Jerusalem Prayer

International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, 4-10 June 2008 A joint advocacy initiative convened by the World Council of Churches The Jerusalem prayer for Sunday, June 8th The Heads of Churches in Jerusalem INVITE CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD TO PRAY WITH THEM Heavenly Father, We give you thanks and praise for your gift to us of your only Son, Jesus — His birth in Bethlehem, His ministry throughout the Holy Land, His death on the Cross and His Resurrection and Ascension. He came to redeem this land and the world. He came as the Prince of Peace.

 

International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, 4-10 June 2008
A joint advocacy initiative convened by the World Council of Churches

The Jerusalem prayer for Sunday, June 8th
The Heads of Churches in Jerusalem
INVITE CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD TO PRAY WITH THEM

Heavenly Father,

We give you thanks and praise for your gift to us of your only Son, Jesus — His birth in Bethlehem, His ministry throughout the Holy Land, His death on the Cross and His Resurrection and Ascension. He came to redeem this land and the world. He came as the Prince of Peace.

We give thanks to you for every church and parish around the world that is praying with us this day for peace.  Our Holy City and our land are much in need of peace.

In your unfathomable mystery and love for all, let the power of your Redemption and your Peace transcend all barriers of cultures and religions and fill the hearts of all who serve you here, of both peoples – Israeli and Palestinian – and of all religions.

Send us political leaders ready to dedicate their lives to a just peace for their peoples. Make them courageous enough to sign a treaty of peace that puts an end to the occupation imposed by one people on another, granting freedom to Palestinians, giving security to Israelis and freeing us all from fear.  Give us leaders who understand the holiness of your city and will open it to all its inhabitants – Palestinian and Israeli – and to the world.

In the land you made holy, free all of us from the sin of hatred and killing.  Free the souls and hearts of Israelis and Palestinians from this sin.  Give liberation to the people of Gaza who live under unending trials and threats.

We trust in you, Heavenly Father. We believe you are good and we believe that your goodness will prevail over the evils of war and hatred in our land.

We seek your blessing especially on the children and young people, that their fear and the anxiety of conflict may be replaced with the joy and happiness of peace. We pray too for the elderly and the handicapped, for their well-being and for the contribution they can make to the future of this land.

We pray, finally, for the refugees in the various camps and abroad that they may reclaim their rights and return to their homeland.

All this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

JERUSALEM INTER-CHURCH CENTRE