O God, you call us to do justice, love
mercy and walk humbly with you and each other. As tensions and violence
continues in Jerusalem and at Al Aqsa Mosque, we pray to you for courage to
speak up and act out of respect for each other's places of worship, adhering to
the Status Quo agreed upon between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians. Guide
us all Lord God in finding true ways of reducing and resolving conflict in this
Holy Land and this Holy City, and not to escalate and inflame it.
Lord in your mercy.........
Dear God your Son Jesus told Peter to put away his sword, even in the time of trial. And yet today more and more are taking up arms, producing weapons and shooting to kill. Even the Israeli government, one of the largest military powers in the world, is allowing soldiers, police and sharpshooters with high powered rifles to kill those suspected of throwing stones in resistance to occupation. As your prophets of old taught us, it is only when justice rolls on like a river, righteousness like an ever flowing stream that peace will prevail for all.
Lord in your mercy…
O merciful God as your servant Pope Francis brings messages of love and justice to Cuba and the United States of America, may the leaders of empires be awakened to the ongoing injustice against those peoples they oppress. May they hear the cry of Palestinians who are in prison and on hunger strikes, out of schools on protest strikes, and whose homes and livelihoods are struck down by bulldozers, by separation barriers and walls of fear. As the cry goes up, ‘how long O Lord’, may all those who seek refuge from the storms of global greed and powerful elites, find the embrace of those who live to serve and a safe home for their children.
Lord in your mercy…
Lord Jesus, with those who build
bridges of interfaith understanding, we pray for our Muslim brothers and
sisters that they may celebrate Eid Al Adha this week in peace, and for the
safety of those who make pilgrimages of prayer and devotion. We also pray that
prayers for forgiveness and atonement of faithful Jewish people who kept Yom
Kippur this week will be conducive to a just and comprehensive peace with their
neighbors.
Lord in your mercy..........
O God of all creation we pray with those who serve in the ecumenical ministry of the World Council of Churches. We pray alongside them during this World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, and for the people of Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. Lord in Your mercy…