Bethlehem
and Jerusalem participants in a global week
of church advocacy, among them the Arab
Educational Institute, invite individuals
and groups around the world to send them
wishes and prayers for peace. Incoming
emails will be shared with parishes, schools
and organizations in Bethlehem and Jerusalem
as part of the action week, which is led by
the World Council of Churches.
The messages remind Palestinians cut off
from each other and from the outside world
that they are not forgotten.
The prayers are grouped according to
country.
New incoming messages will be uploaded in
installments every few days.
Thank you so much, for staying in solidarity
and prayer with us!
On behalf of the Bethlehem/Jerusalem
participants in the ICAPPI week of action.
MESSAGES
The
countries are in alphabetical order:
AUSTRALIA
Message of Goodwill for Bethlehem in ICAPPI
Week
To our Christian Sisters and Brothers in the Holy Land;
To all who are suffering in Palestine-Israel and neighbouring countries from
sixty years of conflict; and
To the worldwide community of all faiths and goodwill, whose hearts and minds
ache for a just peace in Palestine and Israel:
Australian Christians greet you in the name of the Prince of Peace, who came
“…… to bring good news to the poor ……. release to the captives …….. sight to the
blind and to let the oppressed go free ….”
In this week when Christians everywhere are being called to work and pray for
peace in Palestine and Israel, we are calling on our own Australian Government
to shift gear and become much more active in working for justice and peace in
the Holy Land, a peace that the people of Palestine and Israel - and indeed the
whole world – so desperately need.
Palestinians and Israelis have suffered immeasurably from a conflict involving
60 years of dispossession, 41 years of military occupation, armed hostilities
and constant threats, suicide bombings, rocket attacks, land confiscation and
illegal settlements, imprisonment and thousands of violent deaths.
Insecurity and polarisation are the chief features of life in Palestine and
Israel.
After decades of conflict and tension, there is little reason for optimism or
even hope. Resentment and hatred continue to grow. The cycle of violence
continues.
We implore all governments, including our own, to increase their support for
peacemaking between Israel and Palestine. We respectfully recommend that
increased support include:
·
persistent advocacy for a freely and peacefully negotiated
solution acceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians, whether in the form of
two states or one;
·
greater recognition of the plight of Palestinians after 41 years
of military occupation;
·
advocacy for the implementation of international law in reaching a
negotiated solution;
·
a quadrupling of international development assistance
contributions to the social and economic development of Palestine; and
·
the facilitation of multi-faith delegation visits to Palestine and
Israel.
We join with you in Bethlehem – the town of the Saviour’s birth - in praying for
justice and peace for the people of Palestine and Israel. No wall, no
checkpoint - nobody - can suppress the human spirit in its just yearning for
peace.
We share, with all the peoples of the Holy Land, the ancient, prophetic vision:
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, …. No more shall there be in it an infant
that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime ….
They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat
their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not
plant and another eat; ….. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, ..... They
shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
The Canberra Ecumenical Working Group on Palestine-Israel
and World Vision Australia
1 June 2008
_________________
Dear friends
The people of St Joseph's Catholic Church Newtown, Sydney, Australia send
our support and prayers to the people of Bethlehem as you struggle for
peace and justice.
In a time when you are under great pressure and oppression, be assured
there are many people who realise your difficulties and support you.
Peace
Fr Peter Maher
Parish priest
St Joseph's Catholic Church
Newtown 2042. Australia
_________________
God of compassion,
we seek your guidance and direction to overcome the unrelenting suffering of
your people in Palestine.
The forty one years of occupation, conflict and loss of life have deprived them
of freedom, justice and peace.
Touch the hearts of all involved in the conflict to bring about reconciliation
and an end to the violence.
Let your spirit flow freely over all the people in your Holy Land to initiate
dialogue and an end to the oppression.
With a sense of urgency, we offer this prayer to you, our source of hope and
love. Amen.
Marie Therese Nilon LCM
Secretary
Pax Christi Australia (NSW)
May the deep love of
our compassionate God be your experience. May
the Peace of the Son of God through the Holy Spirit fill your hearts
and settle in your homes, churches, places of work and across the land.
Your struggle for peace in all its forms does not go unnoticed. We
are very conscious of your pain and your suffering and seek in prayer
for your comfort and an end to your struggle.
We pray that Governments will look and listen to the pleas and prayers
for Peace in Palestine and Israel by the International Church Action
in June. May action roll down and peace be experienced.
Forgive us when we have hesitated at the gate and failed to act even
when we have seen, heard and known. Power and strength be with you
and all you undertake for dignity, peace and Life in the days, weeks
ahead.
From Brisbane, Australia
_________________
To
the Palestinians of Bethlehem, Christian, Muslim or ?
I
offer my respect for your courage,
I offer my respect for your wisdom,
I offer my respect for your openness and vulnerability.
I offer my prayers for your safety,
I offer my prayers for your sanity,
I offer my prayers for your salvation -
From malicious interference in your daily lives,
From pernicious whittling of your rights as a human being,
From the twin eroders of imprisonment and neglect.
I
offer my hope for your love and laughter,
I offer my hope for your families and future,
I offer my hope for a full life of liberation, peace and love.
May
you be blessed
From Australia
_________________
Dear friends,
In Canberra City Church we pray every week for peace between Israel and
Palestine, an end to the seizure of land and property, an end to the
Western - backed Israeli violence and the retaliatory rocket attacks. We
pray that God's grace and mercy will enable the forces that seek peace
with justice to prevail. God, have mercy!
Rev. John P Brown
Canberra
_________________
Loving God,
You who
know us each by name
You who love us each uniquely
You who are moved with great compassion
for those among us who suffer most.
Call us to
the fullness of our humanity.
Be our strength
Be our courage
Lead us to see with eyes of compassion
and to live according.
Amen
_________________
Here is my
prayer for Bethlehem.
Grace and peace to you
-----------------------------------------------------
God of all
Peoples,
You have set us a task,
to try to live at peace with our neighbour.
You have
shown us who is our neighbour
and how to be a neighbour
especially to those in need.
It's what
any parent wants to see -
the children living peaceably together.
How your heart must ache at the state
of things in the land we still call 'holy'.
Forgive our
terrible unwillingness
to accept one another,
all children made in your image,
to respect each other
and each other's rights.
Today we
pray for a miracle
of peace with justice for all
in Bethlehem
birth home of the Prince of Peace;
in Jerusalem
treasured city to people of three faiths;
in Palestine-Israel
beloved home to people of two cultures.
Open the
hearts, wills and minds of each person
who would oppose this task -
to try to live at peace with our neighbour.
In your
Community of Love
none are stronger, none weaker
none more powerful,
none more oppressed than any other.
God of all
Peoples
give us courage to live together
secure in your love,
free from fear,
no longer as enemies
but potential new friends,
neighbours living at peace.
Amen
Gillian
Hunt
_________________
Dear
Friends in Bethlehem,
May Jesus Christ, your most famous ancestor,
fill you all with his peace, “a peace the
world cannot give”.
May he give you courage and strength to go
on living in hope and trust, even when you
seem so isolated. He holds you in his heart
and always has you in mind.
May this week of prayer with other
Christians point the way forward for you to
go, and give you lasting contacts with the
wider world.
In love and prayer and solidarity
(Sr) Marian McClelland sss
__________
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Here is my prayer for you in this time of
distress and oppression.
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and
God our Father, who loved us and through
grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,
comfort your hearts and strengthen them in
every good work and word," (2 Thess.
2:16-17). May the Holy Spirit, who
reconciles the world and brings it to the
Father, be your Comforter and Advocate that
a just peace may prevail. May the glory of
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be
revealed in this dark hour.
We will continue to pray for you.
Grace and peace,
Jeff
__________
Jeff
Wild
Christian World Service Promotions Officer
Victorian Council of Churches
Melbourne
NCCA Christian World Service is
the aid and development agency of the
National Council of Churches in Australia
partners4peace
working for a world at peace
www.partners4peace.org.au
_________
May the God of peace encourage all those in
Palestine and Israel who despair of peace
and security, and empower those within these
communities and from the international
community who continue to strive for a
lasting and just peace for all in the
region.
David Collett
_________________
May the peace of the sun
light your way.
May the peace of the fire
warm your life.
May the peace of the rain
refresh you.
May the peace of the Earth
give you rest.
May the peace of your God be
always with you.
My thoughts and prayers are
with you.
Peta Anne Molloy
Brisbane, Australia
_________________
To those
in Bethlehem …
May the
God of peace, rule in the hearts and minds
of all those who live in the troubled lands
of Palestine and Israel.
May the God of justice empower those people
who seek tolerance in the troubled lands of
Palestine and Israel.
May the God of hope, re-inspire young people
of all faiths and nationalities as they help
to rebuild their war torn countries of
Palestine and Israel.
May the God of all time work mightily to
bring peace to all peoples in the troubled
lands of Palestine and Israel and
May the God of ultimate destinies walk
powerfully beside those who work for justice
and security for all people in the trouble
lands of Palestine and Israel.
You are
not forgotten.
Amen.
Greg
Warmbrunn
Melbourne
___________
Dear
People of Palestine,
I sit here in my very comfortable chair, in my very comfortable country where I
am free, can travel where I want, study, live, work and eat easily.
I have recourse to a just and open legal system. I don't live in fear of an
occupying army and I don't fear that my home and land might be taken away. I
know my children will grow up safely.
You live courageously under daily and worsening oppression, violence and
suffering.
In our comfort in Australia, we are working for justice and peace for you. Some
of us work in big ways and some of us work in small ways.
I work in small ways. Please accept my small work for peace.
Patricia Abbott
AUSTRIA
Dear
Friends, I pray with you for lasting peace
in our time.
Prof. Ernst
Schwarcz, Vienna
For you all in this town
I send to you. I think of the power of hope
you create day by day. I join it. In
February I shall visit you with
an group from Austria and I am really
looking forward to meet you.
With love - Barbara Rauchwarter
Lord we ask for peace,
Not the peace which tranquilizes
The peace that empowers
Lord we ask for peace
Not the peace of cemeteries
But peace enabling life
Lord we ask for peace
The peace you can send into the hearts of
people
The peace that makes enemies friends
The peace helping to reconcile with each
other
Lord we ask for peace and know
That in this situation, we can not
But rely on you
Amen
_________
Dear friends, brothers and sisters in
Bethlehem and Palestine!
Some of us here in Europe already know about
your suffering under Israeli oppression.
I pray for you that you can stand this
situation.
On Sunday we will hold an ecumenical service
in Linz for justice and
peace in your countries.
In the peace of Christ
Meinrad Schnexckenleithner, Linz
BANGLADESH
Dear friends,
As the days are passing you
all approach the days of celebrating the action week in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Time is critical. Our prayers and solidarity will be with you all so that peace
and tranquility will prevail in the region.
Wish you all the best and a peaceful
celebration.
Rosaline Costa
Bangladesh
BELGIUM
My dear friends,
We made a pilgrims’
holiday in April 2008 in your country. We saw a situation of terror for the
Palestinian people: check-points, the wall, occupied houses.
I wish you a
solution of peace before the end of this year. We are your witness in meetings
in Belgium.
Faithful
wishes
René
Boogaerts
Belgium
_________________
A
vous tous paix de la part du Seigneur,
Que le Dieu de miséricorde vous donne la force de vivre votre vie !
Que l’espoir vous soutienne afin de retrouver votre maison sans être sans cesse
traqué et réfugié !
Que le monde se réveille et vous donne l’occasion de vivre votre vie dans la
paix et la sérénité !
Promesse de prière et d’action si c’est possible !
Solidarité mondiale avec tous ceux qui souffrent ! Le Christ continue à souffrir
en eux !
Paix !
Luc De
Prest, moine bénédictin, Bruges
luc de prest
zevenkerken 4
b-8200 brugge
_________________
Si Dieu est né là à Bethléem,
au fond d'une étable,
il faut se baisser pour le trouver
et se mettre à genoux
pour le ramasser par terre.
Que
tous les humains se découvrent frères
dans cet abaissement commun vers le plus
petit
dans ce souci de sauver Dieu
Chers Frères et Chers Amis,
Même si vous
ne vous en rendez pas compte, beaucoup de
chrétiens de par le monde sont préoccupés
par la paix en Palestine, la terre trois
fois sainte.
Nous prions
le Dieu unique pour qu'il envoie son esprit
de paix sur tous les hommes et spécialement
sur vous.
Il est vrai
que, de loin, les choses paraissent plus
faciles.
Jésus a dit: "Aimez vos ennemis".
Cette parole
est unique; on ne la trouve dans aucun autre
texte sacré que les Evangiles. Plus il est
ton ennemi, plus il a besoin d'être aimé.
Que l'amour
de Dieu soit sur vous tous.
Maurice
Danloy
_________________
A mes frères et sœurs de Palestine,
Que Dieu vous soutienne dans votre longue
épreuve. Que le Dieu de la paix vous
conduise aujourd’hui à vivre enfin dans un
pays qui vous appartient libre de toute
occupation.
Abbé Michel Bollen
__________
Dear God
Bless the Palestinian
people ...
give them hope for the future ...
