Prayers for Peace in the Middle East, Monthly Vigil

The vigil will include input from partners in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and is part of a worldwide prayer movement.

This month we will be hearing from Jean Byrne. Jean Byrne served in Bethlehem, as an ecumenical accompanier (EA), as part of the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), from 31 August to 7 October.

The EAPPI programme was set up in 2002 as a result of an appeal from local church leaders (WCC) in Occupied Palestine to provide an international presence in the country. EAs aim to offer a protective presence to vulnerable communities, monitoring and reporting human rights abuses based on international humanitarian law and human rights law. Jean will be sharing stories from her experience as an ecumenical accompanier.

Jean will also be sharing a video from Sabah: a young mother who lives in Kisan with her husband and three school age children. She is in her second year of Social Studies. She is a volunteer member of the village council and runs a Women's and Children's programme. In addition, she runs a shepherds' programme and works with the local Protection Group, helping local villages with by funding grassroots projects.

You can join the event on zoom using this link.