Walled-in people of Bethlehem remembered during Advent

Around the country, in schools, prayer groups, parishes and families, Pax Christi members and friends are sending messages to the people of Bethlehem for Christmas. This is part of a project that began some years ago with Pax Christi partners the Arab Educational Institute. It is a simple yet important way of offering solidarity to the people of Bethlehem who are now cut off from the world by the Separation Wall.

From St Anselm's Prayer Group in Tooting, London, Jean writes: 'We are thinking and praying for you all, not only at Christmas but always. We pray that God will one day tear those horrible walls down, just as the wall of Berlin were torn down. We ask Our Lady's intercession for this and pray that one day everyone will live in God's kingdom of peace.

Hundreds of people attended the annual Pax Christi Advent Peace Service in Central London on 7 December. During the service, which had as its focal point images of our broken world in front of which was placed an empty cradle, people lit candles to accompany their prayers for peace.

One message to Bethlehem said: We are praying always for peace in God's Holy Land; for all people of faith (and no faith). Peace with justice; peace and prosperity; peace in a land where all will be equal, and equally respected. God's blessings on you all!

The messages will be read following a traditional peace march that takes place in Bethlehem on 26 December.

For more information see: www.paxchristi.org.uk