Let fall the walls between neighbours ...
so that the children of your wonderful
country can give each other a hand, for
ever!
I send my best greetings
to the people of Betlehem
Hilde Welffens, Antwerpen-België
__________
On Sunday June 8th the department
of the International Catholic organisation
“Aid to the Church in Need” Belgium (Kerk in
Nood vzw) will celebrate in the cathedral of
Bruges its 60th anniversary. The
situation of the Christians in Bethlehem,
the Holy Land and the Middle-East has always
been a very important item for our
organisation.
The co-operators of ACN Belgium and their
benefactors will pray for peace and in the
region.
Kerk in Nood vzw
www.kin-aed-be.org
Luc Claeys
Staff / Animation – Media
Kerk in Nood I Oostpriesterhulp
www.kin-aed-be.org
__________
Chers Amis,
J'ai appris qu'une semaine " d'Action
internationale des Eglises pour la Paix en
Palestine et en Israël "se déroulait ces
jours-ci à Béthléem.
Au nom du Comité de Vigilance pour une Paix
Réelle en Palestine ( CVPR PO), dont
j'assume la présidence, je tiens à
m'associer à cette très importante
initiative, conscient de l'importance de
tout rassemblement pour la paix dans cette
Palestine, victime depuis tant d'années, et
du refus d'Israël de reconnaître les droits
imprescriptibles du peuple palestinien, et
de la lâcheté des dirigeants occidentaux et
des dirigeants arabes d'exiger l'application
immédiate par Israël des résolutions des
Nations Unies.
Si Israël a célébré ces jours-ci le 60 ème
anniversaire de sa création, nous avons ici
célébré, avec nos amis palestiniens, le 60
ème anniversaire de la Nakba qui s'est alors
abattue sur le peuple palestinien : perte de
78 % de sa terre, expulsion de plus de
700.000 des siens, massacres de civils,
destruction de plus de 500 villages !
Nous affirmons qu'il n'y a pas de chemin
vers la paix sans la reconnaissance par
Israël du droit au retour des réfugiés
palestiniens et sans arrêt de l'OCCUPATION
de la Palestine, proclamée à Alger le 15
novembre 1988, occupation source de toutes
les violences comme l'a si souvent rappelé
dans ses
homélies le patriarche, Mgr. Sabbah. Israël
doit évacuer toutes les colonies édifiées en
violation du droit international, détruire
le mur de l'apartheid, cesser l'épuration
ethnique, en particulier à Jérusalem, et
arrêter le blocus inhumain imposé à la
bande de Gaza.
J'ajouterai, à titre personnel, que je serai
le 7 juin en communion de prières avec tous
ceux rassemblés qui prieront pour demander
au Seigneur le rétablissement de la paix en
cette partie du monde et la réconciiation
des peuples israéliens et palestiniens,
après tant d'années de haine et de division.
Me Maurice BUTTIN, président du CVPR PO.
_________________
I wish you a
good week of prayer, and lots of peace in
your hearts.
United in
Christ,
With the
words of Mother Theresa:
The fruit of
Silence is Prayer.
The fruit of Prayer is Faith.
The fruit of Faith is Love.
The fruit of Love is Service.
The fruit of Service is Peace.
~Mother Theresa
Katrien
Cornette
Pastorale Dienst
U.P.C. St. Kamillus
BIERBEEK
___________
Dear friends
Responding at the
invitation on
www.kerknet.be and the message of a friend, member of Pax Christi, I asked
the Belgian communities of our congregation, the leading group of our parish,
the direction of our schools, the
members
of the pilgrimage for peace - April 2008
and
many
other
friends
to engage them for the
International Church Action for Peace in Palestine
and Israel. With The Jerusalem prayer for Sunday, June 8th
I invited all of them to pray this weekend for peace in Israel and Palestine and
all over the world.
This evening
we
will pray for you
all
during mass in our parish. Tomorrow we will have a day of prayer
in
our community of religious sisters.
Because the Jerusalem prayer is very long we will pick it up at several moments.
I‘m living in a community with sisters of 80 years and older. So they don’t
like to have long prayers, but they will pray the day around.
During the Pax
Christi Family day, april 12th we brought over the message of our
pelgrimage. I told them about mothers and children and young people we met in
Palestine and Israel.
We are with you,
united in our common prayers.
Sjaloom
Lea
___________
Hallo soul mates
In this week with
international Church actions, I wish you all
the good you need to find peace: leaders of
your people and righteous Israelis with
their heart in the right place and their
thoughts in an honest and just direction.
I was in your country
with a pilgrimage of Pax Christi Vlaanderen
and Broederlijk Delen (Belgium) In April
2008.
I think very much of you
all.
Greetings from
Leen Vande
Kerkhof
Belgium
___________
En communion et
en solidarité.
Biddend
verbonden in een engagement voor de vrede.
Peace and justice.
The kingdom of God is
justice and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit.
Come Lord and open in us
the gates of your kingdom.
Antoine Rubbens
B 9270 Laarne
BRAZIL
Here's the
National Ecumenical Commission to Combat
Racism. We are praying for you all.
Please pray for us too. Unfortunately my
Country lives at this moment with much
violence. Pray for the black families whose
sons and daughters die as victims of the
police. Pray for the millions of unemployed
around the Country. Please pray for children
and women who are victims of violence by
violent relatives or males. It is terrible.
Please pray for our churches who are
unfortunately absent in solving the dramatic
problems we face everywhere in the Country
at this moment.
Please,
please, please, pray for us.
Rev. Antonio
Olimpio de Sant' Ana - Executive Secretary
of Cenacora
CANADA
May the God Who is
Love and the Prince of Peace give you strength and bring a time of Justice,
Freedom and Peace closer to you, to the people of Bethlehem, to Palestine and
Israel and the world.
Amen.
With prayers &
blessings,
Jeff Ewener,
Canada
_________________
A prayer for peace
for Bethlehem and all the Region:
Dear God of Infinite Power and Justice and Compassion
How we pray that you will look upon your people and bring them your peace.
How we pray that you will upon your people and bring them unity.
How we pray that you will look upon your people
and spread a blanket of love over all the region
deep love, deep peace that can fill the hearts of all
who would make war with their neighbours.
Dear God of Infinite Power and Justice and Compassion
we pray that you will hear us
and grant our prayer.
Amen.
Gillian Wallace
444 Sunnyside Ave
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada, K1S 0S9
_________________
Chers frères et soeurs
Que la PAIX promise aux hommes de bonne
volonté par l'Enfant de Bethléem advienne
pour votre peuple. Dieu Tout-Puissant, tu
veux que tous les humains vivent en harmonie
les uns avec les autres. Nous te demandons
ardemment que ce voeu soit exaucé dans tous
les coeurs, et qu'ainsi ton Amour soit
victorieux de la haine et de la vengeance.
Creator of all - I pray
for peace in Palestine and Israel.
- I pray that those who risk their lives to
"strike back" for past injustices and
violence,
will apply that same risk to actively
pursue forgiveness and peace.
- I pray that those who risk their lives to
"eradicate evil" in others,
will apply that same risk to expose and
eliminate the evil in themselves.
- I pray that all who are in leadership
roles
will recognize the absurdity, misconception
and illusion,
that peace can come about through war
and violence.
May they, in wisdom, see that peace
can only come through peace.
- May the Holy Spirit bring peace into the
hearts of all in Palestine and Israel,
that they may be a blessing and a model
in the cause of peace, throughout the world.
- I pray in the holy name of
Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Edward
Kustyk
_________________
Peace!
Peace! Peace!
May our God give you peace!
Our prayers will help you to live in peace!
God loves you and so do I.
Ursula
Beaulieu
Rimouski
Québec
_________________
Greetings from Toronto,
Ontario, Canada.
Grace and peace be with you sisters, and
brothers.
May our God of justice look kindly upon you,
bringing you renewed hope and courage.
May our God of compassion kindle up healing
and strength for you.
May our God love grant you comfort and
light.
You are loved, remembered and cared for.
Peace and blessings be yours today and
always
In the name of our Christ
Amen
Sara Faulhafer
_________________
hrough
the week of Advocacy and Action for a just
peace in Palestine and Israel our
prayers are for peace in Palestine.
It's
time for Palestinians and Israelis to share
a just peace; time to end 60 years of
conflict; time for freedom from occupation;
time for equal rights; and time for the
healing of wounded souls.
We think of those who are suffering from
occupation and pray that there will soon be
a way to have justice and peace.
You are
in our thoughts and prayers and we hope that
the knowledge that people in other parts of
the world are praying for you will sustain
you in this long struggle for peace.
Salaam,
Betty
Neelin,
Ottawa
_________________
My prayers
are with you as you met and discuss the
future of Bethlehem.
May God's
Blessings be with you as you pray and
reflect on 60 years of occupation. I have
had the privilege to be in Bethlehem on a
number of occasions and my heart and prayers
will be with you in Manger Square.
I am a
member of Canadian Friends of Sabeel and
have prayed for you often. St. James Church
and Church School will be praying for you as
well.
May walls
of separation crumble and hands of
friendship replace them. God Bless.
The Rev.
Rick Marples
Judy Marples
_________
Dear Friends in Christ:
I am one who has visited
your cities. It was August 1993. My trip was
sponsored by the Presbyterian Church in
Canada with the help of the Middle East
Council of Churches. Their office in
Jerusalem arranged for me to stay in a
private home in Bethlehem and in the
Galilee.
I remember those homes
and the members of the host families along
with colleges and hostels grateful for the
hospitality to a stranger from afar. Meeting
and discussing parish and community life
with a variety of leaders was a highlight of
my visit. I am most privileged to have
walked your streets and shared life with
you.
May peace grow among you and
may there be many more sowers of the seed of
peace in your cities & everywhere.
Sincerely Yours, The Reverend Raymond E.
Glen,
(Retired),
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
__________
En solidarité nous prions avec vous qui
aspirez depuis si longtemps à la paix.
Puisse le Seigneur entendre notre prière et
vous garder dans l’espérance.
Prière pour la paix (orthodoxe)
Nous te rendons grâce
Ô Maître, Ami des hommes,
Roi des siècles et Donateur de tout bien
car tu détruis le mur de séparation
entre les ennemis et accordes la paix
à ceux qui cherchent ta miséricorde
Nous te supplions d’éveiller
le désir de paix chez ceux
qui sont remplis de haine
à l’égard de leur prochain,
et spécialement chez ceux
qui sont en guerre ou
s’y préparent.
Accorde la paix à tes serviteurs.
Remplis-les de ta crainte et
affermis en eux la charité.
Éteins toute dispute et
bannis toute tentation et désaccord.
Car Tu es notre Paix et
nous te rendons gloire
Père, Fils et Saint-Esprit,
maintenant et toujours et
dans les siècles des siècles.
Amen
__________
Dear Friends:
We join with
all of you in prayer that Peace will fill
the atmosphere, the homes and the hearts
of the Land where Jesus walked. Peace to
You!
Chrys, pbvm
___________
I continue to pray and to
work that there may be peace for the peoples of the Middle East – a peace that
respects the dignity and rights of each and everyone.
Richard
Renshaw
Montréal,
QC
___________
I stand in solidarity
with you and offer daily prayer for peace in
Bethlehem. We are strong because our loving
Creator is with each of us. Know that you
are not forgotten!!
Love from Celene in
Canada.
COLOMBIA
Como Obispo Presidente de la
Iglesia Evangelica Luterana de Colombia y en
nombre de todos los miembros de la misma,
oramos por la paz y reconciliacion de
nuestros hermanos en la fe de Abraham, tanto
Palestino como Judios, desde nuestro
contexto de conflicto Colombiano y en medio
de una violencia de mas de 50 años tenemos
la ESPERANZA que el Dios de Abraham, en el
cual creemos nosotros, nos traera paz y
reconciliacion a todos los pueblos que lo
invoquemos.
Sijifredo Daniel Buitrago Pachòn.
Obispo Presidente I .E.L.C.O
Colombia Sur America
CUBA
Queridos hermanas y
hermanos: Desde la Iglesia Presbiteriana-Reformada en Caibarien, Villa Clara,
CUBA, les enviamos nuestros deseos de SHALOM!! El Señor aun en la distancia nos
une, nos alienta y estimula a seguir viviendo y buscar el reino de Dios y su
justicia en medio de un mundo cada vez más convulso. No se desanimen: E SEÑOR
ESTA CON USTEDES Y CON NOSOTROS !
Edelberto Valdes Fleites
Independencia # 12,
Remedios, V.C. 52700, CUBA
"Tu vida puede
ser la única Biblia que muchos lean".
Anónimo
CZECH REPUBLIC
„As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His
disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that he was born
blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents
sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so
that the work of God might be displayed in
his life…“ (John 9)
“Our loving Father, we are living there is
the time, when we don't know, on which site
is the sin, that has caused our trouble. We
have possibility to be sad, to struggle or
be angry because of our small power. We can
try to find many ways to find an exit from
this situation. But you show us, you have a
way with every man and nation and you want
to display something more in our lives, more
that we can imagine.
