“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  (1 Peter 1:3)

Happy Easter! Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Easter was celebrated in Nazareth last weekend by Christians who follow the Western Church calendar amidst the pain and trauma of the ongoing war in Gaza and in the north of the country. Although the celebrations were subdued in Nazareth, Holy Week and Easter provided an opportunity to focus more on spirituality, expressing the pain of the current situation but also the hope of resurrection, in a profound way.

Aiming to enhance unity and strengthen faith, The Nazareth Trust hosted two special services during Lent and Holy Week. The first was a special prayer service of hymns and meditations on the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus, held in the Bernath Auditorium on the evening of 18th March. Moving chants and songs were performed by the Trust’s choir and a large choir from the town of Kafr Yasif, accompanied by prayers led by various church leaders and their representatives of all Church traditions in Nazareth and the surrounding areas. The audience were uplifted by the spirit of unity in Christ that prevails during pain and anguish in the Holy Land.

The Trust also organised a service during Holy Week where the Nazareth Trust Choir sang about the suffering and glory of Christ, while Bishop Yousef Matta shared reflections on the personal implications of journeying with Christ through His passion, death, and resurrection. This service was held in the Hospital Chapel on the 27 March and was well attended and appreciated by staff of the Nazareth Trust.

Like the Apostle Peter, who made the very painful journey with Jesus through His suffering, death and burial, to His glorious resurrection, we too give thanks and praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead!

This journey between passion and resurrection has always accompanied the Trust since its inception and through the years, such as frequent changes in the geopolitical environment, wars, and pandemics. As we have faced those with faith and hope, we continue to develop new services, upgrade and expand our facilities, and strengthen our relationships with our staff, local and international community, and supporters.

We thank you for your prayers and support for the Nazareth Trust at this challenging time and continue to pray for the war to end and for the Nazareth Village and SERVE Nazareth Programme to be resurrected to new life soon! In closing, we echo the words of St. Paul where he says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Waseem Dibbini, CPA, MBA

Acting CEO of the Nazareth Trust