Church group launches film tour on peace

THE Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches – Peace and Reconciliation Commission (PCEC-Parcom) has announced a series of public screening in the Philippines of the film Little Town of Bethlehem.

Little Town of Bethlehem is a 77-minute documentary that tells the story of three men – a Palestinian Muslim, a Palestinian Christian and an Israeli Jew – in a land gripped by fear, hatred, and division. Expected to be enemies, they instead strive together to end the cycle of violence.

“It is a film that gives us a model and draws us to the ‘other,’ the ‘neighbor’ whom we have been called to love,” Susan May Granada, national coordinator of PCEC-Parcom, said.

“We would like to ask you to kindly pray for this and consider to become partners with us as we undertake this ministry,” Granada added.

A screening is scheduled on Sunday, 2 pm, at the office of the Interfaith Center for a Culture of Nonviolence in Makati City.

The film tour is part of a nationwide peace and non-violence campaign during the period celebrating the UN International Day of Peace (September 21), the UN International Day of Nonviolence (October 2), the Mindanao Week of Peace (November), Human Rights Day (December 10), and the whole period of the Christmas season, the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

“Please join hundreds of organizations around the world by hosting a public screening of Little Town of Bethlehem in your place – church, school, office, etc.,” Granada said.

The Philippines can learn from the lessons of courage and nonviolence shared in this film, which we hope can lead us from present violent conflicts in our country, across historical barriers of culture, land claims, and geography, to a future of peace and a beloved community.

Watch the trailer: