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Aspiring to be catalysts for peacemaking, especially where minorities are persecuted, where justice is denied, human rights are suppressed or reconciliation is needed

Spring News

<<First Name>>, like me, you may feel helpless watching the tragic news from the Ukraine. I have personally found this prayer by Wendy Lyons very helpful - it is based on the Lord’s Prayer. I am also glad to be able to share with you news of recent Peacemaker projects, people and supported initiatives.

Rifat Kassis Joins Peacemaker Board

We are delighted that Rifat Odeh Kassis has agreed to join our international Board of Reference.

Rifat Kassis is the General Coordinator of Kairos Palestine and Global Kairos for Justice, being one of its founding members. He co-authored the Kairos Palestine documents ‘A Moment of Truth: A Word of Faith, Hope and Love from the Heart of Palestinian Suffering’, ‘Kairos for Palestine’ and ‘Cry for Hope’: A Call for Decisive Action. Rifat Kassis was born in Beit Sahour and for more than twenty five years has been a leading figure and expert in the Palestinian, regional and international child rights community. Continue reading→

Convivencia - Interfaith Coexistence

Convivencia simply means ‘coexistence’. It is an academic hypothesis, first proposed by the Spanish philologist Américo Castro, regarding the coexistence of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities during the period of Spanish history from the Muslim Umayyad conquest of Hispania in the early eighth century until the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Over the past year I have been helping friends from the Jewish and Muslim communities prepare a new Initiaitve called the Convivencia Alliance. Continue reading→

Diocese of Winchester Commends SWVG

In December + Debbie Sellin, Bishop of Southampton and + David Williams, Bishop of Basingstoke, issued an encouraging press release commending the work of Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG) among people seeking asylum. And at Christmas we were blessed with a generous donation of toys from Revd Damon Draisey and the South Downs Gateway parishes, for the children of asylum seekers. Continue reading→

I presently assist with two weekly SWVG events co-sponsored by Southampton Central Library (an English lesson with lunch) and the Avenue Multicultural Centre (providing advice, food and friendship). I also meet weekly with M, an Iranian seeking asylum in the UK, to provide pastoral support and help improve his English. Continue reading→

Professor Scott Elias: Threats to the Arctic

One of the Five Marks of Mission which we affirm as a charity is “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”. In this interview with Professor Scott Elias, we examine the threats to the Arctic from climate change. Continue reading→

Finding the Church’s Prophetic Voice

This past year, during the pandemic, Rev. Naim Ateek put together a collection of his writings including lectures, sermons, largely unpublished but mostly delivered at various universities, colleges, and churches over the years.

In particular, I am delighted to commend Revd Dr Naim Ateek’s “Cry Out, Do Not Hold Back!”. It contains the distilled wisdom of over 50 years prophetic ministry. This is an immensely significant and urgent call (as well as loving rebuke) for the Western church to find its prophetic voice and speak truth to power over Palestine. Continue reading→

Peacemaker 2022 Financial Challenge

Peacemaker Trust is a faith ministry. By the grace of God, we are entirely dependent on the prayers, advocacy and financial support of our dedicated Peacemaker friends. We are a small charity with low overheads and a prudent budget. If you identify with our vision, we invite you to make a one-off gift or regular monthly donation to help us fulfil our charitable purposes in 2022.

We need to raise an additional £5,000 to meet our budget for 2022

If you wish to give regularly, you may download a standing order form and return to your bank. You may also donate via PayPal (use button above) or by making a cash or cheque deposit or transfer directly into our Peacemaker Trust Metro Bank account, using our bank account number 19949718 and sort code 23-05-80. See here for more details of other options.

May the Lord bless you and those you love this Christmas.