Peace

The olive tree has become a symbol of peace, especially when the olive branch is extended to one's foe as a gesture of reconciliation. Peace for the Holy Land means peace for all Nations.

"And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. " James 3:18

Prayer: How long, O Lord, how long? You know the People of the Holy Land long desire for peace – to be free, to be good neighbors, to have their place, and their home re-established. Raise up, we implore you, peacemakers among civilians and officials who are committed to make real peace break out. In the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Livelihood

For the Olive Tree farmers, their land, families, and olive trees are everything. Yet the resent war has often led to the uprooting of olive tree orchards the sole source of income for many farmers.

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness." II Corinthians 9:10

Prayer: God of Resurrection: In remembering how Jesus chose to associate with the outcasts and the lowly, we  pray for all those who suffered , whose livelihood and future have been affected. We pray that by your Spirit the long night of tragedy may be overcome by the breakthrough of a new dawn for the People of the Holy Land , and wherever others in like ways suffer. Amen.

Tree of Life

Just as the olive tree is the center of life for individual Farmers, so is the Land, especially the city of Bethlehem, the cradle of biblical history and center of life for all Christians.

"On either side of the river, is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." Rev. 22:2

Prayer: Doer of New Things bring peace to the city where Jesus the prince of peace was born bring peace to the world. Amen

Beauty

From terraced groves to woodcraft sculpture to fragrance and soap production, the olive tree gives pleasure to the senses, adds beauty, greenery and life to the rocky hills of the Holy Land.

"Out of the ground, the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant for the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Genesis 2:9

Prayer: Beautiful Savior, God of the Nations: Your vision for our world is of the Tree of Life, beauty and wonder we thank you for your Spirit that has sustained for two thousand years the life and witness of your church in the Holy Land. Help your church to be grateful for its heritage and imbue it with vitality and youthfulness, so that we may all walk the Way of Jesus Christ into the challenge and promise of tomorrow. Amen.

Longevity

For thousands of years, olive oil gave light to the people. Light overcomes darkness and ignorance opens the door to knowledge and truth. Jesus Christ called us to be the light of the world. We through his Spirit, are empowered to bring good news to the poor, to work towards peace on earth and help one another.

"But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God" John 3:21

Legacy

"These are the trees of my father, and my father's father, and my father's father's father…"
The Christians legacy of caring for God's land and its creatures is centuries old. When a Christian of Bethlehem takes a pilgrim of any nationality into his or her home, that pilgrim is treated as one of the fold, and is surrounded by a tangible sense of cultural history, pride in faith, and familial love and unity.

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever." Psalm 52:8

Healing

Salves, medicaments and cleansing soaps restore life to wholeness. The olive oil offers cleansing salves and medicines to heal injuries and wounds. The peoples of Holy Land of various ethnic, and religious groups have suffered enough and welcome the healing elixir of mutual reconciliation and acceptance.

"Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord." James 5:14

Prayer: God our Shepherd: Anoint our heads with the olive oil emblematic of your Spirit, and work it into our minds and bodies, that we and your whole church may be given to thoughtful action toward the healing of wounds and the reconciling of enemies. Amen.

"We are just like the Olive tree that I see now from my window. No matter how in the cold and harsh winter they are not  broken, no matter how in the hot summer they are not  burned and dried, no matter where in the autumn wind they are not  scattered, a day come and ages past they bloom again, fresh, young and so beautiful." We are alive and we with God willing we will survive.

He who plants a tree -
Plants hope. . .
He who plants a tree -
Plants joy. . .
He who plants a tree -
Plants youth. . .
He who plants a tree -
Plants love. . .
Gifts that grow are best
Hands that bless are blessed
Plant! Life does the rest!
Heaven and earth
Help who plants a tree
And his work
Its own reward shall be