Dear Friends and Colleagues,

This week we offer some voices from the ground.

From #Ferguson to Palestine: Dream Defenders and artists and activists from Ferguson MO traveled to Palestine and organized this flash mob in Nazareth:

Solidarity Demonstration in Nazareth : Ferguson to Palestine

From Dream Defenders Vimeo page: "The Dream Defenders develop the next generation of radical leaders to realize and exercise our independent collective power; building alternative systems and organizing to disrupt the structures that oppress our communities."

Twenty-eight pilgrims from the Dioceses of Olympia, Northern California and Arizona are traveling with their bishops to the Holy Land.  The Bishop of Olympia Greg Rickel is blogging.  Check out the posts here.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori announced at the January Executive Council meeting an interfaith pilgrimage: "The second matter I want to make you aware of is the result of a resolution [B019] of the last General Convention that asked me to develop an interfaith pilgrimage to the Holy Land, with equal representation of Episcopalians, Jews, and Muslims, to model and encourage similar efforts and dialogues by others.  I am happy to tell you that a group of about a dozen have been assembled and will make that pilgrimage shortly.  After hearing a variety of narratives and meeting with a broad spectrum of residents, religious leaders, and government officials, we hope to return with learnings that can be translated into our own congregations and local communities. I will have a more detailed report for you at our March meeting."  

The newsletter of St. Philip's in the Hills, Tucson AZ, made this announcement: "Our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, invited our Rector, the Rev. Canon John Kitagawa, to be one of several Episcopalians to join her on an Interfaith Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori has also invited leaders from the American Jewish and Muslim communities to join the pilgrimage. A resolution (B- 019) of the 2012 General Convention covering a number of issues related to the Middle East, specifically requested the Presiding Bishop to lead such a pilgrimage to promote interfaith dialogue, to be a witness for peace, and to serve as a model for future interfaith work in local situations, as well for future interfaith pilgrimages. The group will visit Holy Places of the three faiths, and meet with a variety of individuals and groups representing the three faiths....  John asks for your prayers for this historic journey. He looks forward to offering reflections on the journey upon his return to Tucson."  

We too look forward to a more detailed report.

Other ways to make the connections:

• Explore Israeli Military Detention - No Way to Treat A Child: how might you participate in this campaign?  Are there connections to what is happening to children where you live?

• Is there a ReMax office in your community?  Check this out for all the information you'll need to organize a campaign Boycott Re/Max: No Open House on Stolen Land!

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Episcopal Peace Fellowship
PO Box 15, Claysburg, PA 16625

312-922-8628

epf@epfnational.org

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