Along with Tantur Ecumenical Institute and Church of the Redeemer, Sabeel co-sponsored a book launch for Father Michael Lapsley’s book on March 26^th, 2017. His book is called Redeeming the Past: My Journey from Freedom Fighter to Healer, and is about his personal experiences. Fr. Lapsley joined the ANC after being exiled by the South African apartheid government. After surviving a letter bomb attack by the South African government, he went on to found the Institute for Healing of Memories in Cape Town. There was simultaneous translation of the event from English to Arabic. About 45 people attended.

The 10^th Nazareth International Conference was March 11^th-12^th. A large number of internationals and locals participated. People attending the conference visited the occupied Golan Heights. The next day, there was a prayer service at St. Peter’s Church in Tiberias. That evening there was a cultural program including a choir from Nazareth and Dabkah dancing which the audience interacted with.

The women’s Bible study for February was on the 23rd. The focus was on “Healing the Server.” We read the Bible, found words and sentences that are particularly meaningful to us, talked about how to relate them to our daily lives.

On February 22nd, we had a book release for The Land of Christ: a Palestinian Cry, by Rev. John Katanashu. Rev. John spoke briefly, and his talk was followed by comments from the writer Fouad Farah and Lina Haj, who read an excerpt of the book, as well as a summary and her opinion of the book. There was also time for the 30 people attending to ask the author questions and discuss the book.

The first women’s monthly meeting of the year was on February 10^th, and about 30 women attended. We discussed the schedule of programs for this year. We also announced the International Conference coming up and encouraged the participants to register for it.

On February 10^th, 2017, there was a Bible study facilitator group training in Bethlehem. The 38 facilitators there came from Aboud, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Beit Sahour, Jinen, Burqen, Toubes, and Zababdeh. Patriarch Michel Sabbah and Bishop Atallah Hanna opened with words of encouragement and led group check-ins, giving the facilitators a chance to share with each other how their Bible study groups are doing as well as any news or challenges. The training included workshops on how to lead Bible study and how to apply the lessons from Bible study to everyday life. We thank God for God’s presence that was felt throughout this training, as well as for the enthusiasm and passion of the young leaders.

Archimandrite Melatios Basal came to Sabeel and shared his personal testimony, ministry, and work encouraging young people to be involved in the Orthodox church. Because of the traditions of the Orthodox that stress the importance of having clergy present during Bible studies, Sabeel invited Archimandrite Basal to explore this tradition with the community. He encouraged reading the Bible and talking about it together, as they did in the early church. Around 40 people came to his talk.

At the women’s Bible study on February 2nd, we discussed the story of Jesus being brought to the temple in Luke 2:26-35. After reading the passage and meditating on it, we talked about ways in which we have seen that God gave equality between men and women and how the Holy Spirit is with us from the Old Testament until now.

Sabeel’s annual Christmas dinner was held at Terra Santa Parish Center in Beit Hanina on December 17^th. The Jerusalem Knights Choir sang, and a Christmas message was given by Patriarch Michel Sabbah. Two hundred and fifty people attended, including clergy, clergy wives, and members of the community.