When Israeli forces occupied the Palestinian city of Bethlehem a few years ago, they used the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church as a staging ground, breaking the church's stained glass in the process.

Instead of sweeping out the mess, church members collected the glass to make art, jewelry, wall hangings and pottery.

"The idea is you take the brokenness of the situation ... and find life even there," said the Rev. Tim Hart-Andersen, senior pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.

Westminster was so inspired by the Bethlehem church's use of the arts in its worship, it formed a special partnership with the church. The result is the Palestinian Art Festival, which will be held at Westminster May 3-6.

Area residents will have the opportunity to see a rare performance of dance and theater reflecting a culture that’s often misunderstood.

On May 6, Bright Stars of Bethlehem will present Room for Hope, a Diyar Dance Theatre Production at Celebration! Community Life Center of Our Saviours Lutheran Church. The Christian Palestinian dance troupe is made up of teens and young adults whose mission is to celebrate their traditions and promote peace.

“They express their cultural identities through traditional dance and story vignettes. What it’s like to live in an occupation but to also have hope,” said Beth Nelson Chase of Bright Stars of Bethlehem.

The Illinois-based not-for-profit supports the ministries and programs of Christmas Lutheran Church of Bethlehem.

Bright Stars of Bethlehem is proud to present “Room for Hope”, a Diyar Dance Theatre Production, in several Midwest and Chicago area performance venues in May 2012.

The Diyar Dance Theatre is a Palestinian volunteer co-ed youth dance troupe that is comprised of over 60 talented, enthusiastic dancers and performers. They are motivated by the vision of creating a forum for young adults to celebrate Palestinian culture and to tell the contemporary stories of life in their community while living amidst power struggles in the Holy Land.

القس الدكتور متري الراهب يستلم جائزة الإعلام الألمانية