________________ NEW ZEALAND Kia ora tatou (Greetings to all) I write to all the people of Bethlehem to wish you "te rangimarie o te Atua" (the peace of God - in the indigenous language of New Zealand). I have visited Bethlehem twice and know something of its appearance and its holy places. I know of its sufferings too - the Wall, the economic difficulties, the refugee camps, the occupation. In fact it seems very similar to when Christ the Prince of Peace was born 2000 years ago. I am impressed by the resilience and hope of the people of Bethlehem. My friends and I will continue to pray and work to make your situation known to people here. Kia kaha, kia manawanui (Be strong, Be of good heart) Fr. Gerard BurnsWellingtonNew Zealand ____________________ My very dear friends,     Blessings of love, peace, HOPE and COURAGE as we prepare to celebrate once again the Birth of Jesus more deeply into our lives. I will remember you all specially in prayer as we come together at Midnight Mass here in our Parish of Arrowtown  NZ. With you in the spirit of peace. Your friend   Sister Mary Anna Baird  op ____________________ A message to all people in the Holy Land: May the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate over the coming month Bring forth many blessings to all the people of the Holy Land, regardless of race, creed or religion So that a serene and lasting tranquility will embrace the land, and the people will be at last  at rest. Our Pax Christi group wishes you all many blessings this Christmastide, and in the coming year.   (Peter Archer) On behalf of Pax Christi Aotearoa-New Zealand, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand ____________________   PALESTINE الى ألمسيحيين منا ,أتمنى لكم عيد ميلاد سعيد  وآمل أن يأتي ألعيد ألقادم وقد عُّم ألعدل وألخير وألديمقراطية أرض وطننا ألعربي ألغالي وكل عام وأنتم بألف خير    مي و يوسف أبوديُّة وألعائلة ____________________ Dear friends,  In the midst of these uncertain times, we would like to wish you all a joyful season, and may the New Year bring us closer to a just peace. With all our best wishes and great gratitude to each and every one of you for your partnership, accompaniment, and love. EAPPI Staff, Jerusalem   World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) ____________________ Dear Friends,   Greetings from Bethlehem the birth place of Lord Jesus Christ, I'm sending you this very beautiful carol to wish you a good approach towards Christmas. May next year bring Joy, Love and Peace unto you. I just loved this quote for Christmas by Charles Dickens: "I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. "   I also thought of sharing the Christmas Message of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Fouad Twal:   http://www.lpj.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=304%3Amessage-de-noel-2009&catid=36%3Adiscours&Itemid=67&lang=en   Thinking of you. With a Hug, Jenny V. Baboun Bethlehem, Palestine   frican Community Society Jerusalem \ Old City - Al Wad Street - Ala' El Din road P.O.Box 66970 Tele: 02 6288711 Fax: 02 6288711 ____________________   Another Christmas is passing by, while Jerusalem and Bethlehem suffer apartheid. Since the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the two cities were never apart. At that time there was one Herod, today we face hundreds. A joyful Christmas we wish all our Friends and Colleagues  and a Happy and prosperous New Year   Rev Kjell Jonasson, Scarlet Habib , and Yusef Daher ____________________ PHILIPPINES Dear Friends and partners in Bethlehem, Peace Greetings ! We are in solidarity with you in our prayers for peace in Israel. Here in the Philippines, we also pray for peace because recently there was a massacre in one place related to politics. We pray that Jesus the King of Peace who was also born in the midst of violence is with us in resolving the conflict. Merry Christmas and a grace-filled New Year. Sincerely, Sr. Rosita M. Yaya, OP ____________________ PORTUGAL Dear brothers and sisters    We are from a parish in Portugal named Vale Figueira (Fig-tree valley). Children and their parents have written and drawn the messages in attach.   They say: Strength and peace Love, peace and tenderness Happy life Believe in God and your life will run smoothly Mary Christmas Do not leave the faith Be courageous I hope you keep being Christians and make that other people believe in God and Jesus Holy Christmas, with peace, joy and much love Love, happiness, tenderness Happy New Year Courage!!! I believe in you Good luck. I love you very much Much peace and a holy Christmas Let’s go for Jesus Believe that Jesus is alive. Christ counts upon we all This Christmas and forever much union and mutual acceptability of the differences Be strong. God is always with us God is strong. Believe it. A kiss, with love God needs you Hope, Christians! ____________________ Hello! We are from a parish in Portugal named Vale Figueira (Fig-tree valley). This advent we learn about you, our brothers in Christ. Child and parents had write and draw the messages in attach. They say: Strength and peace Love, peace and tenderness Happy life Believe in God and your life will run smoothly Mary Christmas Do not leave the faith Be courageous I hope you keep being Christians and make that other people believe in God and Jesus Holy Christmas, with peace, joy and much love Love, happiness, tenderness Happy New Year Courage!!! I believe in you Good luck. I love you very much Much peace and a holy Christmas Let’s go for Jesus Believe that Jesus is alive. Christ counts upon we all This Christmas and forever much union and mutual acceptability of the differences Be strong. God is always with us God is strong. Believe it. A kiss, with love God needs you Hope, Christians! ____________________ May the Holy Spirit bless and help us all! Ana Maria Coelho DAF - Financeira ____________________ Olá. Espero que possam perceber o português, para assim poderem ler esta minha mensagem de Natal. Quero assim, desejar a todos vós, um Santo e Feliz Natal, e que o Menino Jesus vos possa trazer toda a paz que acredito bem merecerem. A Paz depende de cada um de nós, e dêem um grande exemplo disso nesta época tão especial numa terra também tão especial, e que eu adorava conhecer. Que o Jesus Menino vos proteja a todos. BOAS FESTAS! Sérgio Gonçalves ____________________   SCOTLAND The Fellowship of Reconciliation Scotland continues to pray for a just and non-violent outcome to the situation in Israel /Palestine. We pray that people may live together in friendship. We are deeply concerned about many of the policies of the Israeli government: Their continuing possession of nuclear weapons The continuing blockade of Gaza The construction of the separation barrier - the wall The encouragement of settlements The way in which Palestinian economic development is held back by the way in which Israel divides and controls much of the West Bank The incorporation of East Jerusalem within Israel and the effective annexation of those parts of Palestine west of the separation barrier. The way in which non-Jewish Israeli citizens are having their rights eroded.   We are concerned about the poor relationships within Palestinian civil society, especially between Fatah and Hamas. We pray for an ending to corruption and for a full respect for human rights throughout Israel/Palestine.   We are saddened that the US administration has not been stronger in facing up to the Israeli giovernment, especially on the issue of settlements.   We encourage the sale of Palestinian olive oil. We are pleased that we support someone who is an active Accompanier in Israel/Palestine.   It is a time for perseverance and endurance. The future is in the hands of God. Let us pray for the strength to live in the light of the kingdom that is promised.   David Mumford, 9, Castle Street, Brechin, Angus DD9 6JW ____________________ SPAIN Dear friends, Greetings from Spain, and my best wishes for Christmas, and the coming year. May the Peace and Joy of Christ shine on you all! May God's Peace come upon your land and remain there for ever. I remember you in my prayer, especially, on the 25th December. ¡Feliz Navidad!   