Please lead us with your word to real life
to walk a fair way, to practice love and to
be not the headmaster of the situation … …we
are now in a place of meal: please give us,
what we need. Not according to all our
ideas, but how you see it. You know, what we
really need in our homes, in our
relationships, in the confrontation with the
evil, in our land…
Jesus brought us your mercy and fidelity in your
relationship to us. Show us your new song.
Bless and guide our days here – for all our
neighborhoods and countries. Thank you, for
this time of praying in your presence.
Amen.”
David Pasz
__________
In
Český Těšín, at 7 June 2008
Hello all young citizens of Bet Lechem,
First of all:
many greetings from Silesia, CZ :-D. The
name of your city, and the things, that
there hat happened, have caused the Czech
and Polish people to do some interesting
things. On the Czech side there is a
building from 15th century,
that’s called “Betlém”, a house in Prague,
where priest John Hus preached from the
Bible. The name “Betlém” was given because
of the “bread” of the Bible. There was not
only the everyday meal (there is a
well with water in the building), but also
good relationships and life in all
spheres. Short before this time, in this
city, was built also “New Jerusalem”,
a house for young women, psychic ruined
after going to prostitute. They started new
life in the Prague society.
About your
Bet-lechem sings in this time in Poland
singer Justyna Steczkowska a nice song:
„(...) A jednak niesie nadzieję / Pieśń o
Bet-Lechem, czyli Betlejem,
Gdzie biblijna Rut / Zbierała kłosy cierpiąc
głód.
Ten głód nam towarzyszy / I
w pierwszym krzyku, i w wiecznej ciszy -
On sprawia, że w krew / Głęboko wniknął nam
ten śpiew:
Twój lud, to mój lud, / A twój Bóg, to mój
Bóg”
It is song
with Ruth-motive, this part is mainly about
the hungry, that make people to call for
a new song, that we can sing all together.
When our needs and expectations are filled
and granted.
My actually
life that I want to share with you: When I
was younger, I didn’t like Germans because
of the Second World War (I’m Silesian Pole).
Every look at a German people was a question
“Give me back what you owe me!” Now, after
one year of studying in Germany I released
all the things that at the time of war have
happened. We need mutual consent, we both to
forgive and give freedom each other out of
the prison of our hearts, out of
unforgiveness (like in Mat. 18).
I wanted to
underline else one thing: a verse that was
written in the message from the last year
for this week:
O man, He has told you
what is good. What does the Lord ask of you
but to do what is fair and to
practice love (mercy), and to walk
humble with your God. (Micha 6,8).
Actually this, nothing more.
“Our Lord, You
are higher, than we can feel or imagine. But
you are near, by us. You wants to give us
your ‘bread’, that gives the real peace, the
real life and leads us in today’s word to go
on fair way, to practice love and to be not
the highest instance in our life… …we are
now in a places of meal: please give us,
what we need. Not according to all our
ideas, but how you see it. You know, what we
really need in our homes, in our
relationships, in the confrontation with the
evil, in our land…
Jesus brought
us your mercy and fidelity in your
relationship to us. Show us your new song.
May our days here be guided and blessed by
You for all our neighborhoods and countries.
Thank you, for this week of praying in your
presence. Amen.”
So, many
greetings from Silesia
And alejkum salam ;-)
David Pasz
Secretary for foreign connections of SCEAV
Slezská
Církev Evangelická. A.V.
Śląski Kościół Ewangelicki A.W.
Český Těšín, Czech Republic
P.S. For any response (or to
contact with local students) you can write
me at D.Pasz(aet)gmx.de.
EGYPT
Peace
be with you. May justice and love enter your city.
Suzette Clark rsc
ACSJC Research & Projects Officer
ALEXANDRIA NSW 2015
FRANCE
pour que
le monde connaisse enfin le sens du mot paix.
pour que le liban soit un jour pacifié et considéré comme un pays en
paix...
kinda marie
elias
franco-libanaise résidant à Paris
_________________
from a French
old grandmother in Versailles : you are in
my thoughts and
prayers
'Madi Longuenesse
Versaillais
__________
En union avec les chrétiens de France qui
vous soutiennent, je ne vous oublie pas dans
mes prières.
Jean-Claude
Nos mots sont pauvres mais nos pensées sont
vives et nos prières se joignent aux vôtres
Que les responsables trouvent enfin le
courage et la force de construire une vraie
paix!
Une grand-mère de 74 ans et sa famille
Oui, de tout coeur, je me joins à la semaine
de prière pour que très vite ce beau pays
trouve paix et prospérité.
La paroisse de Saint-Guen Vannes, en
Bretagne, France, a organisé une soirée de
prières hier soir, pour demander la
paix. Nous continuons, chaque midi,
individuellement. Que la Paix durable arrive
dans le monde.
RENAUD MADELEINE
Cela fait 60 ans, que vous souffrez
communément avec les musulmans pour rester
sur votre terre de toujours envers et contre
toutes les agressions qui visent à vous
chassés vers l’étranger dans l’indifférence
générale. De plus, tout et fait ici et la
bas pour que votre présence sur cette Terre
de naissance de notre foi, de très longue
date pourtant, soit aujourd’hui assimilé à
celle de l’agression israélo-américaine dont
sont victimes les pays de la région
jusqu’ici en paix, ce qui explique en parti
votre situation présente.
Seigneur ! Écoute la voix de tes serviteurs
vivant sur la terre de ta crucifixion qui
dit, nous ne voulons plus être manipulés par
ceux qui prétendent prendre notre défense
mais vivre en harmonie et en paix avec nos
frères arabes comme cela a été le cas
pendant les siècles passés. Donne nous la
volonté et le courage de ne pas céder à la
peur et à l’intimidation venant de toute
part, soutient nous dans ces épreuves
injustifiés et donne nous la force de
rester.
Prions le Christ ressuscité et sauveur, de
France, en union avec vous.
Patrice (Paris 19e)
__________
Mon Dieu,
Faites que sur cette Terre sainte la paix
revienne,
Aide les habitants de cette Terre,
Palestiniens comme Israëliens
A se pardonner et à construire un avenir
commun.
Nous sommes tous des citoyens du monde, la
terre ne nous appartient pas.
Que ton amour transcende toutes les volontés
nationalistes.
Nous sommes tous du même pays, la terre.
Retrouvons ce lien primordial !
Amen
Vanessa
(Paris)
__________
Il n'y a pas de paix sans justice.
Dieu est Paix et Justice.
Il ne peut pas nous tromper.
Nous le prions avec vous et chaque jour ,
dans nos paroisses
pour qu'enfin
Il soit entendu
et que vous goûtiez
aux plaisirs de la Paix
Jean Pierre Blanchet
Pax Christi
Annecy
__________
Chers amis,
La paroisse Ste Jeanne de Chantal, située à
Annecy en Haute-Savoie (France) et en lien
avec la paroisse Notre Dame de Fatima à Beit
Sahour, vous adresse ses meilleurs vœux en
cette semaine pour la paix.
Que le Seigneur bénisse tous les cœurs et
leur donne son esprit d’amour indispensable
pour changer les mentalités, les attitudes
des uns envers les autres, afin qu’un jour
les habitants de cette terre soient à
nouveau unis avec leurs différences pour
vivre en frères, quelque soit la race, la
religion… Que l’espérance de cette paix à
venir vous porte et vous donne la force de
vivre, d’agir… Les chrétiens de France sont
avec vous.
Dimanche le texte de la prière des
responsables des Eglises de Jérusalem sera
le support de notre intercession. Il sera
remis à tous les paroissiens. Nous serons
unis à toute la population de Bethléem qui
formera ce jour une « horloge vivante ».
Bien fraternellement.
Au nom des Chrétiens de la paroisse
La responsable de la Communication de la
paroisse
et du jumelage avec la paroisse de Beit
Sahou
Robert SIRE
Désireux de répondre à l’appel de mon Eglise
et de témoigner de ma solidarité je me joins
à l’intercession, de cette semaine en priant
avec le Psaume 121
Je lève les yeux ………
Vers Celui qui garde Israël
Dieu Saint, prends pitié de nous
Seigneur,
Pour essayer de comprendre la violence qui
se passe entre ces deux pays, il me faudrait
déjà admettre ma propre violence qui ne
cherche qu'à prendre parti pour l'un ou
l'autre. Aide-moi à vouloir une vraie PAIX
et
accepter qu'elle doive passer en un temps
par les armes.
Que par ton Saint-Esprit chacun et chacune
puisse être amené au Pardon si difficile à
recevoir sans ta Grâce.
Amen.
___________
Seigneur, toi le Père de tous les croyants
Regarde tes enfants divisés.
Regarde tes enfants se faire la guerre
Regarde les injustices faites au peuple
palestinien
Regarde la peur de l’autre installée chez
les israéliens et les palestiniens.
La peur ne fait pas rencontrer l’autre
Respecter l’autre.
Donnes- nous la Paix
Donnes nous la force de lutter ici et là-bas
Pour que la culture de la paix
Grandisse entre les peuples
Grandisse en nous, en moi.
Pierre FLAMENT, 5 juin 2008.
___________
Délégation Diocésaine du CCFD de l'Hérault
Comité Catholique contre la Faim et pour le
développement
Montpellier
site du CCFD de l'Hérault :
http://www.ccfd.asso.fr/cd34
Bonjour,
Le CCFD, Comité Catholique contre la Faim et
pour le Développement de l’Hérault est en
communion de pensée et de prière avec vous.
Nous soutenons depuis longtemps des
associations oeuvrant pour la paix au
Proche-Orient et sommes très sensibles à
votre action.
Nous avons transmis votre demande à tout
notre réseau et nous espérons que vous
recevrez beaucoup de messages
d’encouragement.
Soyez assurés de notre soutien et de nos
prières pour la paix
Très cordialement à vous tous
Anne-Marie Arnoux
Secrétaire diocésaine
___________
Seigneur, tu
viens un peu comme la lumière.
Cette lumière discrète et têtue qui, au plus
fort de nos doutes, vient grignoter la nuit.
On ne dirait pas, mais chaque jour qui
passe,
c'est un peu d'espoir qui vient.
Biensûr, il n'y a pas d'excès, pas
d'illumination,
pas de feux d'artifice.
Mais l'obscurité des âmes s'en va chaque
jour
si tu venais illuminer nos coeurs Seigneur.
Comme ça, tout doucement, discrètement.
Sûrement qu'au bout de la lutte,
c'est toi qui gagneras et moi aussi avec
toi.
Seigneur, viens, comme la lumière, illuminer
ma vie.
We are some members of ACAT-FRANCE (Action
by Christians for the Abolition of Torture).
We are living in the South of France and we
want to pray with you, on June 8th, for
peace, a just peace.
May this day bring us closer to this peace,
the peace that God gives, based on justice
and truth, for all the people of
Palestine-Israel!
Let the bell ring, around the World...so
long...so far...!
Yours Christian friends
Jean et Christiane Boniol
___________
Dear Friends,
A
member of our parochial council is getting
ready to visit your community in order to
fare and share your care and to present our
greetings from the parochial council of the
St Jean’s Protestant Church in Colmar.
___________
SHALOM, SALAM, PAIX, VREDE, PACE,
KHARARUTIUM, PEACE, MIR,
AMAHORO..............AMITIES ANNIE du MIR
-FRANCE
___________
Chers amis de
Palestine,
Aujourd'hui je prie avec vous pour la paix
entre les hommes sur la terre de Palestine.
Je suis membre de l'Église Évangélique
Luthérienne de France.
Recevez par ce message l'expression de mon
soutien,
Cordialement,
Sylvaine Boilloux
France
- - - - - - - - - - -
34, rue Principale
70400 Châlonvillars
s.boilloux@netcourrier.com
__________
Nous sommes
unis à la semaine d'action pour la paix.
Que ces prières intenses
émanant de tous les continents trouvent
grâce près de Dieu. Qu'en retour l'action de
Dieu atteigne le cœur et la conscience des
décideurs politiques pour qu'ils
s'impliquent dans la solution équitable du
conflit. Qu'ils deviennent d'ardents
défenseurs de la justice et qu'enfin vous
soit donnée la PAIX qui vient de Dieu. Que
Dieu entende nos appels.
Claude Caillère
_________________
"je m'unis à la prière
des croyants pour la justice et poue la paix.
dans cette région du monde que Dieu a visité
d'une manière particulière.
Que le Seigneur entende le
cri que signifient tant d'efforts, de la
part d'hommes et de femmes de Palestine et
d'Israël pour la vérité et la concorde!
Merci! Amitiés,
Pierre Toulat
_________________
Prière- voeu adressée à la
Palestine
Seigneur, depuis trop
longtemps, nous écoutons angoissés et
impuissants les informations sur la
situation en Palestine.
Nous pensons aux familles
brisées par tous ces conflits et par les
répressions...Parents qui pleurent leurs
enfants disparus ou blessés...Réfugiès qui
aspirent à retrouver la terre de leurs
ancêtres...Prisonniers accablés par leur
impuissance et leur solitude...Jeunes
insurgés qui n'auront appris à vivre que
dans la violence...Paysages
saccagés...Economie détruite...
Nous savons aussi, Seigneur, que des hommes
travaillent avec courage et désinteressement
pour que la Paix régne
Aide-les à tenir dans cette
longue épreuve.
