Sometimes I think I know what I’m getting from say a trip, a relationship, or a purchase. And I do know, but only in part. It is through living with what I have that I really learn its value.

A great blessing we have as members of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is that as Christians and people of faith we have different personal and institutional faith journeys and traditions. While I know this, it is also true that when I experience again what a wonderful gift our unity in working for peace in the Holy Land is I am filled with gratitude and inquisitiveness. I hope this 2010 Lent & Easter Reflections will be a blessing to you as well.

On behalf of everyone at CMEP I hope that these selections of Scripture, reflections by members of the community, prayers and questions for meditation will nourish you and your local community for the work we are doing together.

Doris Warrell, CMEP Field Director

PDF of this overview

Lent & Easter Scripture and Reflection Authors
 

• First Sunday: Luke 4:1-13 reflection by Bob Tiller of Alliance of Baptists (CMEP board member)
   
• Second Sunday: Philippians 3:17-4:1 reflection by Doris Warrell of The United Methodist Church (CMEP staff member)
   
• Third Sunday: Isaiah 55:1-9 reflection by Doug Norell of Catholic Relief Services
   
• Fourth Sunday: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 reflection by Peter Makari of Common Global Ministries Board of the Christians Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ (CMEP board member)
   
• Fifth Sunday: John 8:1-11 reflection by Christopher H. Zakian of Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
   
• Sixth Sunday: Isaiah 50:4-9 reflection by John Sullivan of Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (CMEP board member)
   
• Easter Sunday: Acts 10:34-43 reflection by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. (CMEP board member)

Ideas for Use
 

• Read these reflections and pray for guidance and perseverance for our work together
   
• Offer prayers for peace through justice during the prayers of the people or ask your pastor, priest or leader to add this to your church’s prayers
   
• Put an article about peace in the Holy Land in your congregation’s newsletter or website
   
• Put a notice in the bulletin or church’s email list about the availability of these reflections
   
• Send these reflections to friends and family so you can reflect and pray together for peace

Feedback

CMEP would like to know your response to this year’s Lent/Easter resource and how you used it personally or corporately to engage your congregation more deeply in the work for peace in the Holy Land. Send any comments, ideas or feedback to Doris Warrell at Doris@CMEP.org. Thank you.