Yolanda Candela Madrid Papanastassiou 11, P. Psychiko, Athens 15452  Tel/Fax 210-6711410 Email: voutsinos_adreas@hotmail.com or nikosvoutsinos@msn.com In the feast of Life coming to earth we wish you a saintly Christmas. ____________________ UNITED KINGDOM Dear Sisters, I send you a message of Peace and love - God be with you. With love Joan   Dear Friends, We pray for the settlement of all the violence and war in your part of the world. Judith Bonini, IHM ____________________ Dear people of Bethlehem The Justice and Peace Group of Christ the King Church, Coventry send you their greetings at this very special time. We wish you a peaceful season and we will continually pray that justice will be achieved for all the citizens of Bethlehem ____________________ Crib We will be lighting a candle as part of our crib which now features an Israeli style concrete wall that I have modelled based on my reaction to the photos and talks from Ann & Alison. Pete and Maggie Coventry , UK ____________________ Hello to all of you from several small parish groups in South East London UKThe following are the messages as they have been written, coming with the love andconcern of all of us for all of you at this time in Bethlehem: 1. Thinking of you all  and praying for you  - with love Sr. Maureen St thomas the Apostle Parish, Nunhead2. May the peace and love of Christ be with you now and forever  Ruth, Nunhead  3. You are not alone. We are Praying for you all Stay strong 4. Pray and firmly believe the words of Jesus, who came to bring Peace. Peace will come5. I pray the light of justice will shine bright in the sky over Bethlehem and Peace will rise. Brian6. Find hope in the knowledge that you are thought of, and prayed for in many far away places and that at this Christmas time our hopes for your future are remembered. God Bless you all. Sr. Theresa7.Let us all remember we are children of Abraham, whether we are Jews, Muslims or Christians. let us ask the God we all worship to bring us together in love and Peace Deirdre, Nunhead8. Merry Christmas everyone. May you feel Peace and share Goodwill. Violet9.Thinking of you and lighting a candle of hope for you that there might be peace in Bethlehem10. May you feel the joy that Christmas brings11. May the joy and Peace of the child Jesus be with you this Christnas and always. 12  It is in places of least hope that greatest hope triumphs. It is in places of least peace that greatest peace breaks out  Frank Keen, Croydon13. Love and blessings. The perfect Peace of God will soon come on Earth as God's will be done14. Remembering your great courage, sense of hopefulness and your great joyful hospitality, my wish is for all of you to experience God's love and Peace in and through one another - for all of you at the Sumud House.In love and solidarity   Mary at Nunhead who visited in February 15. Trevan, Riviere and their Mum Olivia planted an olive tree in the garden in front of our Church in Nunhead. They dug the hole deep and and spread the roots well on a bed of manure. It is thriving and is a constant reminder to us of the many people who have been separated from their fields because of the wall in Bethlehem. 16. Many people in the parish have bought the wooden stars made by Elias to hang by the crib or on the Christmas tree to remind them of those who remain in Bethlehem despite the difficulties.17. The wooden stars have been offered as gifts, with the message "You are a Star. Shine brightly and enable others to shine too"20 Thinking of you with very special consideration and Prayers  Mary from Ugandabut now living in Nunhead.We will be thinking of you all particularly on Dec 26th when you have your candlelight  walkin Bethlehem. ____________________ Warm wishes are sent to all of you who are suffering at the present time. There are many in the world who support your wish for human rights and dignity. I wish we were more effective. Gyll Brown _______________ Dear Friends,                   Be assured of prayerful support and solidarity at this time of year. Blessings and good wishes across the miles from Paschal ‘Seized anew by the mystery of God, who is Silence, we receive the Word of Life, and fired by the Spirit, we share life and love with all creation. We make our life an encounter with God-Trinity God -in-relationship and  become contemplative witnesses                             in a pluralistic world.’                                                                                   We are One we are Love.   May the celebration of Christmas gift you with peace and joy  -  in harmony with the whole of creation. Wishing you a New Year of blessings for 2010.  Veronica            . ____________________ Messages of Goodwill May God grant you Love, Courage and Peace and all the Blessings this Holy Season can bring. With Love and Prayers from Joan & Richard.   Praying that this New Year will bring peace and unity. Barbara.   Have a peaceful happy and joyful Christmas (unsigned).   May peace come to all of the Middle East starting in the holy place of Bethlehem.  Paul and Jennie.  Denbigh, North Wales.   Peace be with you at Christmas time and always. The Gossart Family.   N. Wales.   Remembrance in my prayers. Mary Gertand Jones.   God’s Wisdom will Prevail. Richard.  N.Wales.   May the Blessings and Peace of Jesus live in your hearts. (unsigned).  N.Wales.   Justice – Peace – Hope – Love.  Mary.  North Wales   I live in a small town in Wales in the U.K. (Holywell). The walls around you shame me. (unsigned).  N.Wales.   God Bless you at Christmas. Pat Stokes.  North Wales.   Prayers, blessings, peace to you all. (unsigned).  North Wales.   May Christ’s light this Christmas bring abundant peace, joy and hope and promise for the future. (unsigned).  N.Wales.   Dear Friends, Happy Christmas to you all.  While we joyfully celebrate the feast, here in the UK, we remember you in your difficult situation and we wish you every blessing for the future. John, Pantasaph.   Solidarity, Peace, Love. Bob.  Bradford.   God bless you at Christmas. Joan.  N. Wales.   May God bless you all this Christmas – our brothers and sisters in Christ we are praying for you all, we really are.  Anne & Gwyn.  Wales.   You are in our thoughts and prayers this Christmas and the coming year.  Angela.  North Wales.   No walls can imprison a free and just heart.  Those who seek to imprison others only close themselves to good.  Our love and prayers be with you in Bethlehem.  Shirley.  G.B.   Your oppressors should understand… Walls and pens are for animals not people. Barry.  Wales,  G.B.   In our prayers and in our thoughts.  God bless. Mary,  N. Wales   The people of Wales know of your plight and the injustice of the wall.  Charles,  Holywell   Love, Peace, Joy & Freedom.  Tim.  Wales.   May God give you his peace and hope.  Jane.  North Wales   May all of the people of Bethlehem find Peace and Justice in 2010.  Amen Lucy.  Afonwen, Wales.   May God be with you,  (unsigned).  N.Wales   Peace and goodwill to all, Shelagh.  North Wales.   To all who live and reside with the Lord.  May your faith grow and your light shine on others until this world shines like the son of the Father’s smile.  With love, hope, peace, joy, faith, charity. (unsigned).  N.Wales.   Peace, peace, peace for all. Janet.  N. Wales   Dear sisters and brothers in Bethlehem, we are thinking of you at this special time of celebration – Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.  How much he has given us through his life and teachings.  You remain in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time for you.  You are not forgotten.  All love and peace, Margaret Logan, Wales.   Christmas 2009 To the families of Bethlehem. May you draw strength and courage from the knowledge that your situation is not going unheard.  May this message bring hope and light to you  Pace et bene. Sara. N. Wales   With love and hope From Sue. N. Wales   Parishioners of the Immaculate Conception Church, Southampton, England, want you to know that you are in their prayers, especially at this time. We pray that you may feel the presence of the Prince of Peace ____________________ Christmas messages to Bethlehem 2009 From Coventry, UK  We remember you each day in our evening worship. Our thoughts are with you. Holy Rosary Sisters, Coventry, UK   A message and hope from a friend in Coventry.   I wish everyone a peaceful New Year and hope for a fair and just settlement to the problems of Palestine and Israel.   I am your sister even though I live a long way from you. We are all part of the same family and I care about what is happening to you. The suffering will end.   We stayed in Bethlehem a year ago and felt a small bit of your pain. We talked to people in the Aida Refugee Camp and longed with them for freedom. As we celebrate Christmas here, we are with you in our thoughts, prayers, pain and HOPE. May God bless you and strengthen you.   We think of you and pray for you often – for freedom from fear and hatred between all living in Palestine – for God’s love to break through little by little.   You are not forgotten – remember that. Love and best wishes from Coventry.   Do not give up hope. You may currently feel like prisoners, but this will not last indefinitely. BE STRONG. There are many throughout the world thinking of you.   Hi Bethlehem, Gaza and Palestinians, Remember that you are not forgotten and your sufferings are very much in my thoughts and prayers this Christmas when things are worse than ever for you. I pray that world leaders might address the issues of Justice, Peace and Security for Palestinians and Israelis with renewed vigour, as a matter of urgency, and not fudge them as they have in the past. There is no way that we can have peace in the world without resolving all these injustices and denials of basic human rights. I will finish with a quote from a book entitled "Earth in Mind" by David Orr published in 2004: "The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as our culture has defined it." I send you All My Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year Alan Gerrard, York, UK and a member of Pax Christi UK _______________ Coventry Quaker Meeting sends Christmas Greetings, in friendship and solidarity,  to all Peacemakers in Palestine and Israel. ____________________ Hello, my name is Joyce Elcock. I recently attended a talk given by Pax Christi member Ann Farr. On hearing that we could send you greetings at Christmas time, I asked people here at a carols by candle light celebration if they would join me in sending you a Christmas message. Below are the messages.   I pray for peace and reconciliation with justice for all the peoples of the Holy Land. Thank you all who work for peace for your courage despite all your suffering.   Joyce Elcock St David's Parish Mold North Wales.  We are in communion with you through our prayers. Love to you all.  Margaret Carr Mold North Wales.  I remember visiting Bethlehem some years ago. I hope that you will soon be peaceful again.  Rita Lewis Mold North Wales.  We will pray for peace in your land Love and Prayers.  Phyllis Mold North Wales.  My name is Sadie McDonough, thinking of you and saying my prayers for peace. God bless and keep you. Mold North Wales.  May there be harmony in Bethlehem and the world.  Chaumian Mold North Wales.  I will think of you all in Bethlehem this Christmas. My prayers will be for you God Bless. Margaret Mold North Wales.  May the Christ Child bring us together in peace and harmony. My love and prayers to you all. Angela Carr Mold North Wales.  You are in my prayers everynight. God be with you. Josh Llanferres North Wales.  May the love of Christ bless your beautiful country. You will be in my prayers at this time God Bless. Sr Eva Mold North Wales.  May God grant peace to your country, I pray for you all. Cassie Roughley Buckley North Wales.  I pray that the hard Winter you are all living through each day will soon, by Gods power, give way to a Springtime of freedom and joy. You are in my prayers, with love Teresa.  Mold North Wales.  I am 6 years and I will pray for you all. Molly Mozambique. Mold North Wales.  Believe in miracles. Keep up your strength in mind and body with Gods everlasting love. Happy Christmas and a happier New Year. Carol Spellec North Wales.  A peaceful Christmas and every blessing for the New-Year. Chris Mold North Wales.  Keeping you in prayer for peace in our world, and for peace again in Bethlehem. Freda Jones Llanferres North Wales.  Thank you for being in Palestine. Thank you for staying in Palestine. You give us hope, you are the witnesses to hope-the hope that Jesus gives you in your troubles. We love you, we think of you we pray for you. Sr Sheila Mold North Wales.  Just hold on with love. Jenny Mold North Wales.  I pray with my family that your dreams for 2010 will all come true. Pat Mc Arthur Mold North Wales.  Dear friends don't give up hope. Jesus loves you, that is why you are having a share of His Cross. We are praying for you. Shalom. Fr B Haija Mold North Wales.  The messages below were not signed, they were all written on the evening of the Carol celebration and all are from Mold North Wales.  We all pray for peace in your country-especially at this holy time.  Wishing all blessings in this holy season- thinking of you.  As a daughter, sister, niece, mother, auntie I send my sincere and warmest greetings to all you women.  May you all be blessed on this special feast of the Lord.  May the light of Christ shine on you at this Holy time. We hope that Peace and Love will one day come to you.  Once again thank you all who work for peace and justice in the Holy Land, on both sides of the borders. I will continue to do what I can here to help your cause.  Joyce Elcock ____________________ From members of the Wednesday Ecumenical Worship Group, The Chapel of Unity, Coventry Cathedral, Coventry, UK With Love, peace and joy. Veronica Carroll With prayers and hope for peace. Derek and Sandra Noel Shalom – Salaam – The Holy Rosary Sisters are praying for you. Blessings this Christmas. Sr Ruth Kidson I pray for peace and freedom for you. Sandy May the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with everyone in Bethlehem. William Sidler, Coventry Asian Christian Fellowship Peace to you. We pray for you all. As I meet with my family I will ask a blessing on the children with you. Josephine _______________ Christmas Blessings to everyone in Bethlehem. We are thinking about where it all happened and what is being done to you and your town now! We pray that 2010 will bring you some justice. With love from Wendy. _______________ MESSAGE TO WOMEN SEEKING PEACE IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL LITANY – OUT OF THE WOMB OF DARKNESS * Out of the womb of darkness:             THE SPIRIT HOVERED OVER CREATION AS HER WATERS BROKE, AND EARTH AND ALL THAT EXISTS CAME INTO BEING   Out of the womb of our world’s darkness             WE SEEK THE HOLY PATH THAT REFUSES THE EXCLUSION OF ONE GROUP BY ANOTHER             WE JOURNEY DEEP INSIDE WITH SACRED INTENTION AS NIGHTS DRAW IN TOWARDS THE SHORTEST DAY Out of the womb of our own darkness             WE REVEAL BEFORE THE LOVING GAZE OF GOD  OUR FEARS AND BROKENNESS, OUR HIDDEN HOPES AND LONGINGS Out of the womb of Advent darkness             WE WAIT IN HOPE FOR A GOD WHO COMES AS KIN             HOLDING OUT A NEWBORN’S TINY HAND. Dear Women – in solidarity we wait with you in hope ‘for a God who comes as kin’. FROM:  Women Word Spirit – the voice of catholic women’s network and all those interested in theology, ministry, liturgy and spirituality. www.womenwordspirit.org,  mairinv@phonecoop.coop. UK.    * (quoted from Doing December Differently, by Nicola Slee and Rosie Miles) ____________________ A Child ! born in Bethlehem... ---------------------------------------------------------------- ...and today ...to plea for Peace and Justice on Earth ---------------------------------------------------------------- May your   Christmas be peaceful and the New Year full of the joy of new and re-newed relationships With love from all of us at Newbigging... Mark & Nancy Nick & Alice Becky & John www.newbigging.org 2009 ____________________ Hello, Greetings from Pax Christi UK! Attached are some pictures from St Leonard's school in Durham where the students engaged in a project making Christmas cards to send to Bethlehem. They decided not to post the cards - unsure as they were that they would get to you in time - but instead produced a display encouraging others to remember Palestine at Christmas. Along with the photos I send you good wishes for a happy and peaceful Christmas from the students at St. Leonard's Catholic School in Durham. And I too wish you all a very happy Christmas matt ____________________ Dear Friends, You are constantly in both our thoughts and prayers and especially so at this time of the year. Our prayer for you is that the coming year may be the 'Year of Liberty' for you. We tell your story constantly to all and sundry and find many positive responses. Whilst heeding the psalmist who instructs us to 'Not to put your trust in princes' we do advocate your cause with our government ministers. May the Prince of Peace fill your hearts and minds with His Joy and Peace this Christmas time and in the year ahead. Stewart and Ann Hemsley (Pax Christi) Stewart Hemsley ____________________ These messages come from the people of English Martyrs Parish, Walworth, London. The parish is a real ‘Rainbow Nation’! At the last count we have 43 countries represented in the parish…. spanning most of the alphabet, from Barbados, Ireland, Malaysia to Zimbabwe with the largest number coming from Nigeria. We had a display of Bethlehem Today and cards were provided for people to leave their messages.  Here are just some of those collected. _______________ Dear Friends We wish God’s peace this Christmas and always.  May there be reconciliation in your homeland.                                                                      Margaret and Oki I pray for you all that peace and goodwill will reign in your land. Jacqui Devados I hope that you have a happy Christmas and let God’s light be with you. Emmanuel M We wish you a very blessed Christmas.  We pray to Got that he will bring you peace in the year ahead.                                                    Lucinda Carrington I will pray for you all that you deserve the perfect Christmas.  Your town is blessed with the light of God.  Bethlehem is the town of the Lord.  Happy Christmas.           Danielle Makwa I wish all the people of Bethlehem a very happy Christmas and peace in the New Year.  You will be remembered in my prayers always.  May God bless all of you and keep you healthy and strong.  With love and peace.          Frances We will never give up on fighting peacefully for your right to return.  Bless you all May God’s blessing be on you and all our prayers be with you.  The Hicks Family Your witness of ‘being there’ amongst the barricades of the wall, imprisonment and the indifference of so many, is a total inspiration.  