Growing justice for Palestinian farmers this harvest season
Autumn: the time of harvest and food-gathering, especially in Saskatchewan. Autumn reminds us of abundance and the sacredness of life, the “Circle of God”, to quote a popular hymn. The autumn season invites us in multiple ways to reflect on creation, land, and food, here in Saskatchewan and around the world.
This year, we are thinking especially of Palestinians, whose livelihood and culture are deeply entwined with harvesting creation’s fruits. The fall olive harvest, which has sustained Palestinian farmers for millennia, is undermined by what the International Court of Justice deems Israel’s “illegal occupation” of their land. In Gaza, aid agencies describe famine and the diseases of malnutrition, while the olive harvest is a distant dream.
To help us engage with this reality, we have developed, in collaboration with Mennonites in Saskatchewan, an “Olive Harvest Program” that will unfold during October 2024. As part of our faithful witness, solidarity, and gospel longing for justice and peace, we will offer opportunities to understand the struggles faced by Palestinians, including the Christians of Palestine. Films, worship, speakers, and conversation, in person and online, will all be offered. Many are listed further down this page. We hope you will tap into these resources with us! Please watch this page, and use it as your home base.
When and how
We’ll be offering events and resources throughout, and we’ll promote those here ( see below), through the Regional newsletter, our Regional events calendar, and on the Regional Facebook group.
Some significant days: Many churches will commemorate the Season of Creation (September 8-29), which invites us to hope and act with creation. See this site for more details. Around the world, September also brings us the “World Week for Peace in Palestine/Israel,” September. 16-22. The United Church offers resources for worship, education, and reflection during this week.
October harvest focus: faith and food intertwine on World Communion Sunday October 6, and Thanksgiving Sunday (Oct. 13th). We offer you a communion liturgy focused on olive oil for worship- see below. Three days later the United Nations brings us World Food Day October 16, which always includes a focus on those starving due to human actions and natural disasters.
See our Regional events calendar, which will be updated throughout the fall with details on the October 1, 6, 15, and 29th events.
Resources
Click here for a poster summarizing all four learning events.
These resources and the entire project are offered by a group of Mennonites and United Church people in the treaty lands of Saskatchewan, with allies further afield. United Church people: please see this decision taken by our 2024 Living Skies regional meeting to further understand the policy basis for our work. We know this topic is controversial, and avoiding it may feel like a necessity in your church. We hope that the resources we offer will help you find a way into learning and faithful action even when there is silence or opposition.
For worship
Full order of service for October 6 or at any other time: Word format (generally downloads to your device automatically); and in PDF format.
Olive communion liturgy: in Word format; and in PDF format.
Prayer collection compiled by Rev Ursula Wiig: PDF format; and Word format.
Three stories from the Occupied Palestinian Territories (PDF)
Resource list for more learning, supporting olive farmers, and more.
Flyer/ poster: Purchasing olive tree seedlings
Films
Thank you to Ursula Wiig for an excellent list of films on Palestine and Israel (PDF document). At the time of writing, these films were accessible online and for a reasonable price or no charge. We invite you to plan for in-person showings in your area, and to work with your local school or library where possible; they may be able to source DVDs if your area has low connectivity, and they’d make excellent film partners.