Je t'en prie !
De nombreux chrétiens veulent
vivre ton Evangile.
Ils se sacrifient et ils font
triompher des réponses d'amour là où
l'esprit de vengeance s'affiche!
Soutiens-les, je t'en prie,
dans ces temps de peurs et de destruction
des liens sociaux.
Seigneur, conduis tous les
responsables a abandonné terreur et
représailles.
Que leur seul désir soit de
redonner à chacun sa dignité en
reconnaissant ses droits et ses libertés
dans un ordre qui a pour base la Vérité, la
justice, vivifiés par l'Amour.
En France, malgré certains
problèmes, nous avons le bonheur de vivre
dans la paix et la prospérité. Aide-nous à
ne pas laisser développer en nous et autour
de nous des idées de racisme et de
fanatisme, d'indifférence aux besoins des
autres et d'égoïsmes commerciaux.
Pardonne-nous tous les manque à l'amour dont
nous prenons conscience avec la ferme
volonté de ne plus en être complices.
Que notre prière soit le
témoignage de notre profonde sincérité à
l'égard de tous ceux qui vivent en Palestine
et leur porte un peu de notre amitié ! Que
ma prière remise à Dieu soit purifiée par sa
sainte présence et puisse participer à
l'élan de tous ceux qui s'unissent à la
réunion de Bethleem !
Marie-France Faure
Pax Christi France
_________________
Seigneur, nous te prions pour
nos amis de Palestine et d'Israël qui
veulent construire la paix dans ces lieux où
tu nous as enseigné l'Amour. Aide-les à
vivre chaque jour, à bâtir un "vivre
ensemble" où chacun sera reconnu avec ce
qu'il est.
Nous sommes près d'eux
par la prière et l'amitié.
Bernadette
Anouchian
_________________
En union avec le
texte de la PRIERE de Jerusalem
Nous formulons le
voeux d'un accord pour la paix en Palestine
Pour les Palestiniens et Israeliens de toute
confession,
Le plus vite possible
Maurice Ida
_________________
You are not alone. All of us, we
need your witness for peace and justice; we
need your way of living church unity; we
need your relationship with your Moslem
fellow citizens for peace; You are also
Jesus’ voice among Jewish people today; you
are still rejected, but still hoping. My
thoughts and my prayer will be with you for
making the living clock, on
Sunday, 8th June.
"O Lord, I entrust to your care
my sisters and brothers in Bethlehem and all
Palestine. You chose this place for
visiting your people with Jesus. Now you are
still visiting your people with your Holy
Spirit working through them, as you do all
other the world in the midst of hatred and
killing. Please, give them the seed of
trust, love and hope for bearing
unrightousness and violence, for telling the
truth, for asking justice and forgiveness
for all your beloved creatures."
Gilbert Charbonnier, EA,
Sabeel-France, Avignon.
___________
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Every Thursday, at noon, we join Sabeel’s Wave of
Prayer.
You are not alone. All of us, we need your witness for
peace and justice; we need your way of living church unity; we need your
relationship with your Moslem fellow citizens for peace; You are also Jesus’
voice among Jewish people today; you are still rejected, but still hoping. My
thoughts and my prayer will be with you for making the living clock,
on Sunday, 8th June.
O Lord, I entrust to your care my
sisters and brothers in Bethlehem and all Palestine. You chose this place for
visiting your people with Jesus. Now you are still visiting your people with
your Holy Spirit working through them, as you do all other the world in the
midst of hatred and killing. Please, give them the seed of trust, love and hope
for bearing unrightousness and violence, for telling the truth, for asking
justice and forgiveness for all your beloved creatures.
Jacques DANDREA
COURNONTERRAL
___________
Chers amis de Jérusalem et
Bethléem,
Nous pensons bien à vous et nous unissons à vous par la prière.
Que Dieu vous soutienne et vous aide à garder espoir dans cette situation
difficile où vous vous trouvez.
Grace au réseau nous recevons de vos nouvelles
régulièrement, vous n'êtes pas isolés.
Nous vous embrassons
Pierre
Action Catholique Ouvrière
___________
Chers frères et soeurs,
Nous avons eu la chance de célébrer
Noël à Bethléem il y a quelques années au milieu de la foule des habitants de
Bethléem et des pèlerins de tous pays. Nous en gardons un souvenir plein
d'émotion et de sympathie pour tous ceux qui là-bas souffrent de l'occupation et
de ses conséquences dans leur vie de tous les jours. Nous prions le Seigneur de
susciter une vraie volonté de paix et de justice chez ceux qui détiennent le
pouvoir en Israël, en Palestine et aussi dans la communauté internationale.
Seigneur, inspire des pensées de paix et une réelle
volonté de paix aux dirigeants et aux populations dont cela dépend en Palestine,
en Israël et dans toutes les puissances qui comptent dans la communauté
internationale. Garde l'espérance au coeur de ceux qui souffrent des injustices
de la situation actuelle et ne permet pas qu'ils perdent courage ni qu'ils
cèdent à la haine.
Gaby et Fred Lucas
___________
Chers frères et soeurs,
Il me semble tout indiqué de vous donner ce titre à vous qui
habitez le pays du Christ. J'ai eu l'occasion de venir en
Palestine en 62 et 65 et, avec le Secours Catholique
(Caritas), en 2005. C'est avec tristesse que j'ai pu ainsi
constater l'évolution de votre situation.
Avec le Secours Catholique nous avons institué chaque 1er
lundi du mois une prière toute spéciale aux intentions de «
l'unité de l'Eglise » et de la paix dans votre région. Les 2
ne vont-elles pas de paire ? Ces prières sont en liens avec
des familles religieuses entre autre le Carmel et les
Franciscains.
Je suis aussi en liens avec SABIL ce qui m'apporte également
des nouvelles et d'autres occasions de prier avec et pour
vous. Je serai tout spécialement en lien avec vous qui
vivrez un beau témoignage d'unité le 8 juin par votre
célébration et le symbole de l'horloge vivante.
J'ai entendu cette expression dont je ne connais pas
l'auteur: « arrêtez de prier pour nous et agissez ! ». Cela
est bien compréhensible de vouloir du concret la prière
devant naturellement nous tourner vers ceux qui souffrent.
Je sais que L'Eglise, le Secours Catholique et d'autres
associations essayent d'agir au mieux., mais je veux bien
entendre cet appel à titre personnel. En tant que diacre
catholique, je n'arrêterai pas de prier, mais si vous pensez
que des échanges d'amitiés et de soutiens seraient
souhaitables, je me tiens à votre disposition, vous pouvez
me joindre par « le mail » ci-dessus, malheureusement qu'en
français (Monfavet est un quartier d'Avignon ).
En attendant je reste bien en union avec vous et je vous
adresse ma profonde amitié.
G. Cassin
MONTFAVET
___________
La paroisse de St Ouen en
Seine St Denis priera pour la paix en Terre sainte ce dimanche, avec le texte de
vos responsables des églises chrétiennes.
Nous sommes
conscients des souffrances enduréees et des injustices commises et nous
demandons au Seigneur d'éclairer les coeurs des responsables et de vous faire
sentir sa présence.
Le curé
Robert Jourfier
Paroisse ND du Rosaire
St Ouen
www.filsdelacharite.org
___________
A nos amis de Palestine ,
l'équipe Pax Christi de Tarbes et Lourdes , en union avec les pèlerins du
Proche Orient qui viennent ici à la grotte de Lourdes prier Maryiam , en
communion avec toutes les Eglises du monde qui cette semaine prient pour vous ,
nous disons à Jésus "donne la paix à cette terre où tu es né , que la justice et
la paix fleurissent là où tu es resssuscité " .
Nous cherchons à nous
informer le mieux possible pour appuyrer autant que possible tous les artisans
de paix chez vous : amitié et prière vous accompagnent . Père Michel
___________
Chers frères et
soeurs de Palestine,
Je me joins de tout
mon coeur à la lettre que vous a envoyé Gilbert Charbonnier en ces jours de
commémoration.
J'ai toujours eu depuis
1948 la certitude que ce qui se passait en Terre Sainte était totalement
incompatible avec
l'évangile et
les enseignements bibliques de quelque église qu'ils soient et que cet état des
chose était la honte de
toute personne
qui se dit croyante et qui a pour modèle de vie, celle d'un Saint.
Je vous adresse
un message de foi et d'espérance, je me souviens d'un discours de Wiston
Churchill qui se terminait par ces mots " Fear nothing else but God" c'était en
1942.
J'ai toujours
prié pour la Paix , (la période de 1939 à 1968 nous a parue bien longue et je
sais ce que c'est que d'attendre la fin d'une guerre) , je suis heureux de
continuer de le faire maintenant avec Sabîl et de savoir qu'un mouvement
international est à vos cotés, ne doutez pas un seul instant de la fin de ce
conflit.
Recevez mes
sentiments cordiaux, et soyez assuré de notre soutien et de notre amitié et de
nos prières.
Besançon-Matil Roger
___________
Bonjour et
félicitation pour cette magnifique initiative de prière pour la paix.
J' aime votre formule:
donner aux dirigeants politiques "le courage de signer un traité de paix qui
mette fin à l'occupation imposée par un peuple sur un autre, accorde la liberté
aux Palestiniens, donne la sécurité aux Israéliens et nous libère tous de la
peur."
Veuillez trouver ce témoignage qui est une prière d' action de grâce pour l'
esprit de paix qui travaille au coeur de jeunes.
Des petits
groupes de 10 jeunes se sont créés à Gaza, Bethléem, Jalboun, Beyrouth,et
Clermont l' Héraul' 34 France pour former des ateliers photo sur la "culture de
la paix" sous l' impulsion d' une association française l' ASDIPL.
Sous occupation, dans un
climat de tension, de pénurie, d' angoisse entretenue, ces jeunes
photographient: Voici le commentaire de leurs photos:
"la musique et le chant
font partie de notre vie malgré le siège"
-"les enfants
palestiniens chantent malgré la souffrance"
-"elle écrit ses rêves"
-"volonté d' apprendre
malgré le handicap"
""danser jusqu'à faire
tomber les murs"
"-je danse pour
oublier un avenir inconnu"
"-ils
détruisent et nous reconstruisons" etc
Ces jeunes ne
parlent pas de Dieu. Mais comment ne pas rendre grâce devant cette espérance,
cette non-violence, cette joie d' apprendre des langue étrangères sans savoir si
cela servira un jour, ce désir de reconstruire chaque jour ce qui a été détruit,
sans haine ni rancoeur ,
Avoir des
relations avec des Israéliens à condition qu' ils soient pour la paix juste,
ils l' acceptent dans le cadre du réseau des ateliers. Cela nous fait
rechercher la possibilité de créer un groupe en Israël par exemple un petit
groupe de jeunes chrétiens ayant accès à un ordinateur, à qui nous fournirons
quelques appareils photo numériques pour photographier la "culture de la paix"
en vue d' une expo commune au réseau en juillet 2009
Merci par avance . En
union de prières pour la paix
Thérèse
Lederman responsable de l' ASDIPL
___________
Aux Chrétiens de Bethléem,
Tous les jours qui passent nous
montrent les souffrances endurées par le
peuple Palestinien. Que l'on soit ou non croyant, nous ne pouvons que
soutenir et approuver les rencontres oecuméniques que les chrétiens de
Bethléem et d'ailleurs organisent.
Nous formons le voeu et prions pour
que Israël entende l'appel à la
paix, à la dignité, à la justice pour tous les hommes.
La souffrance due à la perte d'un être
cher, ou due à la dépossession de
ses biens ou de l'humiliation est la même que l'on soit chrétien
musulman, juif ou non croyant.
Nos pensées les plus profondes
accompagnent cette belle initative.
Jeanine et José Ruiz
___________
C’est demain la
fête de la Foi qui rassemble dans la louange et la prière la communauté
protestante de l’église réformée d’OULLINS (paroisse Eglise réformée de France
de LYON, FRANCE), et la paroisse Saint Martin de l’église catholique de France à
OULLINS.
A cette
occasion sera mentionnée cette semaine d’action pour la Paix en Terre Sainte.
Notre prière
monte vers le Seigneur pour qu’il apporte ENFIN à vos peuples cette paix si
difficile …
Ainsi soit-il,
dans l’espérance du Royaume.
Pour la
communauté protestante d’Oullins
La présidente,
Marie ALLEVARD
___________
Nous pensons à vous,
nous prions, que Dieu rende la Paix dans votre pays.
Monique BREHERET
Avignon – France
___________
Seigneur viens à mon
aide, et viens au secour de mes frères dans le monde. Toi seul sait que au fond
de mon coeur j'essai d'être chrétien (c'est à dire amoureux de Jésus, Ton Fils
unique) et catholique (c'est à dire universel).
Abba, Père,
au Nom de Jésus
(Ieschoua, Issa) de Nazareth,
de Marie
(Myriam, Meriem) de Nazareth sa maman, et de tous les saints reconnus par
l'Eglise, et ceux qui le seront bientôt,
Je Te prie d'envoyer à tous
les hommes, toutes les femmes et tous les enfants, à tous les
assoiffés de sang et de vengeance, à ceux qui ont peur, aux malades et à ceux
qui ont faim,
Ton Esprit d'Amour et d'Humilité,
et de leur accorder la
grâce de Te faire beaucoup aimer.