May your light and example bring justice and peace.  Much love.                          Geraldine. May the blessing of the Lord with us all at Christmas and we pray especially for the peace of Bethlehem.  God Bless you all.                     The Hicks Family Our thoughts and prayers are with you all this Christmas.  The Dunn Family Messages from St Anselm’s Catholic Parish prayer group, Tooting, London Dear people of Bethlehem, we are all thinking and praying for you all, not only at Christmas but always.  We pray that God will one day tear down those horrible walls just as he tore down the wall of Berlin.  We ask our Lady’s intercession for this and hope and pray that one day everyone will live in God’s kingdom of peace and love. Jean To the people of Bethlehem.  May God’s love and blessings shine on all of you always and be your guiding light. With love, Belle To our brothers and sisters in Bethlehem.  Peace and joy of the Holy Family be yours.  We will be thinking of you all as we unite in pray at Christmas. Eileen Wishing  you peace at Christmas.  We will be thinking and praying for you in England as we light a candle on Christmas day. Marci. We wish you all a peaceful Christmas and we are praying for you.  We will not forget you. I will pray for you my brother sand sisters that the Holy Spirit will give you peace of mind and heart during this season. Alberto ____________________ We love you Palestine and we will continue to try our best to do what we can to end this terrible siege on your nation. God bless you all. Donna, Odai, Sophia and Olivia in Devon England Thinking about you all at Christmas time and praying for an improvement in relations in The Middle East. Eleanor ____________________ To all friends in Bethlehem In solidarity and with support to you all at this special time of year. Know that you are in our prayers and thoughts as this Holy Season of Christmas approaches. May you know many blessings as we prayer for peace in Bethlehem and throughout the Middle East - a peace based upon a just future for all peoples and creation itself. Best wishes Pat Wrexham Wales ____________________ via Pax Christi - a Christmas message of hope and peace to the people of Bethlehem - may peace be with you at this time and throughout PalestineIsrael during 2010. John Collins, London  ____________________ Our prayers and best wishes are with you for a fruitful and peaceful time at this Christmas celebration and throughout the year ahead. God Bless  Terry Brown Coordinator for Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Archdiocese of Southwark, London ____________________ To the dear and blessed people of Bethlehem I pray for the peace and dignity that you deserve and crave. My heart breaks when I think of what has happened of your town. I shall remember and pray for you and all Palestinians all year, not just at Christmas. With love Tom from London, UK  ____________________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I do not know Arabic. I hope and pray someone can read this and know that as a Christian I do not care what nationality you are. I do care that there is peace beween you and your neighbors. I will continue to pray for you and that God will protect all of God's people. Peace be with you, Cindy Rouse-Baird ____________________ Dear Brothers and Sisters,  It is evening of Christmas day here in the United States, and I write to wish you all the blessings and grace of this day on which we celebrate the incarnation of our God.  I pray that soon you will enjoy the freedom and security and rights to live your life that we take for granted.  I am a member of Pax Christi USA as well as a local group Interfaith Community for Palestinian Rights;  we pray for your liberation from the oppression and discrimination you endure and we advocate for changes in our government's policies that will support the human rights of Palestinian people.   I give thanks for your witness to the love of Jesus and the hope for justice in our world for which he calls each of us to labor.  In the Peace of Christ, your brother, Bob Rankin       ____________________ He is born.  May peace also be born.  May those with the mind of Herod, open their hearts to God and learn the ways of peace. Mary Stewart Wilmington, California, USA ealasaidwms@earthlink.net ____________________ Dear Friends, May the hope that Christmas brings cause your heart to be filled with joy and peace. I wish you a very blessed Christmas and a grace filled New Year. Peace and love and prayers, Sister Martha Rabaut, I.H.M. ____________________ Dear People of BethlehemI express my prayer for you in from a hymn I wrote recently.My thoughts and prayers are with you. O come, O come.  ‘God with us’ is your name, Creator God, your broken world reclaim.Restore its wholeness, justice and peace.Your energising love to all release.We wait. We hope. We long to see the dayWhen through the world that perfect love holds sway.O come, O come - where occupation’s snareEngenders hatred, trauma and despair.Humiliated, trapped and afraid,We hear your people pleading for our aid.We wait. We hope.  O how we long to seeA world where all are valued; all are free. O come, O come. Your presence stirs our hearts. Hope whispers and a  revolution startsWhen those who dare to walk in your wayYour love’s extravagance again display.We wait. We hope.  When poverty is goneGlad voices will proclaim,  ‘Your will is done’Wendy Ross-Barker.Greetings,   Beloved friends in Bethlehem.  As we at Compton Heights Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri, USA gather to worship and celebrate the birth of Christ, we send these greetings to you:"Peace -- with all my heart"  -  Dave Boger "May God's Peace surround you""May the Peace of Christ be with you" - Larry and Jan Kreuger "May the Lord be with you always." "Wishing you peace,   Wishing you hope,  Wishing you joy,'  Wishing you love."    -  Kathy Mead"May peace come for you in Bethlehem.""May God have peace for you.""Peace be with you"  - Liz"Shalom"  - Madeline Haraway"Peace be with you."  - Cindy"Love and Peace to all"  - Sharon and Jim Clayton"JOY" "May all the children of Abraham rejoice in God's deliverance, put down their swords and guns, and dwell together in harmony and peace."    Judi Linville _______________ "Brothers and Sisters in Bethlehem, As our family here and others around the world come together to celebrate Christmas, we remember that Peace is not a construct of Christians, nor any religion, race or nation alone, but the deepest desire of all peoples. In the search for Peace, may we all find kinship.  Peace be with us all. -- Kim Miner ____________________   May these blessings from one congregation in the United States be multiplied throughout the world.  We pray that God's people may live into the ONENESS given to us by the God of Abraham and Sarah.  As we receive Christ's coming anew in our Christian faith,  we pray that those of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faith in Bethlehem and throughout the world, may receive the God to comes to us and redeems us day by day! Our prayers are with you,The Rev. Jacquelyn FosterCompton Heights Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)St. Louis, Missouri,  USA _______________ May this be the year - peace to all from the Prince of Peace.  Rose Huelsman, Kansas City, MO, USA ____________________ Dear Bethlehem friends - You live with such adversity and yet are specialists in Hope. I pray that your hope for peace with justice is not in vane and that your "Berlin Wall" will soon come tumbling down. Mary Anderson, Barrington, Illinois, USA ____________________ Dear Friends, I send my warmest wishes for a blessed Christmas to all of you. May our Infant Savior look lovingly on each of you and give you an abundance of his love, his peace, his hope, his perseverance, and his courage. I assure you of my prayers each day for God's protection and guidance for you. May Palestine enjoy peace and prosperity in the New Year. Much love, prayers daily, and the best of wishes, Your friend, Sister Mary Angela O'Connor,D.M.J. ____________________ May peace be realized. May the suffering cease. May God hold you in the palm of His hand. Mary MacKenzie ____________________ Greetings, My name is Pete Jameson and I am married to a wonderful woman and we have two extraordinary children, a 17-year old boy and an almost 16-year old girl. I work at a Catholic school for children in grades Kindergarten thru eighth. I teach religion, social studies, and science. We are very blessed here in the Ligonier Valley of western Pennsylvania to have the beauty of nature and peace among neighbors. Our hearts and prayers go out to you this Christmas season. Keep the faith! Though you are troubled by conflict, God knows your plight and has a plan for you. You are loved by many that you will never meet – at least here on Earth. God bless you and keep you faith. May 2010 bring renewed harmony and peace. In His Light, Pete Jameson ____________________ Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Having recently been in Bethlehem, I pray this holy season with a deeper connection to you and this place.  I pray that justice and peace will prevail for all, for indeed our Savior came for all.  May Christ birth within you this hope even in the midst of your struggles. With trust in the Prince of Peace, Pastor Cheryl Raine First Presbyterian Church Garden Grove, CA _______________ Dear fellow citizens of the Holy Land, Greetings from the Holy Land in America/Pennsylvania. Due to communication technology we are no longer living in isolation from the rest of the world. We are of diverse beliefs and cultures but need to live in love and fellowship with each other in order to create a common Peace. Here in Pennsylvania, USA, I live near the Jordan river, I travel to places here named after places in the Holy Land such as Bethlehem, Nazareth, Emmaus, and Egypt. My fellow citizens/neighbors are of many different faiths just like in your land. We live together in Peace sharing a common bond of respect and tolerate each others faith.  We are sad when people of our diverse religious heritage are not living together in Peace as we do here in this place.  We pray and hope for Peace in the Holy land. May your efforts to promote Peace become a reality. "Peace on Earth Good will to all mankind" We share a common prayer found on many poles around the world "May Peace prevail on all the earth" . I am a member of Jordan United Church of Christ and one of the creators of a church/community Peace Garden. Peace be with you. William H. Wehr ____________________ Dear Friends in Bethlehem,  During the last 9 years we have held a monthly peace vigil during which we pray for your well-being and for and end to the occupation which makes life such a challenge for you.  I want to wish you a peaceful day of joy and many more in the new year in the name of Jesus Christ who came that we might live together in peace.  Charlotte Whiting, Salem United Church of Christ of Rohrerstown, Lancaster, PA  ____________________ Dear Friends, We open our hearts to you and send prayers of Peace and Hope to the God of all Nations,  to the Creator of All, to the Holy One. Karen Monroe LCSW ____________________ "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and everything that came to be is from the Word of God.... and the Word dwelt among us." John ____________________ "Our Great Work today is to reinvent our species in the context of this radically interconnected One Word of God. We need to create and develop institutions and culture that foster mutually enhancing human-Earth relations and evaluate them in that context in which they ignore, inhibit or foster those mutually enhancing relations. " Thomas Berry My work is to love everything....to stand still with astonishment." Mary Oliver ____________________ To all Christians in the Holy Land in this season of Peace…May God be with you, strengthen you, and keep you holy in His sight. And may His peace be yours now and forever. Bobbie Monahan ____________________ Dear people of the Holy Land ~ I am sending prayers for peace and justice in your land.  Since I visited many years ago, I think of you often.  Blessings, Susan Eby Springfield, Illinois ____________________ There are many people in the United States who are praying for peace and freedom for the people of Palestine and Israel.  At this Christmas season you will be in our hearts and minds as we rejoice in the birth of the Prince of Peace.  We will also work hard to tell your story to the American people.  Violence and hatred will never solve a problem only cooperation, love and respect will. Our prayers are extended to you and your families that you will have a peaceful,  joyful Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy New Year. Peace Madeline Labriola HIghland, New York ____________________ Dear Friends in Bethlehem, Once again, I write to wish you a Blessed Christmas in the town of our Savior's birth.  My heart goes out to you as you continue to live the struggle in a land occupied and isolated, but not forgotten.  I pray that you will know true peace, justice, freedom, and joy in your lifetime.  May 2010 be but the start of wonderful, grace-filled years that only get better and better as time goes by. The Peace of Christ be yours always, Rosemarie Pace Pax Christi Metro New York ____________________ Dear friends in Pax Christi, May the blessings of Christmas peace abound for each of you this year and may all you do to promote peace be recognized with abundant blessings from our God in the year to come. The greatest sign of God in our midst is peace and the unity of peoples. Thank you for bringing this “kin-dom” to pass. Sr Claire Regan Sisters of Charity of New York Bronx, NY ____________________ To all of you, My heart and prayer go out as you experience the memory of Christ's  coming in a precious land so torn with strife.  May that move toward a  peaceful conclusion in 2010. Blessings on each of you and may your hearts be filled with joy and  peace even in the midst of such trouble. Sincerely, Marie Moore, MM ____________________ Dear friends in Bethlehem, Last year I had the great privilege of celebrating Christmas Eve Mass in Bethlehem. It was a holy and unforgettable experience, and I am deeply grateful for the beautiful memories of my time in your blessed land. I wish you peace in the coming year for your country and especially for the Christians in Palestine who suffer so much because of the lack of peace. I believe that all things are possible in the Lord of Peace. May God bless you and grant you an end to suffering and hardship and reward you for your faithfulness. My prayers are with you. God bless you and your families, Kelly Epstein 18319 Champion Forest Drive Spring, Texas 77379 ____________________ Brothers and Sisters, My words of encouragement are to keep you strong in doing God's work on earth!  You are helping to build the "city of God" in your corner of the world with your love for the people there, and your focus on social justice in a peaceful way.  Continue to have trust and hope in the Lord to bring about Peace - You have my daily prayer. May you have a joyous and peaceful Christmas - Carolyn McDonnell ____________________ I send you Christmas greetings and wishes that you will be blessed by the wondrous ever-coming of Jesus. Jesus always gave his attention to those who needed it most--the poor, the sick, the distressed. So I wish you God's blessings wherever you need it most. May God bless you with peace, joy, and justice this Christmas. Your sister in Christ, Jean Galanti Indianapolis, IN ____________________ I want to assure you that our Dominican Team prays every day for peace in your land and the freedom to fully practice your faith and live your Christian lives in freedom. Peace, Helen Marie Raycraft,O.P. ____________________ Dear Sisters and Brothers, You have been in my heart and in my prayers in a special way ever since the devastation of last year.  You will be in my heart and prayers this Christmas when the minds and hopes of all the world go back to your homeland.  I will continue my efforts as a US citizen to push President Obama to move more energetically on your behalf. May the Peace of Christ, the true Peace of Bethlehem be with you during this season and more forcefully in the New Year. Daniel Driscoll-Shaw Huntley, Illinois ____________________ May beauty, peace and love, gifts of this holy season, be with you now and throughout the coming year. Fran Adrian, Michigan ____________________ As we await the coming of Jesus we pray that all people will recognize "Emmanuel", "God with us" in our lives today.  We pray that peace and justice will become a reality for all people.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you daily! Sister Jeanie Hagedorn, chm Des Moines, Iowa ____________________ Dear Brothers and Sisters, As I write this, a Catholic, a Muslim, and a Jew are visiting Israel together.  Sister Susan Nowack, Dr. Shafik, and Isobel Goldman are members of an interfaith dialogue which has been going on in Rochester, NY for several years.  They are visitng Israel together to plan an interfaith experience for Nazareth College students during the coming year.  My prayer for you is that Bethlehem will once again know peace.  It will come only when we recognize that God is one, and we in our different ways of worshipping, give praise to the same God.  May your work be blessed and give rise to the peace we all desire. Sister Phyllis Tierney, SSJ ____________________ May the God of Peace and Justice give you joy as you celebrate the Advent of Jesus Christ and move in the hearts of all the people in Palestine and Israel to work for peace and justice in the coming year so that next year we may celebrate shalom. Belle Miller McMaster Druid Hills Presbyterian Church Atlanta, Georgia ____________________ To all my Christian sisters and brothers in Bethlehem,  Your daily faith is lived amidst persecution while I am free to practice my faith whenever and however I choose, but at times I think the persecution helps your faith to deepen while my is clouded by materialism and consumerism.  