We will soon enter the Advent season, and we'd like to let you know about some excellent resources available to help you and your church link the current situation in Israel and Palestine with the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.

Church resources
The PJSN website lists a variety of Advent resources at <http://peace.mennolink.org/advent.html>. We'd particularly like to highlight the 2006 Then and Now Advent Advocacy materials, available at: <http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/advent06/index.html>. This series of five powerpoints and accompanying coloring pages and adult handouts will help all ages to understand what life is like in modern-day Bethlehem. Christi Hoover Seidel, creator of the series and former co-peace development worker, MCC Palestine (2004-2007), writes:

This Christmas will be the second we will celebrate in the States upon returning from our MCC assignment in Bethlehem, Palestine. For us, this season of the year will never be the same. Bethlehem and her people forever changed us and our concept of Christmas. With so many Palestinians unemployed, imprisoned, fearful on a daily basis and unable to envision a future for their children, the spirit of Bethlehem's Prince of Peace has never been more needed.

Here on the other side of the world, it's easy to listen to the Christmas songs playing in shopping centers, surrounded by any kind of gifts imaginable. It's not easy to remember those who are suffering in this small town. As we celebrate Bethlehem's ancient story in places so far removed, the people of Bethlehem behold the tragic irony of their lives in this holy town.

Though these advent materials were created in 2006, they are still completely relevant and needed more than ever. Please consider using them to educate your congregation about the situation in the Middle East so that Bethlehem does not remain distant to our hearts as we sing, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight."