Prayer For Israel And Palestine
God with us,
as we wait for the dawning of Christmas Day,
as our souls long for your presence among us,
let us remember Bethlehem in the midst of our celebrations;
still occupied, still a place of division and fear.
God with us,
in whom there is neither Jew nor Gentile;
in the land of Christ's birth
come to the hungry places, bringing hope,
come to the dark places, bringing justice,
come to the lonely places, bringing love.
Come again in Bethlehem,
come in us, and through us, and even despite us.
That all may join the angels' song.
Glory to God in the highest heaven.
All hail, let there be joy.
God of justice, bless those who work for peace through justice. Strengthen their resolve in the face of seemingly endless violence. Guide the leaders of the people of the Middle East to know your will and to support a just peace for all of your children.
God of love, lifting up the holy land for all humankind, breathe love and compassion into our prayers with a desire for nothing other than peace: peace in our hearts, peace for all creation, and especially peace in the land that is called holy.
God of hope, we lift up the city of Jerusalem, distracted and divided, yet still filled with promise as all the cities of the world. Come again into our cities, places of worship, Upper Rooms and Gethsemanes, that we may be given sight to recognize you.
God of mercy, even as we long to understand that which is often beyond our comprehension, we lay before you the hearts, minds and bodies of all those suffering from conflict in Palestine and Israel and from the ongoing occupation. Shower upon all the people of the Holy Land the spirit of justice and reconciliation.
God of the nations, give to all our people the blessings of well-being, freedom, and harmony, and, above all things, give us faith in you that we may be strengthened to care for all those in need until the coming of your son, our Saviour and Lord.
Amen.
Living God, today we pray for all the people in Israel/Palestine,
that they may discover the courage and humility to build peace
together and that they will seek a just path of reconciliation.
For our Muslim brothers and sisters in Israel/Palestine this day,
we pray Assalamu Alaikum.
For our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel/Palestine this day,
we pray Shalom Aleichem.
For our Christian brothers and sisters in Israel/Palestine, this
day, we pray The Peace of Christ. Amen.
For settled peoples in fear of expulsion, we pray.
For opinionated peoples in fear of truth, we pray.
For stubborn peoples in fear of change, we pray.
For Jews and Druze,
Shia and Sunni,
Copt and Orthodox,
Armenian and Kurd, and
for all who live in the Holy Lands of sacred scriptures,
we pray. Amen.
Lord Jesus, the occupation of the West Bank can seem a pretty hopeless situation; we see stalemate caused by the absence of a peace process, dysfunctional Palestinian politics, the strength of the Israeli army, the physical presence of the separation barrier. But you too lived in this place when it was under occupation and you inspired hope and taught the ways of justice and peace. May true peace be found in this Holy Land, with Israelis and Palestinians understanding each other's needs. Jesus, you are the first and the last: help us to trust in you. Amen.
Spirit of the living God,
come afresh on your holy land.
Help your people to restore broken relationships.
Give them patience to break down barriers of suspicion and mistrust;
ability to discern personal prejudices and the courage to overcome fear.
Teach them to respect each other's integrity and rights
so that your kingdom may be established on earth.
For Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Gather in our hearts Lord
Bring peace through our words.
Gather in our hearts Lord.
Bring peace through our listening.
Gather in our hearts Lord.
Bring peace through our actions.
Gather in our hearts Lord.
Bring peace through our silence.
Gather in our hearts Lord.
Bring peace through our lives.