Dr Stéphane VINCENT,
Troyes, FRANCE
___________
Monique Vincent et Jean-Paul Baratin, Chartrains et par ailleurs, membres
l'association "Solidarité avec les camps palestiniens de Bethléem" créée en
2003, soutien avec vigueur l'action lancée cette semaine, par les églises du
monde à l'initiative de A.E.I. et d'autres associations palestiniennes.
Nous tenons à vous dire combien nous pensons à vous, combien nous mesurons notre
impuissance devant les injustices inqualifiables vécues par le peuple
palestinien depuis 60 ans mais combien chaque fois que nous le pouvons nous
exprimons notre solidarité et notre admiration pour la résistance non-violente
de votre peuple.
Hier soir, environ 100 Chartrains assistaient à un débat autour du film "Les
citronniers" marquant ainsi l'intérêt de la population locale pour le drame vécu
en Palestine. Ce film du réalisateur israélien Eran Riklis, raconte la lutte
menée par une veuve palestinienne devant la haute cour de Justice d'Israël pour
empécher la destruction de son champ de citronniers.
Avec notre très profonde amitié. Monique et Jean-Paul.
___________
Our religious
Congregation is deeply united with you and
prays for a durable peace in your country.
Sr Geneviève
Pénisson f.c.s.c.j.
___________
Un peu en retard je
m'associe à votre lutte pour la Paix et la
justice. de tout coeur avec vous.
Paula
___________
Chers frères et
soeurs,
Sachez qu'en
cette semaine d'action des Eglises pour la
paix en Israel et Palestine, nous sommes de
nombreux Français qui suivont l'initiative
ainsi lancée par le Conseil Oeucuménique des
Eglises.
La Fédération Protestante
de France, Pax Christi-France et le réseau
"Chrétiens de la Méditerrannée" ont diffusé
les communiqués du COE, le message "il est
temps pour la Palestine..." et la prière des
13 chefs d'églises de
Jérusalem-Est. Beaucoup d'entre nous l'ont
fait, individuellement, autour d'eux.
Je dirai la
prière des 13 chefs d'église, demain matin,
au cours du culte de la paroisse réformée
parisienne dont je suis membre ; et demain
après-midi j'animerai une réunion organisée
par une autre paroisse de la région
parisienne, sur le conflit
israélo-palestinien et l'aide que les
Chrétiens de nos régions peuvent apporter à
leus frères de Terre Sainte et à tout le
peuple palestinien qui vit des moments si
pénibles.
Nous serons,
par le coeur et l'esprit, demain, autour des
60 d'entre vous qui formeront l'horloge
vivante sur la place de la mangeoire, à
Bethléem.
Christiane Gillmann
Avocat honoraire
membre de Sabeel-France
___________
Dear friends,
This is a message from a person
living in your twin city of
Chartres, France, who unfortunately heard
about your action week only
tonight, Saturday 7th June 2008. You have to
be certain that you are not
forgotten over here. Last night, the cinema
room where we saw the film
'Lemon Tree' was so full that we had to sit
on the floor. The discussion
that ensued showed all the sympathy that the
audience felt for the
people of Palestine, for all those who are
victims of the countless
injustices that you undergo daily.
We have no choice but to keep hoping,
however hard, however
impossible this must be for you, these days.
Like too many other peoples on this
Earth, you are going through
the predicament of Job: for no reason that
we can understand, for no
purpose that we can imagine; but God is
necessarily with you, on that
Land where he chose to send His Son. Through
Him, He gave us words of
life and you, through many actions of yours
such as the performances of
the children of Alrowwad, give the world
lessons of love, life and inner
freedom which we must refer to when we
doubt. Because you, a suffering
people, keep hoping and fighting non
violently, it becomes a duty for us
to put ourselves, like you, 'in the hands of
God', and increase every
day more our love for that God who came to
relieve those who suffer.
Violence is within us all -and hatred and
all sorts of deadly
tendencies; thinking of what you are going
through with such dignified
resistance can only force us to try and
resist and overcome those
tendencies in our every day lives.
May your dignity help us regain ours
by being more active in our
support of the defenseless.
May your dignity end up allowing
those who do you harm to come
out of their unconsciousness and at last
understand how wrong their
views and acts are.
United in prayer with you tonight and
tomorrow at mass,
I send you all the love that many
inhabitants of Chartres feel for you,
dear friends of Bethleem
Sommes de tout coeur avec
vous, des amis de Chartres, Yvette et Pierre
Maupetit.
Hier soir nous avons
projeté le film "les citronniers", beaucoup
d'émotion...
Amitiés à tous.
GERMANY
Lieber Herr, gib doch
endlich den Verantwortlichen in Israel die Einsicht, dass sie die Palästinenser
im Westjordanland und Gaza menschenwürdig behandeln sollen.
Amen
Schalom
Dieter Hemminger,
internationaler Versöhnungsbund (IFOR)
_________________
Since April 1967 I
have connections with your little town and I have some
friends there. I was several times in Bethlehem for Easter (1967 with snow!)
and sometimes at Christmas in the Lutheran Christmas-Church. I was there
when Bishop Tutu from South-Africa was in the Shepherds Fields, with
Rapprochment in Beit Sahour, at the Lutheran School in Beit Sahour, in Beit
Jala and Talitha Kumi, I demonstrated against the Har Homa settlement, I was
a guest in Dheisheh and El-Khader and I've seen the unbelievable problems
with the occupation - I wonder about your SUMUD. Because all is so moving
I've written two books about the "Children of Bethlehem" (1993 and 2000).
I want more Germans to know about your suffering, the continuation of our
German obscene history.
I pray to GOD to
liberate you from the terrifying, humiliating, inhuman
occupation, to bring all prisoners to their families, to give you finally
peace with your neighbours, the Jewish people. Salam and God be with you!
Ellen Rohlfs, Germany
_________________
Dear friends, On 8th
of June we shall have a Sunday service remembering the odd times you have to
stand. We read and hand on many reports of you and your country and hope that
with God's help the time of your suffering will come to an end soon. May God
bless you and your endeavours for a just peace. Yours-
Gerhilde Merz
_________________
Dear
Palestinian brothers and sisters in Jesus
Christ,
We join
you as you remember the Naqba sixty years
ago and also more than forty years of
occupation of the rest of Palestine. In
September we had the chance to realize with
our own eyes how incredibly difficult life
has become for Palestinians. We had the
privilege to come in touch with Palestinian
Christians working for the end of occupation
and a just peace.
We were
very happy, when we came to know that this
year's Aachen Peace Prize will be awarded
September 1st to Rev.Dr.Mitri Raheb and to
Machsom Watch. We hope this event will
contribute to a better awareness of the
Palestinians' suffering.
We pray to
God that he may grant you the power of our
Crucified and Risen Lord as you struggle for
justice, peace and reconciliation. We try to
advocate your cause in our church and our
state.
May God
bless you and the people of all faiths
working towards peace and justice in the
Holy Land.
Yours in
Christ
Klaus and
Elfriede Thierfelder
Members of
the Evangelical Church in Württemberg /
Germany
__________
Gebet
um den Frieden
Herr,
durch Deinen heiligen Geist
gib uns Frieden jeden Tag,
dass wir uns nicht selbst hassen,
sondern als Deine Geschöpfe dich und uns
selbst
lieben jeden morgen neu,
dass wir zu Friedensstifter werden.
Herr,
durch Deinen heiligen Geist
gib uns Frieden jeden Tag,
dass unsere Strassen und Viertel
Orte der Ruhe werden können,
Quellen des himmlischen Friedens,
der sich von ihnen ausbreiten möge.
Herr,
durch Deinen heiligen Geist
gib uns Frieden jeden Tag,
dass die Stadt der Geburt
Deines Sohnes ein Zeichen werde,
das aller Welt gelten soll:
Ehre sei Gott und Frieden auf Erden.
Herr,
durch Deinen heiligen Geist
gib uns Frieden jeden Tag,
dass unsere Gemeinschaften werden
zu Heimstätten der Friedens,
in denen Gerechtigkeit und
Geschwisterlichkeit
in Deinem Namen für alle Menschen.
Herr,
durch Deinen heiligen Geist
gib uns Frieden jeden Tag,
dass wir und alle Völker
spenden, was die Welt braucht:
Freiheit und Gedeihen der Liebe,
denn es könnte Deine Welt ein guter Garten
sein.
B. v. Issendorff
Wiesbaden
I am working for the
Evangelische Kirche in Hessen und Nassau
Prayer for Peace (translation)
Master,
By the Holy Spirit
Give us peace every day,
That we do not hate ourselves,
But we love you and us
As your creations ever new morning,
That we will be peacemakers.
Master,
By the Holy Spirit
Give us peace every day,
That our streets and quarters
Will be rooms for peace,
Sources of heavenly peace
Spread in your world.
Master,
By the Holy Spirit
Give us peace every day,
That his place of birth
Of your son will be a sign
For the whole world,
Honor to god and peace on earth.
Master,
By the Holy Spirit
Give us peace every day,
That our communities
Will be places of peace,
Where justice and brotherhood
Are in the your name
Master,
By the Holy Spirit
Give us peace every day,
That we and all nations
Will give peace in the world,
With freedom and love for all,
For your world is a garden
__________
Prayer for Peace
There will be a time
when Muslim children and Jewish
children and Christian children
will play together in the streets and in the
fields of their town
peaceful games
rising a sign of hope for all those
who still fight each other.
There will be a time
when Muslim children and Jewish children and
Christian children
and other children no matter of their
religion or colour
will share one hope for this world
peace and justice
and love on earth like in heaven.
Heavenly Father,
let us see this time
soon
we waited for so long already
strengthen our faith
and our work
towards
peace.
Amen.
Cornelia Oßwald
Parish priest
Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland
Winfried Belz
Kath.Klinikseelsorge
Kopfklinik
Heidelberg
Liebe Freunde im umzingelten Bethlehem,
in dieser globalen kirchlichen Aktionswoche
bin ich mit Euch besonders verbunden:
Gott möge Euch die nötige Kraft geben, Hass
und Unterdrückung standzuhalten.
Er möge Euch die Kraft
geben, unbeirrt an Versöhnung und gerechtem
Frieden zu arbeiten.
Ein Mensch wie Mitri Raheb möge Euch
ermutigendes Vorbild sein.
Darf ich noch anfügen, dass ich im Rahmen
meiner Möglichkeiten für das unterdrückte
palästinensische Volk immer wieder in
verschiedener Weise aktiv bin. Wenn
Ihr wollt, könnt Ihr Rainer Fielenbach und
Faten Mukarker fragen.
Herzliches Salam
Winfried Belz
___________
Dear sisters and
brothers,
the churches of the church district of
Fürstenwalde-Strausberg near
Berlin-Germany will be praying this weekend
for peace in the Holy Land and for full
human rights for all of its inhabitants.
Next year, we will be celebrating the fall
of the Berlin Wall twenty
years ago. We firmly believe that the wall
was brought down by prayers
and by many actions of trust-building that
made it crumble until it was
easily tossed over.
So we pray for all those who are equally
steadfast in their commitment
to justice and brotherhood as aims and to
honesty, outspokenness and
non-violence as means to achieve those
goals, that they might be
strengthened time and again.
And we pray for all those whose lives are
damaged by the violence of
weapons and of structures - that they will
obtain justice.
The peace of God be with you!
Christians from Germany
Frank
Schürer-Behrmann
Superintendent
Ev. Kirchenkreis
Fürstenwalde-Strausberg
Fürstenwalde
___________
The Aachener Friedenspreis, Germany (Peace Award) that
every year
honors people who deliver basic peace work will be given to Mitri Raheb,
Bethlehem (Palästina) and MachsomWatch (Israel) on 1st September
this year in Aachen. So Mitri and a representative of the group will be
with us here. I'm glad to send you a prayer to show, that the little
town of Bethlehem is in our minds, in our hearts and in our prayers.
Deep in our hearts we are fully convinced that "we shall overcome some
day"
God, you are father and mother of all nations und cultures.
All human beings are your image.
Your name, God, is life, peace, Shalom and Salaam
You want all of us to protect this Shalom and Salam
day by day, night by night, year by year with all our power.
Peace should be in all hearts, in all houses, in all families,
in all towns and in all countries.
Peace should be between religions and cultures
You taught us that your house has many flats
for every person you created since life began.
Your son was born in Bethlehem,
the town that suffers so much in these days
Let all people of good will in Israel and Palestine find together
and let them struggle for peace with all their power.
Bless them and all of us Amen
(free translation of part of the ecumenical peace prayer 2004)
Let us all join for the song:
We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day,
deep in my heart I do believe we shall overcome some
day.
We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, we shall live in peace
some day, deep in my heart I do believe, we shall overcome some day.
We walk hand in hand, we walk hand in hand, we walk hand in hand some
day, deep in my heart I do believe, we shall overcome some day. .
