An Israeli soldier
was filmed executing a Palestinian attacker who was already lying on the
ground, incapacitaed. This calls into question, yet again, Israel’s use of
excessive force against Palestinians under the guise of “security” when the
assailants have already been neutralized as a threat.
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God of mercy, we lift this horrendous attack up to you. We grieve
for the unnecessary loss of this young man’s life, and lament the cycles of anger,
despair, and intolerance that drive young people on both sides to violence. We
ask that you be with the families of all involved, and with the community in
Hebron that has experienced many other attacks similar to this one over the
last few months. Open the eyes of both the international and the Israeli
community to see these injustices for what they are, and to understand that the
Israeli Occupation must end.
Lord, in your
mercy…
More than 70
people were killed on Sunday by a suicide bomber in Lahore, Pakistan. At least
29 were children. The bomber targeted a park where Christian families were
celebrating Easter, and Muslim families too were enjoying picnics and the
spring weather. This is the deadliest attack in Pakistan since a school mass
shooting in 2014.
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God of justice, we mourn the deaths of Christians and Muslims alike
in Pakistan this weekend. Our hearts especially ache for the lives of so many
young children, who were so brutally murdered while at play. Send your spirit
to encircle those whose lives were affected by this, and grant healing to those
who are still recovering from their wounds. Give strength to minorities
suffering from persecution everywhere, both within Pakistan, and also within
world as a whole.
Lord, in your
mercy…
Thursday, March
30th, marks Land Day – a day commemorated by Palestinians for the
expropriation of their land inside Israel in 1976. Palestinian citizens of
Israel demonstrated against this confiscation of thousands of acres of their
land. Six Palestinians were killed and hundreds were wounded in these confrontations.
This day is still remembered, inside Israel and on the West Bank, 40 years
later, as land grabbing and illegal settlement building continues to erode the
borders of a future Palestinian state.
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God of all, wrongs done in the past continue to be done in the
present, and it becomes hard to believe that things will somehow change in the
near future. As we remember Land Day and the events that occurred on it, help
us to believe that there is a way forward through this. Give those in power the
courage to speak out against these injustices, and work towards peace.
Lord, in your
mercy…
Christians who
follow the Gregorian calendar celebrated Easter last Sunday, marking the events
of Christ’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection. The weekend was marked with
much jubilation and excitement in Jerusalem and surrounding areas. There were
many processions throughout the Old City and along the Mount of Olives,
recalling the paths Jesus walked on these holy days.
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Lord God, we are filled with hope at the announcement of your Son’s
resurrection at Easter. The celebrations of this day remind us that the victory
has already been won, and that good will always and ultimately triumph over
evil. However, for Palestinians living here, sometimes it is hard to see the light
of the resurrection when every day they are surrounded by the darkness of the
grave. Instill hope in their hearts, God, and grant them the perseverance to
continue on.
Lord, in your
mercy…
We pray
alongside the World Council of Churches for the countries of China, Hong Kong,
and Macau.
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