I will pray for an increase of strength and courage in your Christian witness and peace and joy this Christmas Season and ask that you pray for the people of the USA that we learn to care more for others. Know that many of us hold all Palestinians in our hearts with prayer. Christ's peace and joy, Charleen ____________________ People of Bethlehem Our thoughts and prayers are with you in all your difficulties at this Christmas season.   We rejoice with you as you rejoice and we suffer with you as you suffer.   May the blessings of the Prince of Peace be upon you all Anne, Ruth and Rita Sisters of the Holy Rosary ____________________ When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins:             To find the lost,             To heal the broken,             To feed the hungry,             To release the prisoner,             To rebuild the nations,             To bring peace among others,             To make music in the heart. Howard Thurman, African-American mystic    John Bucki SJ Canisius College 2001 Main Buffalo NY 14208 ____________________ Dear People of Bethlehem I am praying that Our Saviour's Birth be with you on Christmas Day and always.  That peace be with you all. Do have a Blessed Christmas and may peace reign over Bethlehem. Sincerely Mona ____________________ Christmas Cake Mix up: Free time, good will, good intention and give it a little hope to let it grow. Find pure thoughts in cool head, big wishes and with a little more hope add to the before mentioned. And put to stay. Meanwhile carefully prepare: tolerance, patience and careness, add some respect then unite with constantly adding of trust. Let it stay also (not for long). Fill: Carefully unite tolerance and patience adding some careness. Finished cake dredge with love and joy. Keep the cake fresh with care of your heart. Offer even if it's not Christmas!   Have a nice meal! Marijana Ajzenkol ____________________ Sisters and Brothers in the Holy Land, I am an American, a member of Christians for Peace, as well as Veterans for Peace. I pray weekly that God grant his children in Israel and Palestine His shalom. At this time of year when we are anticipating the celebration of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, I pray a special blessing on all of you. I am safe and secure as I sit writing this email. I know that that is not true of all of you. May God keep you safe, the Holy Spirit walk with you, and the Prince of Peace cast his light upon you this Advent. Larry Egly Killeen, Texas ____________________ To my sisters and brothers in Bethlehem, With a heart full of hope, I send best wishes and prayers for justice and peace to be as plentiful as the air in your beautiful country. You are not alone nor forgotten. May the Prince of Peace guide us together and open our hearts and minds to what is possible. Merry Christmas! Blessings, Anne Gunn Wilmington DE ____________________ We send you our best wishes for as peaceful a Christmas as peace loving Christians can achieve.  Also we pray for better relationships in the New Year between all religious groups. Yours sincerely, Harry and Elfrieda Warner. ____________________ My prayer is the same as yours, I think. Peace, understanding and compassion, justice for the oppressed. Here in Illinois it is 17 degrees but we are thankfully staying warm. I may try out my snow shoes. Paz y justicia. Jeanne    ____________________ The people of Nativity Catholic Church in Fargo, North Dakota, USA, send our  prayers to the people of Bethlehem and our wishes for a  New Year of peace, justice and compassion. Cathy Schwinden Social Justice Coordinator ____________________ Greetings to our Brothers and Sisters as you celebrate God's Gift of Peace in Jesus Christ. We rejoice with you, we pray with you, as we kneel before the manger to let Christmas happen all over again, for us, in us! May the Peace of Christ rule in our hearts and bind us to you! From Pastor Martha B. Kriebel, Trinity Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, Collegeville, PA 19426 ____________________ I was fortunate enough to be in Jerusalem/Palestine last week with the Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)/United Church of Christ.  Out of that experience, this prayer from the World Council of Churches (Vancouver Assembly, 1983) spoke to me.  I hope it speaks to you.  May God richly bless you during this Holiest of Seasons. _______________ Love All People Eternal God, whose image lies in the hearts of all people, We live among peoples whose ways are different from ours, Whose faiths are foreign to us, Whose tongues are unintelligible to us. Help us to remember that you love all people with your great love, That all religion is an attempt to respond to you, That the yearnings of other hearts are much like our own and are known to you. Help us to recognize you in the words of truth, the things of beauty, The actions of love about us. We pray through Christ, who is a stranger to no land more than another, And to every land no less than to another. Rev. Katheryn Graham, D. Min. Regional Minister Christian Church (DOC) in Greater Kansas City 5700 Broadmoor, Suite 907 Mission, Kansas 66202 ____________________ Dear Friends - I just want you to know that there are many, here in the United States, who are so dismayed at the continuing suffering of your people.  We pray for you and for different and more just policies, that 2010 might bring progress in changing things for the better for you.  In the midst of this terrible occupation, may your hearts be comforted by God's love, this Christmas season.  Betty Edson, Randolph, Vermont, USA ____________________     Brothers and Sisters:  In this season of remembering the birth of Jesus, many of us remember also those of you who still live in that land and seek to follow Christ in very trying times. You are not forgotten. You are daily in our prayers.   Rev. Dr. Rochelle Stackhouse, New Haven, CT USA ____________________ May the peace that passes all understanding be with you this blessed Christmas Season.  I will pray that the walls of brick, hatred and misunderstanding will come down in 2010.  May you have a Blessed holiday knowing that Christ is with you always. Patricia E. W. Jabre, AiM Minister of Christian Education & Youth ____________________ My prayers are with you all - in your holiday season - for Peace, Enough, Love, Forgiveness, Grace and Joy. Jane _______________ On behalf of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina in the Presbyterian Church (USA), we send you heartfelt expressions of support and encouragement as we celebrate the Incarnation of the Prince of Peace, who can overcome all barriers to his redeeming love for all people. J.E. &  M.B. Aydelotte 85 Wagon Trail Black Mountain, NC 28711-2546 ____________________ Dear Friends in the Holy Land, May the Peace that was born so many centuries ago in the beleaguered city of Bethlehem soon flower fully in the Middle East and in our world. With Christians around the world we will again be praying for your safety this year and for the peace with justice that you so richly deserve. God bless you, dear friends. In peace, Marie Dennis Co-president, Pax Christi International _______________ We pray that Christ’s message of peace and tolerance permeates the world we live in. Many blessings to you this Christmas season. Katie Maass   As Christmas draws near in our country (USA), we wish you and yours peace, justice and happiness. Sarah Gutekunst _______________ Please know that we are doing what we can to make the United States less one-sided in her aid - and hoping for SOMEDAY a merry Christmas in Bethlehem. I am praying for a return to decent living for the Palestinian people this Christmas, particularly for peace in Bethlehem.  May God give all Israelis and Palestinians hearts of peace!  God bless you! Sister Mary Loretta Beier, SCL Marillac Center Leavenworth, KS 66048 _______________ Please be assured that peace for all peoples and a united world community is foremost in our prayers Peace, Merry Christmas and a Holy New year!! Mary C. Slicher Executive Director Project PLASE, Inc. People Lacking Ample Shelter & Employment Baltimore, Md. 21201 _______________ Christ was born when that land was conquered and controlled.  It made His life difficult from the beginning to the end.  He used the facts on the ground to show us how to live.  