We think of you on the day of your gathering. God bless you all
Brigitta and Johannes Reinhardt, Aachen, Germany
___________
Dear brothers and sisters
in Bethlehem,
we greet you from our
congregation in Essen with wishes, thoughts and prayers of love and peace! May
peace begin between the people in Palestine and Israel after such a long time;
may the walls of hatred, oppression, violence and fear fall down now!!!
May God give you strength
and power for hope and love!
Pfarrerin Giselheid
Bahrenberg and Pfarrerin Friederike Wilberg
___________
CH-6440 Brunnen, Juni 2008
Liebe Brüder und Schwestern in Bethlehem,
Mit
Euch verbunden, beten wir täglich um Frieden
im nahen Osten. Dies möchte ich euch
mitteilen und viel Kraft, Hoffnung und Mut
wünschen.
___________
Gott,
du Quelle des
Lebens,
du lässt uns träumen von einer neuen Welt.
Dort wird das Wasser des Lebens fließen,
dort werden Bäume grüne Blätter tragen
und Völker werden Heilung finden.
Auf dieses Bild der Hoffnung verlassen wir
uns.
Du gibst uns den Mut,
schon jetzt aus dir,
der Quelle des Lebens, Kraft zu schöpfen,
Gott von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit.
(Evangelisches Gottesdienstbuch 1999)
Sr. Gudrun Schuler, Institut Ingenbohl,
CH-6440 Brunnen
GUATEMALA
Deseamos la paz, SHALOM para la Casa del
Pan.
Que este abunde en gran manera y pueda ser
disfrutados en la libertad y alegria que
solo tu paz puede dar, Dios.
Hazte presente en cada momento, en cada vida
y llena de gozo pleno los corazones.
Verónica Pérez
Coordinadora de Programa
Formación Bíblica Teológica
CEDEPCA
INDIA
May the Christ Child, who
was born in a stable in Bethlehem, be born
yet again in this little town. And as the
Child brought forth life to the peoples of
the world, so may the people of Bethlehem
experience life in its fulness yet again.
~ Eyingbeni Humtsoe
Nagaland, India
IRELAND
May God, the
Almighty bring together the hearts and minds of all concerned
so justice will and prevail and peace will follow.
Rita Kelly
Kerry Diocesan
Justice, Peace @ Care of Creation Committee
Ireland
__________
I add my prayers to the
prayers of millions around the world for
Peace in
Palestine. I draw attention to the motion
passed at the General Synod of the
Church of Ireland held in Galway from 13-15
May 2008 viz:
THAT THIS SYNOD EXPRESSES ITS DEEP CONCERN
ABOUT THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN ISRAEL AND
PALESTINE AND CALLS ON THE CHURCH OF IRELAND
AND ALL PEOPLE OF FAITH AND GOODWILL TO ACT
IN THEIR SHARED HOPES FOR JUSTICE, SO THAT
BOTH ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS CAN LIVE IN
PEACE.
AND FURTHERMORE THAT THE CHURCH OF IRELAND
WILL ASSOCIATE DIRECTLY WITH OUR SISTER
CHURCHES IN THE REGION BY PARTICIPATING IN
THE WCC WEEK OF ACTION AND ADVOCACY
INITIATIVE: "IT'S TIME FOR PALESTINE: IT'S
TIME FOR PEACE" (4-10 JUNE 2008) ACCEPTING
THEIR INVITATION TO PRAY WITH THEM THE
JERUSALEM PRAYER ON SUNDAY 8TH JUNE, 2008,
PROMOTING A JUST PEACE.
May peace with justice rain down that the
peoples of Israel and Palestine
may find a just and lasting peace based on
mutual respect and a renunciation
of violence in the resolution of disputes.
+Alan Armagh:
[The Most Reverend Alan Harper, OBE,
Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All
Ireland and Metropolitan]
__________
Dear Friends
I had the privilege of
visiting Israel/Occupied Palestinian
Territories some weeks ago as part of the
pastoral visit paid by the Leaders of the
four main churches in Ireland - Methodist
Church, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and
Anglican.
We spent most of our time
in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, speaking with
Christians, Muslims and Jews.
On behalf of the
Methodist Missionary Society (Ireland) and
the Methodist World Development and Relief
Fund can I assure you of our prayers for
your lands. Can I also assure you of our
action as we plan an educational programme
and campaign actions over the next number of
months within the Methodist Churches
throughout Ireland.
May God bless you in this
special week and may we one day see peace,
security and justice for all people in the
Holy lands.
Yours
Tim Dunwoody
World Mission
and Development Officer
Methodist Missionary Society/World
Development and Relief Fund
Belfast
www.irishmethodist.org/serve/mms
and www.irishmethodist.org/serve/wdrc
___________
Dear Lord,
Be with all of the people of your birthplace
Bethlehem
help them to know that they are not alone in
your world
help them to know that there are many many
others around the world who think and pray
for them daily.
give them the strength to keep their spirits
up knowing that they are our living stones,
our witness in the land of your birth.
I ask this in the name of the child of
Bethlehem.
Amen.
The Revd Elaine Murray
Kilkenny, Ireland
___________
The peoples of Palestine
are always in the prayers of Christians throughout the world and especially at
this time when prayers have been asked for and will be read out in Bethlehem on
June 8, 2008. I write from a beautiful and peaceful part of Ireland - West
Cork, from Kilmocomogue Union of Parishes in the Church of Ireland (Anglican)
diocese of Cork, Cloyne & Ross. To live in such a privileged situation is truly
a blessing from God and I pray fervently that one day all the peoples of
Palestine will know such peace.
With Blessings,
Sandra Dukelow
___________
Dear Friends,
At local time 9am on Sunday 8 June,
national television in Ireland will
broadcast a special live act of worship,
The Peace of Jerusalem - A Pilgrimage of
Hope, which will reflect on the recent
visit by the leaders of the Anglican,
Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian
churches on their pilgrimage together as one
to the root of their faith in Bethlehem, and
the solidarity with local Christians that
they shared in Israel and Palestine.
With Churches of all denominations
across Ireland who will be using the
Jerusalem Prayer in their liturgies
tomorrow, the studio participants in the
broadcast will read aloud the prayer, and
continue the ecumenical journey underway in
Ireland, by remembering all of you in
Bethlehem, Jerusalem and throughout the Holy
Land in your yearning for a just peace. We
hope it will reach a television audience of
over 100,000 people.
Sincere good wishes from all of us,
Susan Hood
and the Ecumenical Steering Group
Irish
Church Leaders Pilgrimage of Hope for Peace
to the Holy Land
Website http://www.library.ireland.anglican.org/
ISRAEL
Pray not for Arab or Jew,
for Palestinian or Israeli,
but pray rather for yourselves
that you may not divide them in your
prayers,
but keep them both together in your hearts.
--Rabbi Stanley A. Ringler, from Rabbis for
Human Rights
__________
Another year
Of noise and pain
Political debates
Personal gain
Of knots of war
That wouldn't be untied
And roads to peace
Perpetually denied
Of terror and hatred
Distrust and fears
In our injured land
Drained with blood and tears
Yet in our desperate darkness
Sounds of child's laughter
Bring a message of hope
That there might be a light after………
Simone Korkus
ITALY
Dear friends in Bethlehem,
Please continue to trust that Jesus will not abandon his followers during their
time of trial. Christians all over the world remain in solidarity with you and
joyfully receive the many satisfactions he gives us.
In joyful thanksgiving,
Joe Annunziata
Pax Christi International
The NOVA Catholic Community
ITALY
_________________
Carissimi fratelli che abitate la terra
Santa,
IL SIGNORE
VI DIA PACE!
La
Fraternità S. Dalmazzo martire di Borgo S.
Dalmazzo (Cuneo) pregherà con voi e per voi
"affinchè giunga per Israele e per la
Palestina il tempo di condividere una giusta
pace", nei seguenti giorni:
- alle ore
17 del 3 giugno, vigilia della
settimana di oggetto, presso la Certosa di
Pesio, in un'ora di preghiera con
Vespri e S. Rosario della pace
-
venerdì 6 giugno nell'ora di adorazione
presso la parrocchia di S. Dalmazzo;
- lunedì 9
giugno presso la parrocchia di Vernante
(Cuneo).
Dio voglia
ascoltare tutte le preci che saliranno al
Cielo in questa settimana di preghgiera!
Pace e Bene!
La Ministra
del Terz'Ordine Francescano Secolare minori
di Borgo S. Dalmazzo:
Maria Grazia Chatel Martini
_________________
Vi siamo vicine con il nostro ricordo e la
nostra preghiera e supplichiamo il Signore
che conceda la pace alla vostra terra tanto
provata e martoriata.Dobbiamo sentire la
terra di Gesù, come anche nostra terra e da
questo deve partire l'impegno e la nostra
responsabilità di darsi da fare perchè si
crei veramente un avvenire di pace.
Uniti nella
preghiera un caro augurio di Pace e Bene a
tutti voi.
Marilena e
Rina Lochmann
_________________
Abbiamo
preso molto a cuore la situazione di disagio
e di sofferenza dei cristiani di Betlemme.
Per questo motivo da più di un anno, abbiamo
iniziato a sostenere a distanza i bambini
della Parrocchia di Santa Caterina in
Betlemme. Vi vogliamo tanto bene e vi
auguriamo Pace e Gioia.
Vi salutiamo
tutti voi e il Parroco Padre Samuel,
con tanto affetto.
Associazione
per un mondo di Pace di Cagliari - Sardegna
- Italia
Maria
Caterina Muggianu - Presidente
_________________
Ciao, mi chiamo Francesca, ho 32 anni e
scrivo da Cagliari!
NON SIETE SOLI! La vostra e' LA TERRA
SANTA! Coraggio e viva fede nelle parole di
Gesu'!!!!
Ho piacere a corrispondere con voi via
lettera se vi fa' piacere.
Fatemi sapere qualche indirizzo e ci
teniamo uniti! Ma prima di tutti sentiamoci
uniti dalla preghiera e dalla speranza
perche' Dio non ci abbandona mai!
La pace sia con tutti voi cari fratelli e
sorelle.
Francesca
Apostola di Maria
__________
Carissimi fratelli, l'OFS di Tropea prega in
comunione con voi tutti:
Padre nostro, Abbà, ti preghiamo dal
profondo del nostro cuore, ascolta il
grido di dolore che ogni giorno si leva dal
suolo della Terra Santa, la terra che tu hai
scelto per darci tuo Figlio Gesù,
Quante mamme piangono perché hanno
perso il loro figlio, quanto dolore ogni
giorno ! Noi siamo qui al sicuro così
lontano, ma sentiamo sinceramente un senso
di angoscia immensa nel condividere il loro
immenso dolore pensando anche a così tanti
adulti, ragazzi, bambini che non hanno mai
conosciuto giorni sereni ma solo
giorni di lotta e di paura -fin dalla loro
nascita.
Padre nostro che tutto vedi e tutto sai e
soprattutto tutto puoi, manda il tuo Spirito
a illuminare le menti di chi può dare un
termine a tutto questo innocente dolore.
Per la tua maggior gloria, tutto si può fare
se c’è la volontà di non pensare solo al
potere, ma al bene di tutti –
indistintamente- tuoi figli
Tu che sei il Dio della Pace fa che questa
terra martoriata diventi veramente la tua
terra di pace, di concordia, di sereno
convivere.
Abbà, ti preghiamo, ascolta la nostra
supplica.
__________
SI INOLTRA NUOVAMENTE CON LA PRESENTE IL
COMUNICATO DELL'ADESIONE DELL'OFS MINORI
ITALIANO, CHE PER UN DISGUIDO ERA RITORNATO
AL MITTENTE
Oggetto. Adesione
dell'Ordine Francescano Secolare Minori
Italiano "Terra Santa: E' Questo il tempo!"
Trasmettiamo il testo della
adesione all'iniziativa per la Settimana
internazionale di azione per la pace in
Terra Santa "E' questo il tempo!", da parte
dell' Ordine Francescano Secolare (OFS)
Minori che ha coinvolto le proprie
Fraternità delle varie parti d'Italia nel
sostegno di attenzione e di preghiera
solidale.
Il Signore doni a tutti la
sua Pace!
Argia Passoni, ministra
nazionale Ofs Minori
Centro Nazionale Ofs Minori
Roma
www.ofsitalia.net
_________________
Auspico l'ingresso di Israele
nell'Ovile di Cristo al più presto. Possa
echeggiare da un estremo all'altro d'Israele
l'inno profetico di Gesù:
"Benedetto Colui che viene nel Nome del
Signore!" Pace su Israele e Palestina!
La pace di Gesù, Figlio di Davide, Figlio di
Maria, Figlio di Dio
Altissimo...
Padre Gary e figli del Divin Volere
_________________
L’Ordine Francescano
Secolare (OFS) Minori Italiano partecipa di
cuore all’iniziativa della Settimana di
azione “E’questo il tempo” e si unisce ai
fratelli della Terra Santa nella corale
preghiera per la pace:
Signore, fa che tutto quello
che accade nel mondo abbia una risonanza nel
nostro cuore e nella nostra mente e che
nessuna sofferenza ci lasci indifferenti.
