Dean Richard Sewell, Dean of St George's College Jerusalem is a familiar figure both in the Holy Land and in Great Britain as a preacher or guest speaker, giving valuable first hand testimony about the situation Christians face in Israel/Palestine.
Some readers will have seen his podcasts from the College or his recent series of short films for Lent and Easter: Songs of Suffering/Songs of Hope. But on May 8th he will be shedding his cassock and donning shorts and singlet to run the Palestine Half Marathon, to raise money for ministry in the Diocese of Jerusalem.
According to its website, the Palestine Marathon provides a platform for cultural exchange and exploration. It attracts thousands of Palestinian and international participants and brings attention to one of the basic human rights that is under threat in the State of Palestine: the freedom of movement. Its course includes a few steep hills and sections that allow for fast running while leading through unique scenery, unlike any other marathon. Starting at the Church of the Nativity, in the centre of Bethlehem’s Old City, its route takes runners through the town, two refugee camps (Aida and Dheisheh), and along the Wall. Because its distance does not cover the required 42 kilometers, runners run two loops to complete a full marathon according to international standards. Richard, one of 8000 expected participants intends to run one loop - a half marathaon.
Dean Richard is a regular runner, and has been for the last fifteen years or so. He ran in the London Marathon in 2010, but hasn't run as far as a half marathon for many years. He expects that the route will stretch him.
He says that as the route goes through the streets of Bethlehem, "there will be uneven pavements and many obstacles to watch out for. But it's Bethlehem and it is a wonderful privilege to run in the city of the Nativity. I have kept up a good regular pattern of running in recent months so I feel in reasonable shape. I have been meaning to run the Palestine Marathon for years but there have been so many cancellations owing to the COVID pandemic and then the war. This is first time it has been possible for me to do it and I'm really excited (and a little apprehensive) by the prospect."
I really want to do something to help maintain the ministry of the Diocese of Jerusalem in these very challenging times, when the need is so great and our income so severly impacted by the lack of pilgrims and other visitors to Palestine and Israel.
If you would like to donate to Richard's Just Giving page, the link is https://www.justgiving.com/page/richardspalestinehalfmarathon
As ever, you can donate here, otherwise to support the work of the Diocese of Jerusalem