Lent 1 - 1 Peter - Made Alive in the Spirit

1 Peter 3.18-22

He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit… (1Peter 3.18)

Last week Israeli armed forces bulldozed a community center in Silwan, East Jerusalem, a “cultural cafe,” built as a space for children in the community to gather, with a sports field in front of the cafe.

A couple of years ago when I was at Augusta Victoria Hospital (Lutheran World Federatio

n), Pastor Mark Brown showed us how little space there is for children to play in East Jerusalem.

Silwan is a neighborhood on the Palestinian side of the Green Line, which separates West and East Jerusalem. It is thought to be the site of King David’s city. In the past few years, Israeli settlers have been moving into the area, purchasing or squatting in buildings for the purpose of establishing a Jewish presence in East Jerusalem. (In spite of international protests, in 1967, Israel annexed East Jerusalem, which it had captured in the Six Day War. Israel does views Jerusalem as a unified city).

Israelis have also established archaeological digs in Silwan, hoping to find evidence of Jewish presence. These digs have been criticized for the sloppy way the digging has been carried out. Because the digging is being done solely for the purpose of proving a Jewish right to the land, other artifacts are being carelessly destroyed.

The Israeli human rights organization, B’tSelem has published a report on the Israeli army’s harassment and arrest of Palestinian teenagers in Silwan.

The cafe was a unique project (read about the building of the cafe and field last December) to provide a much-needed space for children to play and for youth and adults to gather. Its purpose was also to protect the land from being stolen by violent Israeli settlers or turned into a parking lot by the Jerusalem Municipality. It was a cooperative effort of the Madaa Center and the Middle East Children’s Association (MECA, a US organization).

The community and the staff of Madaa Center are determined to rebuild the café. They invite us: “With your help, we can support the residents of Silwan in demanding their right to live and build on their land.” Their goal is to complete a new café in time for a Mothers' Day Celebration on March 21, 2012 (Mothers' Day is celebrated across Arab countries on this date).

MECA has made a commitment to raise $15,000 for this project by February 29, 2012.

You can help in two ways:

• Make an emergency contribution to rebuild
• Send a letter to Israeli officials responsible for this demolition. The Madaa Center in Silwan tells us it is important that official bodies know there is support and vigilance from the international community.

Life emerging from death, every day in East Jerusalem, whether it is rebuilding a playground or protesting eviction―a Lent-Easter journey.

God of David and Abraham, your people are suffering in the land you have made holy. Open our minds and hearts to their plight. Show us your spirit, alive in the land today, and make us partners in the life your spirit breathes into your people. In the name of your son, who died and rose to new life. Amen.