PYWA Holy & Horrible Palestine Presentation — Holy Week

Slides from my presention about time in Palestine over Holy Week, 2025, shared at the 2025 Presbyterian Youth Workers Association National Gathering.

1. HOLY WEEK
THE HORRIBLE
& THE HOLY
Reflections from spending
Holy Week 2025 in Palestine
bruce reyes-chow

2. WHAT WE’LL DO
●Assumptions about Space
●Introductions
●Delegation Context
●Horrible & Holy: Images,
●Reflections, and Takeaways
●Question & Response Time
●Prayer

3. THIS SPACE
Feel the feels: rage, heartbreak
discomfort, disconnection, etc.
Be kind, generous, and gracious
to questions, ideas, and curiosity.
Please do not share any names
mentioned verbally, but feel free
to share anything on the slides.
My reflections are limited and
offered through the lens of my
time and not of other delegation
members, Sabeel or FOSNA

4. INTRODUCTIONS I
SABEEL
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation
Theology Center
www.sabeel.org
FOSNA
Friends of Sabeel North America
www.fosna.org
PHOTO CREDITS: ME +
Julie: @wearetherichards on IG
Joseph: @jfsephp on IG

5. Who is this Bruce Reyes-Chow?

6. Delegation Convenor

7. The Delegations

8. First-time focus
and not activism or
accompaniment.
Supporting orgs
and individuals.
Come and See,
Go and Tell.
Delegation Foci

9. HOLY WEEK THE HORRIBLE
Where we witnessed life under intimidation,
occupation, apartheid, and violence.

10. Intimidation

11. Violence

12. Control of Movement

13. Bodies

14. Demolition

15. Detention

16. Displacement

17. Exhaustion

18. HOLY WEEK THE HOLY
Where we witnessed life filled with beauty,
bounty, grace, hope, and resistance

19. Douban Dance Group

20. Suraj Library Project

21. Suraj Library Project

22. Dar al-Kalima University

23. Palestinian Circus

24. Community Engagement

25. Community Engagement

26. Educational Bookshop

27. Sabeel Contemporary Way of the Cross

28. Maundy Thursday | Walk of Jesus

29. Good Friday | Funeral of Jesus

30. Easter Saturday | The Holy Fire

31. TAKEAWAYS
How I have been compelled and propelled to
continue to stay committed and involved.

32. Remember that there is hope.

33. Do not let my soul be occupied by fear.

34. Build, maintain, and nurture friendships.

35. Strategically engage in personal and
communal activism, advocacy, & affirmation.

36. Offer gifts, talents, and resources that
require risk, sacrifice, and commitment.

37. QUESTION &
RESPONSE

38. LET US PRAY
Simple lift up prayers as we revisit the images.

52. And God’s People say,
AMEN

53. Presbyterians in
Palestine Delegation
December 10-19, 2025

https://bit.ly/SabeelDec25

54. STAY CONNECTED
SABEEL www.sabeel.org
Sabeel Ecumenical
Liberation Theology Center
FOSNA www.fosna.org
Friends of Sabeel, NA
BRUCE REYES-CHOW
www.reyes-chow.com
●[email protected]
●@breyeschow on socials
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