June
8, 2008
The clock event in Bethlehem, Sunday
evening, brought together some 120 persons
in the sunset light, filling almost the
whole area of Manger Square. What was
especially moving was the lightning of the
candles of each of the 60 years forming the
clock, an activity punctuated by beats
produced by local scouts. The lighting act
was done, significantly, by a South African
(of EAPPI), bringing into the minds of the
participants a comparison between the South
African and Palestinian struggle for
liberation. During the years 41 and 60 the
square - which on Sunday evening is usually
quite lively - was enveloped in silence in
commemoration of the victims of the
conflict. There were a good many Palestinian
peace NGOs present from the Bethlehem and
Jerusalem areas. The several hundreds of
prayers that were sent to Bethlehem in the
preceding week were distributed among the
attendants, and a selection was read aloud
in different languages by participants from
different countries. Parts of the Time for
Palestine prayer were read in English and
Arabic while at the end an Arabic peace song
was sung by all Palestinians present. The
ceremony was felt to be genuinely
meaningful, as people emphasized afterwards.
According to one participant, it showed
“inner peace expressing a longing for outer
peace and justice.” We all are very thankful
to the many people who worked on the design,
organization and logistics of the action –
all in a spirit of good team work.
THE
LIVING CLOCK EVENT ON VIDEO
June 8 the Bethlehem and Jerusalem Network
of Christian Organizations organized the
Living Clock on Manger Square, Bethlehem.
Share and experience this visually rich
event by watching the 2-minute video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI4Ja6loTWk
A rehearsal of the Living Clock
May
22, 2008
On Thursday evening May 22, AEI-Open Windows
organized directly
outside the sumud house, a rehearsal
of the “Living Clock” in which a circle of
Palestinians and internationals carried 60
torches symbolizing the numbers of a 60-year
Naqba “clock”. A beautiful prayer developed
by the World Council of Churches was
pronounced during the event. See the text of
the prayer below.
Read the messages and prayers for Peace
International Church Action for Peace in
Palestine and Israel
4-10 June 2008
A joint
advocacy initiative convened by the World
Council of Churches