Mettiamo davanti al tuo
volto misericordioso la difficile situazione
della Palestina dove culture, religioni,
popoli diversi sono costretti a vivere
gomito a gomito e dove intere generazioni
hanno davanti agli occhi solo una spirale di
violenza che appare innarestabile.
Umanamente, Signore,
sembra non si riesca a giungere ad una
soluzione, pur voluta e desiderata da tanti
uomini e da tante famiglie di buona volontà
presenti sia tra gli Ebrei che tra i
Palestinesi e così ogni giorno prevale la
logica dell’odio, della sopraffazione e
della distruzione vicendevole che scava
sempre più barriere e steccati, generando
sofferenza, povertà e disperazione. Signore,
nella fiducia della tua parola che ci
assicura “niente è impossibile a Dio”, ti
preghiamo: mostra ancora oggi il tuo braccio
potente e aiuta i popoli della Terra Santa a
trovare la strada per una convivenza
pacifica, rispettosa di ogni gruppo umano,
attenta ai bisogni di tutti.
Ti chiediamo che su quella
terra dove è vissuto anche il tuo figlio
Gesù possa instaurarsi una cultura di pace,
di incontro, di giustizia.
Signore, vogliamo ricordarti
anche tutti i cristiani e in particolare
tutti i frati francescani che vivono in
Terra Santa. Ti preghiamo di proteggerli e
di provvedere loro il necessario per la loro
vita e per portare avanti le loro
innumerevoli opere per rendere accessibili i
luoghi santi e per aiutare i meno abbienti,
mediante scuole, case, posti di lavoro senza
riguardo alle religioni o ai gruppi di
appartenenza. Appaia ogni giorno di più il
loro ministero di pacificazione e di
possibilità di dialogo tra i diversi popoli.
Dona, Signore, ad ogni cristiano e alla tua
Chiesa di testimoniare te, Gesù Cristo unico
Salvatore, Colui che fa la Pace distruggendo
l’inimicizia.
P. la Fraternità Nazionale
Ofs Minori
Argia Passoni, ministra
Centro Nazionale Ofs Minori
Roma
www.ofsitalia.net
___________
Cari fratelli di
Palestina, non siete soli e non lo sarete mai. Avrete sempre il nostro appoggio,
la nostra vicinanza spirituale e, cosa più importante, sarete sempre sotto l'ala
protettiva di Dio Onnipotente. Mi auguro che le fazioni in lotta raggiungano
presto un accordo e contribuiscano a raggiungere una pace vera e duratura che
tenga conto del bene comune. Beati voi afflitti, perchè sarete consolati; beati
voi miti perché erediterete la terra; beati voi che avete fame e sete di
giustizia perché sarete saziati; beati voi misericordiosi, perché troverete
misericordia; beati voi operatori di pace, perché sarete chiamati figli di Dio.
Voi siete la luce del mondo; non può restare nascosta una città collocata sopra
un monte, nè si accende una lucerna per metterla sotto il moggio, ma sopra il
lucerniere perché faccia luce a tutti quelli che sono nella casa. Così
risplenda la vostra luce davanti agli uomini, perché vedano le vostre opere
buone e rendano gloria al vostro Padre che è nei cieli. (Mt, 5, 1-9; 5, 14-16).
Un affettuoso abbraccio
da Cagliari a tutti voi da Monica Puliga e famiglia.
__________
pace per la terra santa
La Fraternità Minori di Carignano
assieme a tutte le Fraternità Minori del
Piemonte prega per la Pace a Gerusalremme e
in tutta la Terra Santa.
Pace e Bene
Margherita Rotondo
JAMAICA
"For the peace of the whole world,
we beseech that God should hasten His purpose and put into the mind of all and
each to desire that which is good and expedient."
Amen, Kyrie Eleison, Lord, have
mercy on us.
Fr. Wolde Dawit
Risk & Compliance Officer
Kingston 5
JAMAICA
JAPAN
God, free us all from our
stubborn hearts and mindsets so that we can
share the pains of your peoples in the Holy
Land.
May the day come very soon when we see your
justice done for the
uprooted in Palestine.
Michinori Mano
The Central Theological College of the
Anglican Episcopal Church in Japan
__________
Dear sisters and Brothers
in the Holy Land
Even though we are far apart from you in
geographical distance
You are very close in our prayer.
May the wind of the Holy
Spirit blow in us
all to break down
The wall and make us one in the name of our
Christ.
Junko Mary Matsuura,
Tokyo
___________
I pray for peace in
Palestine/Israel every morning,
before I start my work. The many friends
whom I met in
Jerusalem, Ain-Karim, Bethlehem, Beit
Sahour, Ramallah,
Hebron, A’tawani, Gaza, Ramla, Jenin, Haifa,
Nazareth,
Saphoris, Raineh etc・・・create
a deep prayer in my heart.
May the blessing of God be upon the friends.
I will never
forget them.
John Kanzaki, Tokyo
LEBANON
ÕáÇÉ ÇáÓáÇã áÝáÓØíä 4 íæäíæ/ÍÒíÑÇä 2008
íÇ ÑÆíÓ ÇáÓáÇã... ÇáÐí íÚØí ÇáÓáÇã ÇáßÇãá¡
ÇáÐí ÊäÈà Úäå ÃÔÚíÇ ÇáäÈí (ÃÔÚíÇ 6:9) ÞÇÆáÇð
(áÃäå íæáÏ áäÇ æáÏ æäÚØí ÃÈäÇÁ æäßæä ÇáÑÆÇÓÉ
Úáì ßÊÝå æíÏÚì ÇÓãå ÚÌíÈÇ ãäíÑÇ ÅáåÇ ÞÏíÑÇ¡
ÃÈÇ ÃÈÏíÇ ÑÆíÓ ÇáÓáÇã).
§
ÃäÊ ÇáÐí ÊãáÁ ÇáÞáÈ ÈÇáÃÔæÇÞ ááÓáÇã ÇáÐí åæ
ËãÑÉ ÇáÅíãÇä (ÝÅÐ ÞÏ ÊÈÑÑäÇ ÈÇáÅíãÇä áäÇ
ÓáÇã ãÚ Çááå) (Ñæãíå 1:5).
§
ÃäÊ ÇáÐí ÊÚáãäÇ ãä ÎáÇá ÊÚÇáíãß Ãä ÇáÓáÇã
æÇáÝÑÍ íÊáÇÒãÇä ßÞæá ÑÓæáß ÈæáÓ (ãáßæÊ Çááå
ÓáÇã æÝÑÍ ãä ÇáÑæÍ ÇáÞÏÓ) (Ñæãíå 17:14).
§
ÃäÊ ÇáÐí ßäÊ ÊÎÇØÈ ÇáÌãíÚ æÊáÇãíÐß ÎÇÕÉ
ÈÚÈÇÑÉ (ÓáÇã áßã) æãËá ÕÚæÏß ÞáÊ (ÓáÇãí ÃÊÑß
áßã ÓáÇãí ÃäÇ ÃÚØíßã).
§
äÓÃáß íÇ ÑÈ Ãä ÊäÚã áäÇ ÈåÐå ÇáÚØíÉ Ýí Òãä
ÛÇÈ Ýíå ÇáÓáÇã Úä ãÏíäÉ ÇáÓáÇã.
§
ÃäÊ ÇáÐí æÚÏÊ ÈÝã ÇáãÑäã ãä ãÒãæÑ 11:29 ÈÃäß
(ÊÚØí ÔÚÈß ÞæÉ... ÊÈÇÑß ÔÚÈß ÈÇáÓáÇã)..
äÓÃáß åÈäÇ åÐå ÇáÚØíÉ.
§
ÃäÊ ÇáÐí æÚÏÊ ÈÃäß ÊÊßáã ÈÇáÓáÇã áÔÚÈß
æáÞÏíÓíß (ãÒ8:85) äÍä äÓÃáß Ãä ÊÚØíäÇ ÇáÓáÇã
ÇáÍÞíÞí ÇáÐí åæ ËãÑÉ ãä ÇáÑæÍ ÇáÞÏÓ... ÓáÇã
ÇáÞáÈ æÇáäÝÓ æÇáÌÓÏ. ÓáÇã ÊÓÈÛå Úáì
ÇáÚÇáã ÃÌãÚ æÚáì ÔÑÞäÇ ÇáÃæÓØ æÚáì ÝáÓØíä
ÇáÍÈíÈÉ ÇáÊí ßäÊ ÊÌæá¡ ÊÕäÚ ÎíÑÇó ÈåÇ ßÇÑÒÇð
ÈÈÔÇÑÉ ÇáÎáÇÕ æÞÊ ÊÌÓÏß.
§
äÓÃáß Ãä ÊÓÈÛ ÓáÇãß Úáì ÇáÞÏÓ ãÏíäÉ ÇáÓáÇã.
íÇ ãáß ÇáÓáÇã ÃÚØäÇ ÓáÇãß
ÞÑÑ áäÇ ÓáÇãß... ÇãäÍäÇ ÓáÇãß
áäåÊÝ ÃäÊ ÑÆíÓ ÇáÓáÇã ..æãáß
ÇáÓáÇã.
ÌÑÌÓ ÇÈÑÇåíã ÕÇáÍ
Ããíä ÚÇãp; Ããíä ÚÇã
ãÌáÓ ßäÇÆÓ ÇáÔÑÞ ÇáÃæÓØ
Mr. Guirgis Saleh, General Secretary
of MECC
MEXICO
oracion
Dios
Todopoderoso te pedimos que muevas el
corazon las mentes y el espiritu de los
hombres que impiden la paz en Tierra Santa
para que pronto sea la Patria Santa para
toda la humanidad para que todos seamos uno
contigo Dios de paz,Amen.
Lic. Jorge Paredes
THE NETHERLANDS
Dear brothers and sisters in
Bethlehem,
I would like to support you in
praying and acting to find real peace for Palestinians in your country. I have
been working for Dutch media, in de Protestant Church as pastor and retired
WCC-staff member. May God help you to find new ways for peace for all people in
this negative area that should be the place for finding love as Jesus Christ has
learned us. May God bless you. Our church in the Netherlands is trying to
support you, also in our relation with Israel.
Yours truly brother in the
Netherlands,
Conrad Boerma.
_________________
Dear
friends,
This morning – in our morning devotion in
the chapel of the national ministries of the
Protestant Church in the Netherlands and of
ICCO – we read from the Scripture, Isaiah 32
: 16 – 18. “Then judgment shall dwell in the
wilderness, and righteousness remain in the
fruitful field. And the work of
righteousness shall be peace; and the effect
of righteousness quietness and assurance for
ever. And my people shall dwell in a
peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings,
and in quiet resting places”. We realized
the righteousness and peace Isaiah is
writing about is far away for so many
Palestinians.
We collected our wishes and prayers for
peace in Israel and Palestine and share
these with you:
-
Give peace and freedom, joy and life;
for all people, Palestinians and Jews,
black and white, for everybody.
-
Give us the courage to look the other in
the eyes and truly meet him; that’s
peace.
-
Let the fear disappear and let all of us
open up for the other.
-
We pray that the walls of fear for one
another may be broken down and that the
stones may be assembled to build a city
of peace and trust.
-
May there be a road for peace and
justice to meet. That there will be no
more fear in the Holy Land.
-
That the hearts of our brothers and
sisters in Israel and Palestine may be
open.
-
Let the leaders of all parties be open
to each other and cordially looking for
new opportunities for peacemaking. Stop
violence and try to find ways to foster
peace.
-
I pray for those people I know
personally: a family from Bethlehem,
people in two neighbouring villages in
North Israel; that they will be given
strength to keep trusting people also
looking for justice and peace.
-
That we all may contribute to peace,
even when it seems unreachable, like for
so many in Israel and Palestine.
-
May the Lord give us and you the wisdom
and the courage to really get to know
each other across borders and
boundaries.
May God bless you during the coming week of
International Church Action for Peace in
Palestine and Israel and let’s all continue
to pray and work for peace in the Middle
East.
With kind regards,
ICCO & Kerk in Actie
Jan van Doggenaar
Head of Department for Access to Basic
Services
ICCO & Kerk in Actie
P.O. Box 8190
3503 RD Utrecht
The Netherlands
Office address ICCO & Kerk in Actie
Joseph Haydnlaan 2a
3533 AE Utrecht
The Netherlands
__________
I pray now every day but especially on
Sunday for peace between Israel and
Palestine.
I hope our God will be listening, because we
must have all from him.
I live with both countries thinking and
praying for peace.
We were this summer in Bali. There are 90 %
Hindoes, 4 % Christians and 6 % Moslims, and
they live in peace with each other, I was
very surprised but glad that it is possible.
In our country we try to do the same, we
have a lot of refugees, they are my brothers
and sisters in this world.
I wish both countries God’s bless and peace.
Richtje Hofstee
Rotterdam
_________________
Dear brothers and sisters
in Bethlehem!
After being in Bethlehem
for several weeks some years ago I would
like to add my prayers for the Holy Land on
behalf of the congregation next week to
those of many others in the world.
