Blog from Holy Land trip 2011

The Madison Room story

When Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church, was in Wisconsin last summer to speak at the Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ, several other speaking engagements and fund-raisers were planned.  At one of them, held at The Madison Club in Madison, over $14,000 was raised to support the new college in Bethlehem. 

In September at a Bright Stars of Bethlehem meeting, a gathering of supporters from various denominations all over the United States, Rev. Mitri invited Bright Stars of Bethlehem representatives to help “build” the college by raising money for particular rooms.  Nancy Baumgardner and Bonnie Van Overbeke, Bright Stars representatives and members of the Southwest Association UCC Partnership Committee, decided to support students in the media communications department by raising money for an editing room.  The amount we needed to raise was $25,000. 

It seemed a daunting task, but as of January 10, the goal was reached and, in fact, surpassed!  We are pleased to announce that Wisconsin will be able not only to “build” a room but furnish it as well!  This room, which began with donations from The Madison Club event, will be called “The Madison Room.”

On November 30, 2010 the Dar al Kalima College campus was dedicated.  Nancy and Bonnie would like to thank everyone who has supported the work of the Bethlehem Partnership over the years, especially those who contributed to the new “Madison Room” on the Dar al Kalima college campus.  Thank you all!!

We will continue to spread the good news coming out of Bethlehem and raise funds to support the ongoing work of Christmas Lutheran Church and the various programs of the Diyar Consortium, its outreach organization.  Again, thank you to all who have helped us reach our goal and who support the people of Bethlehem not only with money but with prayers.

Rev. Mitri Raheb -- our partner in Bethehem

Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, a dear friend of our church, is a Palestinian Arab and Christian pastor who ministers to his people in Bethlehem, where his family has lived for hundreds of years. He is also the author of Bethlehem Besieged (Fortress Press, 2004), and I Am a Palestinian Christian (Fortress Press, 1995).

He is pastor of the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, director of the Diyar Consortium and president of Dar Al-Kalima College. (The proceeds of our Christmas Craft and Cookie event support a student at the college!)

Memorial's partnership with Christmas Lutheran Church

In 2001 Pastor Bonnie Van Overbeke traveled to Israel/Palestine on a month-long study sabbatical. While there she met Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and director of the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB), the mission arm of the church. Upon her return, Bonnie and a group of interested members of Memorial church began to explore the possibility of forming a partnership with Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem.

In 2003, the Memorial Church Council enthusiastically approved the creation of a partnership. In the fall of 2004, the Southwest Association of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ voted to join Memorial United Church of Christ in its partnership with Christmas Lutheran Church and in its support of the work of the International Center of Bethlehem.

The goals of the partnership include the following educating ourselves and advocating with other about the humanitarian issues involved in the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict, especially as it pertains to the Bethlehem community; giving financial and prayer support to the life and ministries of Christmas Lutheran Church and the International Center of Bethlehem; building personal relationships between people in Wisconsin and Bethlehem through travel and other communication. We hope that through this relationship, the faith of each congregation will be strengthened and empowered to live out the commitments and dreams God has for them.

Here is a photo essay that describes the growth of our partnership.

2009 Trip to the Holy Land

Four people with ties to Memorial UCC traveled to Israel/Palestine in the fall of 2009 in the latest link in our partnership with Christmas Lutheran Church. Our former pastor, Bonnie Van Overbeke, ied the trip along with Nancy Baugardner. Pastor Phil went along, as did Petra Streiff, our former parish nurse. They were joined by four other people.

During the trip from Oct. 26 to Nov. 7, they spent time in the Galilee region, staying in Nazareth. They were in Bethlehem for four days and worshiped with our partners there on Nov. 1. They also were in the Red Sea area and ended the trip in Jerusalem, visiting the Old City. Along the way, they met with a variety of residents to get a sense of how life is for them in this time.

You can read many stories from the trip and see pictures at Pastor Phil's Place.

Speakers Bureau

If you would like to have a presentation for your church or organization on what we have seen and learned or have any questions about the partnership or the situation or if you have interest in traveling with us to the Holy Land, please feel welcome to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , former pastor of Memorial UCC and chair of the Southwest Association Bethlehem partnership committee or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Southwest Association Minister of the Wisconsin Conference (608-244-3350).

Links for more information

Diyar Consortium (The many projects springing from Christmas Lutheran Church)

Bright Stars of Bethlehem Foundation (USA)

American-Israeli Pubilc Affairs Committee

Churches for Middle East Peace 

Israeli Committee Against House Demolition

Sabeel Ecumenical Theology Liberation Center

Tantur Ecumenical Institute

UCC Global Ministries Israel/Palestine