World Council of Churches asks for Prayer, advocacy and solidarity with churches in Gaza

In a statement issued yesterday, the heads of churches in Jerusalem and the Holy Land called on the international community and the state of Israel to end the current siege on the Gaza Strip which has caused most recently cuts in electricity and limited the shipments of medicine, fuel, food and other goods across the border.

The statement says the siege of Gaza has effectively imprisoned one and a half million people without proper food or medicine. The church leaders stress that “this is illegal collective punishment, an immoral act in violation of the basic human, natural as well as international laws. It cannot be tolerated anymore. The siege over Gaza should end now.”

The statement urged Palestinians to unite in ending their differences for the sake of the people in Gaza and urged Israel to act responsibly.

In a letter issued today, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia called on the Council’s 347 member churches around the world to pray for the end of the suffering in Gaza and speak out for the people in Gaza to their governments.

“Address your parishes, the public, your governments and the embassies”, Kobia writes, “calling for an end to the siege, an end to their collective punishments and a negotiated ceasefire”.

The letter urges churches to manifest solidarity with the churches in Palestine by supporting the work done by local churches on the ground and church-related agencies like Action by Churches Together. Kobia also suggests to send messages of support directly to the local churches.

Statement from the heads of churches in Jerusalem
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=5519

WCC general secretary letter
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=5522

Back in Prague…

Phil and I are finally back in Prague after a rather long break (particularly for me) in the UK. We had a great time, but its also nice to be into ‘normal’ life again.

This year I will be working more hours per week for the European Baptist Federation, which is pretty good. I enjoy it, and get to meet some really interesting people. As well as that I will be carrying on with doing stuff in church, and also hopefully completing my dissertation. If I want to graduate in May (which I do!) then my dissertation needs to be finished by the end of March, beginning of April. Nothing like a deadline to focus the mind..! I’m really really hoping that I will make this deadline, as I just want to finish it now… otherwise I will drag it out over the summer, and make it much more painful than it needs to be! Phil is working in the library now, and also doing some editting work for students. I think that he loving the more regular hours and lots of time with our new iPOD.

Phil handed in our paperwork for the adoption to our social worker before Christmas, so we’re waiting to hear from the social services department on what happens next. We’re feeling quite patient, but we would really like to hear something sooner rather than later.

When I was in Kent I had a couple of fillings done, and one is completely fine but the other is causing me some pain. I would really appreciate your prayers that this will clear up, as I am quite worried about it.

Christmas and New Year

Phil and I have had a brilliant Christmas and New Year. For Christmas we were with my parents in Kent and we are now in Northern Ireland with Phil’s mom and extended family. I have had a few people saying that they would like to see more photos…. so here goes:

 Phil and I with the newly decorated Christmas tree..!

Family on Christmas day. (Bethan is the photographer..!)

Phil enjoying his fish and chips at the coast (Broadstairs), where we went on Boxing Day.

My Northern Irish family..!

There are many more on Facebook… so if I actually know you, and you actually know me, and you’re on Facebook then have a look there..!

Tomorrow is my birthday. The big 2 – 6…! Flip. Can’t believe I’m over 25 years old. I’m nearly 30..! I had a great Kent ‘birthday’ before we came to Northern Ireland. We went out for breakfast, all the Ellishes, Phil, I and Elspeth (one of my lovely flat mates from University) to a class place in Westerham called ’Food for Thought’. It was really great. If I have a bad day tomorrow then it is an Ellish tradition that the birthday-person is entitled to walk around in just their underwear for the day..! Hopefully it won’t come to that as its pretty cold here at the moment..! I’m sure that my Northern Irish family will make sure that I have a lovely day..! :)