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&A⁠⁠Watch 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 PalestineTwo 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).

The Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac (⁠⁠Christmas Lutheran Church⁠; ⁠⁠Bethlehem Bible College⁠) recently stopped in Atlanta on a short speaking tour of the US. In part two, we share the Q&A portion of the event.

The Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac (⁠⁠Christmas Lutheran Church⁠; ⁠⁠Bethlehem Bible College⁠) recently stopped in Atlanta on a short speaking tour of the US.

Marthame continues his recollections of his friend Fahed Abu-Akel by reflecting back to his first visit to Palestine back in 1993 - a trip that planted important seeds.

As Marthame prepares to co-preach again with his friend Fahed Abu-Akel, he recalls a visit the two of them took to Gaza as part of a Presbyterian delegation back in 2002.Read the reflection here.

As we move into summertime, Marthame reflects on the summer of 2003 and the disparity of access to freedom of movement.Read the reflection here.

Marthame reflects on this week’s marking of Israeli Independence Day and the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe), remembering a visit to the former Arab town of Ein Kerem.Read the reflection here.

Marthame reflects on the current hunger crisis in Gaza and the meaning of fasting and its connection with religious practice with a reflection from late 2001.Read the reflection here.

With the celebration of Orthodox Easter this year, Marthame recalls a particularly memorable story of the ritual of Holy Saturday in 2003.Read the reflection here.

Marthame shares a reflection written after our time in Palestine, getting a window on the situation there through internet chats.Read the reflection here.

With Iran now drawn into the international spotlight, Marthame revisits a reflection written there in 2007 while visiting the beautiful city of Isfahan.Read the reflection here.

Marthame revisits a reflection on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq, and how it parallels with the world we live in now.Read the reflection here.Read our blog from 2000-2003 (and a little from 2005 and 2007) here.

Marthame reflects on the current deterioration of the situation in Gaza and its parallels with episodes from his time in Palestine.Read the reflection here.

Marthame reflects on the fractured and ecumenical nature of Easter celebrations in Palestine, and what resurrection might mean in a context of death.Read the reflection here.

Marthame reflects on the recent Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage in Atlanta as he shares a reflection on one final Easter Season in Palestine. Read the reflection here.

Marthame shares a reflection from his time in Palestine, grappling with the meaning of resurrection among so much death and despair.Read the reflection here.

As we continue to keep vigil with Gaza, we offer an original song written and recorded by our own Marthame Sanders (guitar/vocals) and our friend Alonzo Johnson (bass/drums). Called “Gaza (Under the Rubble)” and released under the band name Marred Fame, the song is available anywhere you stream music.Gaza Ceasefire PilgrimageListen to our past aijcast conversation with Alonzo.Listen to the song.Stream “Gaza (Under the Rubble)” on Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and more

Marthame shares a cherished memory from his time in Palestine, crossing all kinds of boundaries alongside a dear friend.Read the reflection here.Watch Fr. Firas’ segment from Salt of the Earth here.

Marthame shares first-hand experiences of Palestinian life under curfew and the universal desire for safety and security.Read the reflection here.

Marthame reflects back on their tough decision to leave Zababdeh temporarily amidst escalating threats of Israeli military violence back in 2002.Read the reflection here.

Marthame shares a first-hand account from 2002 about an Israeli military incursion into their sleepy little village of Zababdeh.Read the reflection here.

Marthame reflects on how our recent episodes continue aijcast’s core mission, while also looking back to the art of writing amidst Occupation and suffering.Read the reflection here.

Marthame Sanders and Fahed Abu-Akel co-preached at North Decatur Presbyterian Church on the situation in Gaza; and the past, present, and future of Palestine and Israel.Watch the full worship service here.Watch the sermon, scripture, and film excerpt here.Watch more from the documentary film series Salt of the Earth: Palestinian Christians in the Northern West Bank here.

Marthame reflects on the meaning of hope in a hopeless time, whether that time is twenty years ago in Bethlehem, or right now in Gaza.Read the reflection here.

Marthame reflects on the present situation in Gaza and shares a reflection on the meaning of home in a land full of uprootedness.Read the reflection here.

Marthame shares a reflection on our moral double standard in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the strategy of non-violent resistance.Read the reflection here.