Solidarity with the Suffering

I am praying daily for Rev. Rick Nutt and Rev. Mary-Gene Boteler, who regularly attend the early worship service at Broad Street. They are part of a 30+ member delegation from throughout the Presbyterian Church (USA), traveling in Palestine and Israel in response to a call from the PC(USA’s) Christian partners in Palestine and Israel to come and express solidarity with all who are suffering during this time of violence.

The delegation also includes the Rev. Dr. Hunter Farrell, known to many at BSPC from his time in Peru as a mission co-worker. Also included in the group are a former moderator of the General Assembly, middle judicatory leaders and several presbytery ministers and elders from throughout the denomination,

The delegation does not speak on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Rather they speak to their Christian siblings, Presbyterian and beyond, which includes us here at BSPC:

We’re here to express solidarity, to learn from those doing the work locally, to amplify further what is going on, and to do our part to help move the needle towards an end to the suffering and violence.

We will send updates and reports about what we see and hear during the trip with the main purposes of the trip during and after:

• to express solidarity with all who are suffering in Palestine and Israel during this time of immense violence,
• to demand an end to Israel’s genocidal bombardment of Gaza and an end to Israel’s systematic ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and the release of all Palestinian prisoners held unlawfully by Israel;
• and to call for an end to Hamas’ acts of horrendous violence against civilians and the return of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

We hope you will join us from wherever you are and amplify the stories we share. For delegation updates, follow and subscribe to all of the IPMN (Israel Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA)), Kairos Palestine, and Sabeel socials. Links can be found below.

On Monday, Rick Nutt posted a reflection about Palestinians and East Jerusalem.

He closes with this prayer:

God of all peoples and of all creation, we commend to your care the people of Israel-Palestine.

We pray for the displaced; we pray for the refugees; we pray for hostages; we pray for political prisoners; we pray innocent victims; and we pray for ourselves, that we may have our hearts broken open to do and say that which will promote peace and justice for all the world. In the name of our Palestinian savior, Amen.

To learn more:

IPMN posts daily blogs

IPMN sends out daily updates

-Blog by Rev. Ann Palmerton

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