aijcast

Host Marthame Sanders reflects with playwright/scholar Amina McIntyre about aijcast coming to an end, the lessons and joys of the last eight years, and what will endure.

Marthame shares his sung version of the Lord's Prayer in Arabic as a reminder of the unity of faith beyond language and boundary.

Marthame and Fahed Abu-Akel preached on Sunday, May 11, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Atlanta on God's surprising hope, even in the most desperate of times. Watch the full worship service here.

Marthame shares a reflection on navigating Israeli checkpoints in Palestine. This was recorded on the most recent Atlanta Pilgrimage for Palestine.

Following Dr. Mansour's message at ⁠ ⁠North Decatur Presbyterian Church⁠ ⁠ , the congregation followed up with some questions to dig deeper. We close out the episode with Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel's prayer. ⁠Watch Dr. Mansour's message and the Q&A⁠ ⁠Watch the full worship service⁠

Dr. Lamma Mansour preached at North Decatur Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 16, 2025. On this episode, we share her reflection on the Biblical character Rizpah and how it connects to the world we live in today.

As Advent approaches, Marthame shares a reflection written on Christmas Eve in 2001, with a hope that we might not follow the scripts written for us. Read the original reflection here.

An extended remix of the song “Gaza (Under the Rubble)” which blends together both the original song and the hip hop version by A+ (AKA Albert Russell ). Listen to our past aijcast conversation with Albert. Listen to the song.

In the wake of the American election, Marthame shares a reflection from 2005 that sheds some light on what it’s like to prioritize justice and peace when it puts you out of step with the prevailing winds of society. Read the original reflection here.

Our friend A+ (scholar/pastor/emcee Albert Russell ) was inspired by our song “Gaza (Under the Rubble)” to write his own bars. Marthame produced them into this track. Listen to our past aijcast conversation with Albert. Listen to the song.

Zoughbi al-Zoughbi is the founder and director of ⁠ ⁠ ⁠Wi'am⁠ , The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center. He recently traveled the US as a ⁠ ⁠PC(USA)⁠ International Peacemaker. This episode is an excerpt from his presentation at ⁠ ⁠Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church⁠ ⁠ , just outside Atlanta. ⁠Watch the full talk on the Joining Hands for Justice YouTube channel.⁠

Marthame preached at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 5. His sermon focused on the story of the healing of ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) and the town of Burqin, Palestine, that marks the miracle to this day. Watch the full worship service streamed here.

As we approach October 7, Marthame shares last year's reflection about the Hamas surprise attack and Israeli reprisals, noting how little has changed apart from the scale of the bloodshed.

Marthame shares an Advent reflection written in 2004, almost a year after we had left Zababdeh, from our new temporary home in Louisville, Kentucky. You can read the original reflection here.

Marthame shares a reflection after we put down roots in Atlanta, noting the disconnect between our own celebrations and the terror of violence in the Middle East. ⁠Read the original reflection here.

Marthame shares our reflection we wrote as we prepared to move back to the States in 2003, lifting up messages from Palestinian Christians for their fellow American Christians. You can read the original reflection here.

The Rev. Alex Awad is a pastor, scholar, and author. He recently traveled to Atlanta, where he spoke on the topic of Christian Zionism. This episode is an excerpt from that talk.

As we continue our vigil with Gaza, Marthame shares a reflection from 2002 on the time-honored tradition of fleeing to Egypt for safety and respite. You can read the original reflection here.

Marthame shares a reflection written during Holy Week of 2005, as we - then - looked back on our recent departure from Palestine and what the rhythms of the liturgical calendar can teach us about despair and hope. ⁠Read the original reflection here.⁠

As we continue our vigil with Gaza, Marthame shares a reflection written towards the end of our travels across the US back in 2004. Read the original reflection here.

As we stay in vigil with Gaza, Marthame shares a reflection written after our visit to Iraq back in 2001, a Pentecostal experience of sorts. ⁠Read the original reflection here.⁠

Marthame continues his reflection on the current American context and the important difference between looking inwardly and looking insularly. Read the original reflection here.

Marthame reflects on the current American context of a chaotic presidential campaign and our tendency to become insulated at such moments; and how it parallels with his experiences in Palestine in the early 2000s. Read the two reflections here: Prayers from Palestine Two Paths

As we continue our vigil with Gaza, Marthame shares a reflection from back in 2003 on the brutality and futility of violence. Read the reflection.

Marthame recently co-preached again with the Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta, looking at the text of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:4-28).