THE PRECIOUS PEOPLE OF ST PHILLIP'S

 What can I say about the precious congregation at St Phillip's Episcopal and Good Shepherd in Rafedia.  Both are Anglican churches pastored by Father Ibrahim Nairouz.  In a city of thousands, there are only 700 Christians left.  They are divided up among four churches.  The Catholic church, the Greek Orthodox church, one other and the St Phillip's congregation. This is about as close to a perfect Christian community you could ever find.  They look out for one another, care for one another and provide protected family time and adventures for their congregations. 

There are hundreds of children, both Muslim and Christian in the area.  St Phillip's provides a school for all of them.  Each morning we awoke at 4am to the Muslim citywide call for prayer and then to the children in school below us later.  The church has a "gate keeper" so the children and their families are protected.  There is NO strife between Muslim and Christian.  In fact, Father Ibrahim's office assistant is Muslim and also the family that "keeps the gate" is a Muslim family. 

Fun singing songs before dividing into their Sunday School Classes

Some of our  workcamp girls....LOVE these sweeties!
 

I was a little confused at first when we were told that Sunday School would be on Friday morning.  Weekends for this group are different than ours.  The city is predominantly Muslim, so their "Sabbath" is on Fridays.  Public schools are off  Fridays and Saturdays....they have school on Sundays.  So, consequently, Sunday School is actually Friday School for all the children and teens. Regular worship service is held each Sunday morn at 11am like ours. 

Here is a link to a video of the older teens getting ready for a Christmas presentation:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101464212483496&set=vb.25516352&type=2&theater

While we were there on Sunday, two special things happened.  The first was that the service was being broadcast throughout the Arab countries to other Christians.  This is done about once every few months so that other Christians can enjoy having services in their homes.  Allie was asked to take part in the service by reading the scripture in English after it was read in Arabic.

Secondly, a new team from EAPPI (a branch of the World Council of Churches) was visiting St Phillip's for the service.  Every three months a team of about 12 -15 young people from around the world (mostly Scandinavian countries) comes to Nablus.  They are there as observers and recorders.  They literally put themselves between the "settlers" and the city.  An international presence deters the settlers from attacking the city's people, buildings and olive trees.  They also do things like walk children to school in the local villages where they are sometimes harassed by Israeli soldiers and their dogs.  God bless these people.  It is a dangerous task....and a selfless one. 

The older teens help mentor the younger children.  The church gives the families a connection to each other and helps to provide a sense of normalcy for the people in this crazy oppressed situation they live in. 

Celebrating birthdays in the month of November out on the playground

 

Part of the youth group from St Phillips



Fun with pretty girls on the church steps

Some of the boys in the church school kindergarten class

Ameed swinging the children & helping them get almonds out of the trees

 

Here is a video of the children singing during Sunday School.  Much is the same everywhere....the teens are sitting on the back pews.....Sami is separating a couple rambunctious boys :)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101464205746996&set=vb.25516352&type=2&theater

 

Father Ibrahim Nairouz delivering the homily