God of peace, we lift up our gratitude for the cessation of Israeli airstrikes and
Hamas rocket fire. In Gaza, people are uncoveringthe extent of the
devastation to this small region where nobody was untouched by tragedy.
Some estimate that it could take as many as 20 years to rebuild Gaza.
Lord, as food and medical supplies enter through narrow Gaza border openings,
we pray that this will be the last time the Gazans have to rebuild. Show
your people there a future with freedom and human rights, merciful God, and let
your peace and justice prevail. Lord in your mercy…
The
Palestinian children in the West Bank and Jerusalem returned to school this
week. Lord, give them safe passage as some cross checkpoints or travel near
settlements or walk along busy roads. Many children in Gaza will start the
school year late. Loving God, provide Gaza with safe school structuresand the
capacity it desperately needs so that the children there too can returnto
school and childhood. Lord in your mercy…
Lord,
this week Israel announced the biggest plan in several decades to illegally
confiscate Palestinian land(nearly 1000 acres/3799 dunams near Bethlehem) and turn
it into land belonging to the state of Israel.
Israel intends to build a large Jewish settlement there, which
jeopardizes the possibly of establishing a Palestinian state. God of wisdom, we pray that the international
community acts on this unjust land grab and others so that a permanent
political solution canfinally make its way to this weary region. Lord in your mercy…
We
thank you for the people from organizations who are taking on the important task
of counseling some of the traumatized children in Gaza: listening to their
stories, providing creative outlets for expression, and offering support to their
families to help them start to feel safe
again. These social workers and educators are a light in the
darkness, nurturing the littlestof your children. Lord in your mercy…
We
pray alongside the World Council of Churches for the countries of the Czech
Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Lord in your mercy…
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