I hope you can see how He accomplished his mission in spite of rejection and death at the hands of the authorities. Ed Briody _______________ Dear Friends, I drank from Jacob's well in 1970. I looked up to Bethlehem from the fields where shepherds might have been trying to sleep. A few days earlier I had seen empty tombs at the Great Pyramids and the Valley of Kings. -- and in Jerusalem. It is because of that empty tomb in Jerusalem that I am praying today for peace - for you and all in Bethlehem - but also for all the descendants of Abraham in every land. May this be the last year that God's people are so divided in such Holy places. May the great God who created us all, open our minds to understand and wish the best for all people. Alden Hickman, retired Presbyterian minister in Topeka, KS, USA  _______________ Children's Christian prayer Thank you God for the world so sweet: Lord, I know that  in a Child's poem, their reality of life does not always reflect the dual nature of man- But You Lord, are the one constant that can make the world seem sweet through the eyes of innocence. Thank you God for the food we eat: Thank you, Lord, for making us aware that here in America, the food we take for granted is not always abundant to our brethren who live in faraway lands that we do not know enough about. Please Guide us, O Great and Mighty Lord of Lords, to learn and to teach us to live simply and to share our abundance and to strive for a world made whole through your teachings and your eternal Son who came to Bethlehem. Thank you God for the birds that sing Thank you, Lord, for all creatures great and small. Thank you for creating an abundance and teach us to live and respect all your creatures from all nations and all cultures. Thank you Allah for everything. Thank you, Yahweh, for showing us the way and teaching us how to live each day. Although we fall short as frail humans, we are forgiven and we strive each day to start anew and live as better human beings on this planet. Thank you, for making us aware that you are the Creator of every living thing. Amen. Mary Lee Johnson _______________ Greetings to you from Southern California!  I pray for peace as I work for peace in Bethlehem and the whole world.  May you have a blessed Christmas as we celebrate the life of the Prince of Peace.  Betsy Barnhart _______________ Dear Friends of Bethlehem, May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all during this most holy time of year!  We pray for you, and send you greetings for festive times with your loved ones, and safe travels throughout your lands.  Christians around the world have their hearts and minds centered toward your city, knowing that the Star lead so many there to celebrate the birth of our wondrous King of Kings.  We remember Christ's birth, and love him still as He is the one who came to save us all.  Merry Christmas to you - may peace, love, hope and joy surround you and fill your hearts! Blessings to you, Joy B Hager Tucson, AZ _______________ To everyone in the Middle East, We send our Christmas message and pray for your safety, open hearts and minds, and hope that the coming year will be a turning point in leading to the peace and understanding each of you seeks. We pray, dear God, that you help each of us to remember we are all children of God and that we all live in one world. We pray, dear God, that you instill again in us the simple truth of the Golden Rule while putting away forever our differences as we stress our common bonds. May all our lives be enriched this Christmastime by your promise of peace, joy, and goodwill to those who truly believe. Barbara and Bruce Holran Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA _______________ I am sending you my Christmas Greeting from Alabama in the United States. I have been in prayer for those of you who live in such difficult circumstances in the place of our Lord's birth. Please know that there are those of us who are concerned for you and hold you in our thoughts and prayers. May our Lord and Savior be with you especially during this season and always. Grace and peace, Juanita Watson _______________ Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, I think of you there in the land of Jesus' birth and long for the day when your excessive suffering may end.  I pray that even in this very difficult time that God's light may shine into your lives and give you strength to endure, and joy in your celebration of the birth of the one who blesses those who mourn. Merilie Robertson _______________ Dear God, Unrest stirs hearts in Bethlehem. People are angry and frightened and frustrated. They need calm. Give it to them. My heart is stirred, too. And so I pray, knowing that only you can provide what they need. They will, indeed, receive calm when your Son, Jesus, returns to rule a new Heaven and Earth. This is certainly true. Thank you, God, for listening to our hearts. Amen. Ann Kulp Lebanon, Pennsylvania We believe that the day will come when wars will cease, when death and dying will be no more, when swords shall be changed to plow shares.  At this time of year, please know that my thoughts are with you especially, and that my constant prayer is for peace among all people of good will.  Until the promised day of God's Kingdom arrives let us work together for peace and justice for all creation.  God Bless us everyone!    Anne Marshall   Dear Friends,  Wishing each of you a safe and blessed Christmas even as you move forward with a strong sense of hope.  May God reward your courage with inner peace and joy! Sr. Maris Stella Korb, pbvm ____________________ Dear Friends, My husband Alan and I were privileged to visit Bethlehem in April of 2006 with members of the Presbyterian Church in the USA.  Our lives will never be the same.  We have spent much time since coming back home holding events that tell the story of what is really happening on the ground in the Holy Land. We are beginning to see glimmers of hope as more and more people realize that what we saw was really happening! We are both 75 now and have limited resources left so we have been encouraging others to go and see for themselves. In the meantime, we pray that peace may soon come to your land.  We are also strong advocates for peace with our elected officials.  We were truly disappointed in President Obama when it was reported to us that he didn't recognize or receive the UN report led by Goldstone. I felt let down -- but haven't given up hope yet. Just know that our love and prayers extend to all of you in the occupied Palestinian territories that you will be given the strength to continue in your courageous non-violent peace demonstrations. Salaam, Peace, Dottie Villesvik Marysville, WA 98271-8929 ____________________ I am praying that the star of peace, that same star that shined upon  the holy child, shines down on Bethlehem during this holy season, and  that the peace of God fills you and your land. May you find many  blessings during this  Christmas season, the greatest being hope in  the Lord. Merry Christmas, and peace on earth to you. Suzanne The Candle that the darkness can not put out was first lit in Bethlehem.  May your light shine bright this Christmas!  My prayers of peace and hope for all in Bethlehem are with you this Christmas season. Peter Sulyok / USA ____________________ I want to wish all in your wonderful city of Bethlehem a blessed Christmas season of peace among all. I was on a study-tour in Bethlehem in January 2008 and our group stayed for a number of nights at a hotel run by a wonderful Christian couple. It was fascinating to be in such an old city with such a wonderful history and it was painful to see the wall and the terrible  problems facing the communities of the West Bank.  I pray that this season will be one of fruitful dialogue between neighbors and also one in which the light and hope of advent will shine brightly. Christmas blessings to all, Janet L. Bohren Ph.D. Lebanon, Ohio 45036 ____________________ My sisters and brothers in Christ, During this Advent and Christmas season I pray for you courage and strength as you continue to be living witnesses of the compassion and love of our Lord in Bethlehem.  May God walk with you and protect you during times of darkness and fear. With thanks for the gift of your faith and faithfulness, Rev. Sally Newhall Massachusetts, USA  ____________________ Dear Believers in Bethlehem, Our prayers are with you as you anticipate the celebration of the birth of our Lord, who when he was born, drew breath in a land under occupation.  He came as prince of peace; we pray for peace in Bethlehem; for a just peace in which everyone will be able to "sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one will make them afraid," according to the prophets.   Christmas blessings, Steven Kurtz _______________ Warmest greetings and prayers for peace to our sisters and brothers in Christ in Bethlehem.  During this Advent season and in the upcoming Christmas season, may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  God give you encouragement and strength as you face difficult times, and may he also give you joy as you celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation.  Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. In Christ's love The Rev'd John Allen T. Bankson John Knox Presbyterian Church Ruston, Louisiana USA _______________ December 6, 2009  from 1st Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, AR to the Christians in Bethlehem: “We prayed for you today in our church in Huntsville, Arkansas, USA. I wish you peace and I wish you had the freedoms to travel and go where you want. It is the season of remembering the birth of Jesus – wherever we live in the world.” “Greetings, Our hope in Jesus Christ is with us here and with you there. Together our hope will make us stronger, happier, & the holiday brighter. In our prayers, Huntsville Presbyterian Church.” “The people of a small church in America send you greetings and wishes for a happy Christmas season. The prayers of our family are with you for peace.” “You are in our hearts and in our prayers today. God’s love joins us all together as brothers and sisters in Jesus’ name. My wishes for a blessed Christmas for you!” “Our hopes and prayers of this dear season are with you and yours. May peace be granted to your region, your city, and your home. Happy Christmas.” “From our hearts to yours, may this Christmas bring both joy and hope to all corners of the world. Merry Christmas.” “God bless you and keep you safe. Merry Christmas.” “To our brothers and sisters in Christ in Bethlehem: May God make his presence deeply felt for you in the birthplace of the greatest miracle. How blessed are you to be there! Our prayers for peace will come your way. Be strong!” “God be with you this Christmas season and all seasons to come.” “Our church is remembering you in our prayers this Christmas season. We hope this is comforting to you, and that in the very near future peace will come to your part of the world. Merry Christmas.” “May peace be with you all. May the stars shine brightly on you all.” “We are thinking of you during this holiday season and wish you peace!” “Our church blesses you this Christmas season and wishes you peace in the coming year.” “What began there, endures here. Thanks and blessings to you.” “Merry Christmas to all of you! We are praying for each of you! May the peace of Christ be with you during this wonderful Christmas season that we are celebrating! What a wonderful gift we all have received!” “God bless your faith community and prosper it in the future.” “Wishing you peace and God’s blessings this Christmas season.” “Christians in Bethlehem: Glory to God in the highest; peace and blessings of this Christmas season. God IS with us.” “We wish you a merry Christmas and a peaceful new year.” “Merry Christmas. May God bless you. I pray for peace in your area. May God see fit to join the people of all faiths in peace.” “God bless you all, and may your Christmas be blessed with joy and happiness.” “God knows: peace, love, and joy is on the way.” “Wishing you a merry Christmas! God be with you.” May God who sent us Jesus Christ to reconcile us to God, bless and keep you. During these times of insecurity, stress and violence, may you feel the love of God surround you, as people around the world lift you up in prayers for peace. May the Spirit bless you with inner peace and may the celebration of the birth of Christ into what was then also a world of oppression, renew our hope that even today, this year, we may feel that God is ever present and longs with us for peace.  Amen.  Linda Lee San Francisco USA ____________________ Hello from America: Different cultures, different lives but still united in Christ.  I visited Bethlehem (on a tour) 30 years ago.  I wish I could have stayed longer and walked the streets of your beautiful town.  I can remember riding up to Bethlehem on a tour bus and looking out over the beautiful farmland that you overlook. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Ted in Ohio, United States ____________________ To brothers and sisters in Bethlehem, May God’s spirit be with you in this Advent and Christmas season, and may God strengthen your witness in the place of Jesus’ birth. Know that Christians around the world are praying for you! Eva Stimson Editor, Presbyterians Today General Assembly Mission Council Louisville, KY 40202-1396 ____________________ May the God who came into the world as a baby born in Bethlehem, continue to reside with you, sharing justice and peace for all.  Have a most holy and blessed Christmas.  Rev. Joyce Lieberman Associate for Call System Support, Office of Vocation Office of General Assembly and General Assembly Mission Council Presbyterian Church (USA) Louisville, KY 40202-1396 ____________________ Just wanted to wish everyone there a very Blesses and Merry Christmas.  I am on the Board of Directors for the Wider Church Ministry and wanted to extend my sincere gratitude for what you and your effort are doing in and around Bethlaham.  At this Advent Season, we all need to remember that we are one family with Christ.  Wishing everyone there a very Merry Christmas. Alyce Downer New Orleans, LA Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. ____________________ Brothers and Sisters May the Light of Divine Creator of us all radiate on each and every one of us this Christmas Season.  May the Spirit of His Healing and Forgiveness fill each and every one of our hearts during this Season of his Birth.  May the words of the Prophets, (Blessed be their Holy Names) be fulfilled in a new found hope for Peace and Reconciliation between all People of the Book in your homelands and throughout the world. Peace, Love, Justice and Light In Jesus' Name David Isaiah Hedelman-Congregational United Church of Christ, Klamath Falls, Oregon—USA ____________________ Having visited Bethlehem in 2005, I saw some of the challenges being faced there by Christians.  I just want to let you know that my thoughts and prayers for you there are even stronger at this holy time of the year.  May God smile on you and bless you in a special way  during this season. Sue Warrick Indiana, USA ____________________ Dear People of Bethlehem, As an American, I wish and pray for peace in your land and peoples. So many hopes of so many religions centered around there--may God grant us all to live and work together in peace this Holy Season, and forever. The Peace of the Lion-and-the-Lamb-Lying-Down-Together. Ginny Feldman ____________________ We remember Christmases spent in Bethlehem in the l950's and 60's and the joy we shared on Shepherds' Field with those who lived there and their hospitality toward us as strangers in their land.  We pray for all of you still there and for a happy resolution to your problems. Sallie & Dick Jesser/USA May peace and blessings be in your heart for the coming season and throughout the years.  I lived in Beirut, Lebanon years ago and have very dear memories of visiting Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The love of Christ be with you. Claire Sheehan/USA ____________________ Greetings from Austin, Texas, USA. I pray for peace for all people in the Holy Land.  I wish you all a very happy Christmas and blessings for a better new year. Barbara Paul ____________________ Dear Bethlehemers, This must be another difficult Christmas for you living in Occupied Palestine. I sent you warm greetings from my family to your's, and from the Palestinian rights group of which I'm a member.  We hope that you are able to celebrate the holiday in peace. Wishing you a better world for the coming year. Dick Fralin ____________________ Micah said that all that is required of us  is "... act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God" .  So if at Christmas we share our common faith by doing that, we can share the peace that is promised to all.   Noel and to all happiness,  Evan    First Presbyterian Church, Crown Point, Indiana, U.S.A. ____________________ To all my Christian sisters and brothers in Bethlehem: May you have a blessed Christmas and may the new year bring true peace to your land. I hope to see your fair city in January when I visit with my Lancaster Theological Seminary class. In Christian Love,  Joyce Rowles ____________________ Our congregation will continue to remember the Church in Bethlehem this Advent and Christmas season. God bless and keep the faith. Peace, Dwain De Pew pastor, Aztec Presbyterian Church ____________________ "Hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit." (Romans 5:5)  May God's abundant, unquenchable love be there for you and your loved ones during these days of Advent and Christmas and throughout the new year.  Would that each of us experience this radiant, life-transforming power, and pass it on..  An humble task, but an all-consuming one. Peace, John Will Burleson, Texas. U.S.A. ____________________ UNKNOWN Our prayers and wishes go to you in Bethlehem for a Merry Christmas.  Our Christmas wish is for peace throughout the world.  May peace be in your hearts this Christmas. We pray for you, our brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray for all the persons living in the holy land. May there be peace some day. ____________________ I would like to take this opportunity to pray for justice, peace, and security for Palestinians and Israelis, and it's my hope that God's love will prevail and these people will at last have peace in their lives. I also wish them a merry Christmas and a fulfilling new year. God bless them all. Fidel. ____________________ Paraestas fiestas de conmemoración de la Navidad y para el año 2010 os deseo mi más ferviente deseo de paz y felicidad "Peace" be with you!  Today, tomorrow and all the days of your life on earth...this is my Christmas wish for you! ____________________