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Friends United Meeting |
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Quaker Life
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| Valiant for Truth | Contents |
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By Patricia Edwards-Konic The stars were shining bright as I stood on the hill where the shepherds saw the angels and heard the message — a savior is born in Bethlehem. I heard no message nor saw heavenly angels. To get to Bethlehem from Jerusalem, one now has to go through the new checkpoint between the completed section of a wall twice as high as the Berlin Wall. Rachel’s tomb is barricaded and only Jews can go there. The crossing from Israel into Palestine went smoothly on our bus and I began to see the work of real-life angels of mercy. We visited a school run by Sister Rose. Her mission is to care for children who have been through trauma and no longer function normally. Some children no longer talk; others have movement or memory problems. They have seen parents and relatives shot and killed before their eyes. Another work of hope is Wi’am, a place teaching children, youth, women and men conflict resolution skills. The youth coordinator, Usama Ni Cola Al Zoughli, spoke a message of peace and goodwill to all people in the midst of constant struggle. Manager Square and The Church of the Nativity were almost deserted. Bullet holes in the church walls testified to the siege of the Bethlehem in 2003 by Israeli forces. Deputy Mayor, George Sa’adah and his wife shared their journey of forgiveness when their daughter was shot and killed during that time. Conditions in Bethlehem seem worse than when Jesus was born. Yet he came into an occupied land to bring peace. As I knelt inside the Church of the Nativity after seeing the cave where Jesus was born and the manager in which he lay, I was overwhelmed with joy — joy that Jesus chose to come to earth as a baby in the midst of such a horrific time for the people of the land. Roman occupation — now Israeli occupation. Checkpoints — then of the census and of Herod with the wise men — checkpoints and walls now. I asked Christ what I, one person in Indiana could do? The answer came in a still small voice, “Just daily do the work I give you.” So yes, God did speak clearly to me in this place of the Savior’s birth, the question I asked in my December Valiant for Truth, “Just daily do the work I give you.” ______________________________________ On the Cover “Thinking of Spring,” a 15"x22" watercolor painting by Charlie Adams commissioned by Quaker Life. Charlie’s paintings are often inspired by the desire to offer hope and healing to others, honoring the Quaker idea of “that of God in each person.” He often sends original small paintings in the form of greeting cards to friends and family. Also a musician and photographer, Charlie and his wife, Lee Ann, are members of First Friends Meeting, Richmond, Indiana. He can be contacted at: cadamsart@verizon.net. |
8 Leadership
Development in our Global Community 10
Leadership Training: The Goal
to Effective Performance 12 Leadership
Development for Youth and Young Adults 14 Imaging the Vision:
Church Leadership Institute for Ministry _______________________________ 4 Commitments 4 News from Friends United Meeting 16 Salt and Light 17 Soul Food 18 News 20 Passages 22 Reviews 26 Peace Notes 27 Viewpoints 28 Classifieds 33 Friends
United Meeting 35 Centering
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