INVITATION TO PRAY FOR PEACE IN PALESTINE

At its recent meeting in Galway, the General Synod invited parishes in the Church of Ireland to pray for a just Peace in Palestine on Sunday 8 June 2008.

The full text of the motion reads ...

"This Synod expresses deep concern over tragic events in Israel and Palestine, and calls upon the people of the Church of Ireland, all people of faith and goodwill, to act upon shared hopes for justice, so that Israelis and Palestinians may be enabled to live in peace.

This Synod, on behalf of the Church of Ireland, also associates itself with sister Churches in the region, by calling for participation in the WCC Week of Action and Advocacy (4-10 Jun 2008): It's Time for Palestine: It's Time for Peace. The Synod notes and commends the invitation to pray with them The Jerusalem Prayer for a just peace, on Sunday 8th June, 2008."

The Jerusalem Prayer for a Just Peace

Heavenly Father,

We give you thanks and praise for your gift to us of your only Son, Jesus - His birth in Bethlehem, His ministry throughout the Holy Land, His death on the Cross and His Resurrection and Ascension. He came to redeem this land and the world. He came as the Prince of Peace.

We give thanks to you for every church and parish around the world that is praying with us this day for peace. Our Holy City and our land are much in need of peace.

In your unfathomable mystery and love for all, let the power of your Redemption and your Peace transcend all barriers of cultures and religions and fill the hearts of all who serve you here, of both peoples - Israeli and Palestinian - and of all religions.

Send us political leaders ready to dedicate their lives to a just peace for their peoples. Make them courageous enough to sign a treaty of peace that puts an end to the occupation imposed by one people on another, granting freedom to Palestinians, giving security to Israelis and freeing us all from fear. Give us leaders who understand the holiness of your city and will open it to all its inhabitants - Palestinian and Israeli - and to the world.

In the land you made holy, free all of us from the sin of hatred and killing. Free the souls and hearts of Israelis and Palestinians from this sin. Give liberation to the people of Gaza who live under unending trials and threats.

We trust in you, Heavenly Father. We believe you are good and we believe that your goodness will prevail over the evils of war and hatred in our land.

We seek your blessing especially on the children and young people, that their fear and the anxiety of conflict may be replaced with the joy and happiness of peace. We pray too for the elderly and the handicapped, for their well-being and for the contribution they can make to the future of this land.

We pray, finally, for the refugees in the various camps and abroad that they may reclaim their rights and return to their homeland.

All this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

- ENDS –