Bishops’ Appeal encourages prayer for Middle East on Advent Sunday

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Bishops’ Appeal, the Church of Ireland’s world aid and development programme, is asking all parishes to remember the Middle East in prayer this Advent Sunday (1st December) and, following this morning’s ceasefire, to continue to pray for an end to all violence and destruction.  The following prayers may be helpful for personal use or for planning for intercessions in services of worship.

Provided by 24/7 Prayer

Prince of Peace, we cry out to you today for all the places in our world that are suffering war. We ask for your intervention and breakthrough in those conflicts we see on our news feeds, those at the forefront of our minds …

We name them to you now.

We pray Peace.

We know too, God, that it is harder for us to understand the daily impact that war is waging in some of these conflicts.

We pray Peace.

Lord, we pray for a miraculous de-escalation of these dangerous conflicts. violence provoking violence, but we pray for reason to prevail over rage and revenge. Bring the wisdom that will lead to justice, and the courage that will bring reconciliation.

We pray that you will give us hearts that are full of compassion; that we will be stirred to seek your kingdom. Remind us that as we pray, we align ourselves to you the God who “makes wars cease to the ends of the earth, who breaks the bow and shatters the spear” and who says: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Prince of Peace, we cry out to you today: bring lasting peace.

Let your kingdom come and your will be done on this earth as it is in heaven.

Amen.

 

Provided by Tearfund – points for prayer

  • Pray for protection and provision for displaced people in Gaza, Lebanon and across the region – for shelter, safety and basic needs to be met. Pray for the millions of people who have been displaced, often not for the first time. This ongoing cycle of displacement leaves many families and communities incredibly vulnerable, especially as winter draws near.
  • For healing and comfort for those injured and/or bereaved due to the conflict. Pray especially for the large numbers of unaccompanied children who find themselves alone and without the protection of family and community.
  • For support and safety for churches and partner organisations who are working in extremely challenging environments. Give special thanks for the Diocese of Jerusalem as they minister and witness in the midst of the crisis. Pray protection upon church leaders in the region. Pray too for Tearfund’s partner in Gaza, focusing on the distribution of vital medicines both for emergency and chronic health needs. Pray for free access to the most vulnerable people.
  • For wisdom and political will for leadership to bring a lasting and just peace, restoration and reconciliation to the region. God, may your Kingdom come.
  • For God’s mercy and intervention to end the ongoing violence. Particularly ask for protection for civilians who lack access to vital services. As we enter Advent, pray that the Prince of Peace might bring about peace in the Middle East, and in the many unstable and conflicted places of our world. Pray the words of Revelation 22:2-3 into reality – may the leaves of the tree be for the healing of the nations, and may there be no more curse.

 

Provided by Christian Aid

God, hear our prayers for peace in the Middle East.
May all people in the region be protected, safe from harm.
We pray that this crisis will end now, with no further loss of life.
God, may the injured and distressed know your healing presence.
May the powerful and the decision-makers follow the paths of justice, mercy and peace.
We pray for recognition of the dignity and value of every life.
May the clamour of violence cease,
Replaced by the beating of swords into ploughshares.
God, in your name,
Amen.

May it not be long, Lord.
May it not be long, Lord.
Before the world we pray for
And the one we inhabit
Are one.

May it not be long
Before the violence ends
Be near to all of those who are suffering.
May they know your peace

May it not be long,
Before the captives are set free
And those who have nowhere safe to go find sanctuary
May they know your protection

May it not be long
Before the hungry are feed
And the sick are seen and healed
May they know your provision

May it not be long
Before those working for peace succeed.
And those providing care for the injured, the malnourished and traumatised can do so without threat.
May they know your courage
May it not be long

Before those with power see
the paths of justice, mercy and peace.
May they know your wisdom and beware your wrath
May it not be long, Lord

And to enable that day to come soon,
Raise up for us prophets
Who will give us new sight for better seeing.

Raise up for us prophets
Who will spell out
That God has no favourite race
Nor heaven a favoured language.

And if you will not raise up for us prophets
Then raise up in us that holy restlessness
To listen endlessly, to speak out consistently, and to work tirelessly
For your will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Amen.

 

An invitation to support our appeal for the Middle East

Bishops’ Appeal is running an appeal for donations through the seasons Advent and Christmas, supporting the ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and Tearfund partners, either through bank transfer, cheque or parish collections, and details on how to give are available here on the Bishops’ Appeal website: https://bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/give