World prays for peace in Palestine and Israel

Palestinian children pass Shufat checkpoint on their way to school. Photo: WCC/E. Mutschler

Prayers were offered for the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel during a special service in the Ecumenical Centre for World Council of Churches (WCC) staff, partners, and visitors on 22 September.

The prayers were led by Yusef Daher, coordinator of the WCC Jerusalem Liaison Office, and others from the office. The theme of the special week is "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord," Psalm 127:3.

With moments of silence as well as intercessory prayers, those gathered prayed "for all the children of the world, and especially for the children of the Holy Land and the Middle East," especially for all children who are living in place of war.

"We remember the many children who have been orphaned and the resulting trauma for those who witnessed firsthand the death of their parents," they prayed. "Lord, thousands of Palestinians are in prisons and are being subjected to suffering."

Daher reflected that, in front of the overwhelming situation in which our children live, prayers are the only thing that is possible from the church without political intimidations by any group.

"We wish the church can do more but we know that in this lawless world the church becomes helpless, too," he said. "This is where we appreciate the World Council of Churches designating its morning services to World Week for Peace with the focus on children as the only way to ask for God's attention."

According to the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, this week the WCC global fellowship is also praying with and for the people and churches of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In addition, prayers are observing the ongoing Season of Creation, with the theme "Immersion in Living Water."

LINK

World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel:
www.oikoumene.org/events/world-week-for-peace-in-palestine-and-israel