With kindest love for all
of you,
Guus Koelman
_________________
Merciful God, we thank
you for creating us as people that belong to
you and to each other and we will ask you to
help us to make peace as we talk and act.
And we pray show us the way to work on a new
world in our neighbourhood named Holy Land:
let in that way two sides that have been in
conflict for such a long time change and be
one holy site in honour of your Holiness.
Help us to bring your love around and to
start with it just at the place where we are
now and at this very moment!
Amen
___________
I pray ...for a non
violent communication and non violent
solution to the problems....
... for
understanding and compassion
to come to peace and a
possibility for all people to become the
lovely people they are meant to be, living
their own live together with others....
Sumud
Thinking about with you
all...
Trying to support you in
my prayers...
Lovely greetings from
Ellen van Rooij
Stichting
Oecumenische Vrouwengroep Twente Bethlehem
NEW ZEALAND
Dear
Friends,
My
prayers and thoughts are with you on this day as all around the world we pray
for peace and justice for Palestinians.
Peace be with you my brothers and sisters.
Mary
Cavanagh - Christchurch New Zealand
_________________
We thank you God of peace for those
of many faiths who pray and work for
peace in Palestine/Israel. May the day come when those who share this land
may live together in peace, justice and when all are treated with the
respect and courtesy they need to live life well.
We pray for what seems impossible and beyond our reach but we pray with
the confidence born of resurrection and hope that it is your will and purpose
that the people of the earth will live together in harmony and together
serve your creative purposes.
Strengthen our resolve, fill us with your dream of peace and guide those who
make decisions.
In the name and spirit of Christ we pray.
Keith Rowe, New Zealand
_________________
Blessings and love sent.
Meryl Zohrab
Words seem so easy and
yet so difficult to find the right ones as I
sit here secure in my home. I do pray - May
God bless you all and keep you as you
struggle for peace in your land.
Arohanui, Anne
__________
Dear Friends,
Love and prayers to you all on this day.
May peace and justice come to you.
Philippa Horn - Christchurch, New Zealand.
__________
I send my love
and best wishes for a Free Palestine in the
very near
future and give you my promise that I will
work with others towards that
outcome. Many blessings on all Palestinians.
Anne Parsons.
___________
To the people of Palestine:
My family, myself, my husband and our grown sons are so very disturbed
by the suffering that you have had to endure for so many years. It is so
unfair.
I have been asked to send you a message of peace. But it is more
important to call for justice, peace without justice is meaningless.
My prayer is that we, someday, live in a world where everyone cares
about each other.
With love,
Lois and Martin Griffiths
Christchurch
New Zealand
NICARAGUA
HERMANOS Y HERMANAS DE
BELEN:
SALUDOS FRATERNALES DE LA ESCUELA DE
TEOLOGIA DE LA UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE
NICARAGUA (UPOLI). UNA
UNIVERSIDAD DE INSPIRACION CRISTIANA Y DE
SERVICIO PUBLICA FUNDADA POR LA CONVENCION
BAUTISTA DE NICARAGUA EN 1967. ESTAMOS
COMPROMETIDOS CON LA CULTURA DE PAZ.
CON GOZO NOS UNIREMOS EN EL ESPIRITU
MEDIANTE LA ORACION POR LA PAZ EN BELEN, Y
EN GENERAL EN PALESTINA E ISRAEL. EN
NICARAGUA SABEMOS DEL DOLOR DE LA GUERRA Y
SUS CONSECUENCIAS. POR ESA RAZON PODEMOS
ENTENDER MEJOR VUESTRA SITUACION Y DE
CORAZON DESEAMOS QUE LOGREN UNA PAZ CON
JUSTICIA.
NOS GUSTARIA SABER EN CONCRETO DE PARTE DE
USTEDES QUE ACCIONES ECUMENICAS PODRIAMOS
LLEVAR A CABO EN NICARAGUA QUE DEN
SEGUIMIENTO A LA SEMANA DE ORACION DE JUNIO
08.
EN EL AMOR DE CRISTO,
REV. DR. JERJES RUIZ
DECANO DE LA ESCUELA DE TEOLOGIA
UPOLI
__________
You are in my
heart and thoughts every day. Like you I
pray the day will soon come when Israel can
say to all Palestinians, "Here, here is your
family's house by the sea, here are your
lemon trees, the olive grove your father
tended: come home and be whole again."
Christian
World Service Aotearoa New Zealand sends
its thoughts and prayers on this anniversary
of the division of Palestine. We will
gather tomorrow night in Christchurch with
local supporters for our annual council
meeting. Together we will remember the
peoples of Palestine and Israel in our
worship and prayers.
We will
continue to advocate and work for a just
peace from here on the other side of the
world.
Ka kite
Jonathan
Fletcher
National Director
Christian World Service
Christchurch
New Zealand
Christian
World Service works on behalf of New Zealand
Churches overcoming poverty and injustice
around the world
NORWAY
I was in
Betlehem with a youth delegation from the
Church of Norway in April this year. I'm
glad to see that people are coming back to
Betlehem and that the city is coming alive
again. Especially thanks to the priest in
Beit Sahour, Imad Haddad, and the great work
he is doing with the youth there.
Best wishes
and peace from Norway
Gard
Lindseth
POLAND
Dear Sisters and Brothers
in Palestine,
You are in my prayers. I pray that God gives
you strength and wisdom to go through this
terrible period in history of your land and
of your peoples.
Blessings -- Lukasz (Orthodox Church in
Poland)
__________
The people of Palestine are in my heart
and prayers daily.
Let your God look upon you. He knows, he
understands, He loves you with an enormous
love. Let your God love you.
We will never forget you.
Pam Moore
PORTUGAL
Deus todo poderoso criador
do ceu e a terra, Que seu nome séja louvado,
Que o seu poder se manifeste em todo sitio
na face da terra onde precisa a tua
intervenção imediata especialmente ao Povo
do oreinte Médio.
Sou apenas um pecador que reconhece o teu poder que,
Esta minha Oração se associe com as orações
dos Santos.
Humildemente Peço-te
Daniel Simão
Lisboa
___________
God all powerful creator
of heaven and earth, praise your name, your
power is manifest throughout the earth where
they need your immediate intervention -
especially the people of the Middle East. As
just a sinner who recognizes your power,
this is my prayer associated with the
prayers of the Saints. Humbly I ask you
Daniel Simon Lisbon /
Portugal
I pray for a miracle,
in the town of Bethlehem:
where little Jesus was born
another wonder should happen
another miracle now, today...
if the world stops all
wars
and if people love each other
peace will be born there
the peace of our Lord,
who Himself,
was born in Bethlehem.
Yes, I pray for that.
manuela cisneiros
dallmeier
a Portuguese living in Kiel
PUERTO RICO
Oramos
por la Paz en Medio Oriente y el Mundo.
Grupo Shalom,
Puerto Rico
Dr.
Luis G. Collazo
RWANDA
La paix, Seigneur, aides-nous à l'établir en
nous-mêmes,
Non pas comme un armistice ou un compromis,
mais comme une conquête
sur nos faiblesses et nos contradictions.
Réconciliés avec nous-mêmes,
nous irons avec les autres, et nous
lutterons
de toutes nos forces contre les privilèges,
l'oppression, le désordre établi,
car il n'y a pas de paix sans justice.
Il n'y en a pas non plus sans amour,
sans reconnaissance de l'autre,
individu, classe sociale, peuple ou race.
Libérés de toute hargne, incapable
d'injures,
fais de nous, Seigneur,
des hommes de la Réconciliation
Christophe HATEGEKIMANA c/o LIPRODHOR
KIGALI-RWANDA
SPAIN
Dear
Palestinian women and men of good will:
Fraternal
greetings from Valencia, Spain. We are
shocked every day as we hear the news about
your suffering. You are not alone. Many pray
for you and act on your behalf. I pray that
peace with justice will come soon. Blessed
are the peacemakers. I keep praying for
them.
Yours in
Christ
Samuel
Escobar
_________________
Por la paz
Por el amor
Por el perdón.
Que Dios esté entre nosotros ahora y siempre.
Susana Vidal
Técnico de Calidad
Área de Auditoría Calidad y Atención al
Cliente
__________
QUE NUESTRO AMADO PADRE CELESTIAL PROTEJA
CON SU PAZ EL LUGAR QUE ELIGIO PARA EL
NACIMIENTO DE NUESTRO SEÑOR JESUCRISTO, Y
CONDUZCA EL CORAZÒN DE LOS HOMBRES DE LA
REGION HACIA LA COMUNION Y LA ARMONIA.
Hermanos Palestinos e Israel
Como pequeño grupo de pastores hemos estado
orando por
la paz entre los pueblos, en especial por
los pueblos
de Palestina e Isrrael en Medio Oriente.
Como dicen los profetas y más tarde Jesús,
hasta que
los verdaderos adoren al Dios de Paz y de
los Pueblos
en Espíritu y Verdad.
Somos pastores evangelicos, pentecostales y
metodistas
que formamos un pequeño grupo ecuménico de
religión y
sociedad, compartiendo experiencias en lo
pastoral y
social.
Fraternalmente reciban nuestra Oración por
la Paz
aunque sobre la fecha. Un gran abrazo.
Pastor Osvaldo Herreros S
Coordinador R. Sociedad
_________________Senhor, eu vi
esse muro ignominioso que me fez ter
vergonha de ser humanidade! E chorei porque
me doeu muito
ver a
fraternidade retalhada! Não é com muros que
se aproximam irmãos. Não é fazendo aos
outros o que nos fizeram a nós, que saramos
as feridas da desumanidade!.
Ajuda-nos a
derrubar os muros que construímos no
coração, para promover encontros de irmãos.
Ajuda-nos a
alargar o pequeno espaço do nosso coração,
do coração dos povos, para que reconheçamos
quanto lugar o Pai é capaz de ampliar para
que, nele, caibam todos os irmão!
Na aurora do
mundo, Deus deu-nos esta terra, não a
alguns, mas a TODOS, “única pátria de faces
diversas para que, juntos, a habitássemos e,
juntos a transformássemos.
Dá-nos olhos
para VER, coragem para denunciar e AMOR para
repartir!
Amén
M.Madalena
___________
Tomado
del Salmo 85 (84):
"Quiero escuchar lo que dice el Señor,
pues Dios habla de paz
a
su pueblo y a sus servidores,
con tal que en su locura no recaigan.
Cerca está su
salvación de los que lo temen
y habitará su
Gloria en nuestra tierra.
La Gracia y la
Verdad se han encontrado,
la Justicia y la Paz se
han abrazado;
de la tierra
está brotando la verdad,
y del cielo se
asoma la justicia.
El Señor
mismo dará la felicidad,
y dará sus frutos
nuestra tierra.
La rectitud andará
delante de él,
la paz irá
siguiendo sus pisadas".
Que estas palabras
pronto se hagan realidad en Israel y Palestina. Que la justicia para cada uno de
estos pueblos hermanos, hoy enemistados, sea el preludio de la auténtica paz.
Que los gobernantes y quienes tengan responsabilidades en ello se dejen tocar
por el Dios de la Vida, y sean instrumentos de construcción de su Reino, donde
no cabe la violencia ni la exclusión.
Oremos.
Escúchanos, Señor, te
rogamos
SWEDEN
These days we want to show you how much we
care.
You are real friends.
Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed,
They make you a smile
and encourage you to succeed,
They lend an ear, they share a word of
praise,
and they always want to open their heart to
you.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear,
but of power, and of love, and of a sound
mind."
(2 Tim. 1:7)
In Him
Kerstin and Lennart Hellman
Kungälv - Gothenburg, Sweden
SWITZERLAND
Parfois
Parfois il suffit d'une fleur et je découvre
le soleil.
Parfois il suffit d'un rayon de soleil et de
la nuit je n'ai plus peur:
Parfois il suffit d'un arc en ciel et je me
sais relié à Dieu.
Parfois ils suffit d'un arbre et je fais
l'expérience des racines de ma
vie.
Parfois il suffit de quelques cadences
musicales et je suis dans un
autre monde.
Parfois il suffit d'un son de cloche et je
me sens invité au repas
éternel.
Parfois suffit une prière ressenti, venant
de très loin, donnant
l'espoir de la paix.
Nous ne vous oublions pas chers frères et
soeurs chrétiens!
Jda et Hans de la Suisse
__________
Liebe BewohnerInnen von Bethlehem
aus der Schweiz senden wir Ihnen viele liebe
Grüsse. Wir vergessen nicht, dass der Friede
in Eurem Land noch immer ein Wunsch und weit
entfernt von der Wirklichkeit ist, weshalb
wir zu Gott beten, dass doch endlich ein
gerechter und dauerhafter Friede entstehen
möge in gegenseitiger Achtung und Bewahrung
der Menschenwürde.
Gott segne Sie alle!
Hannelore und Emmerich Hafner
__________
Dear people of Bethlehem
and surroundings,
I have been in Bethlehem last year from
September until Christmas through the
Accompanier Program of Jerusalem (EAPPI). I
have not forgotten what I have seen and
witnessed at the CP or in the cut-off
villages or in the villages that are going
to be cut off or divided.
When I came back home in Switzerland, I told
all people I met about my experience. A lot
of people came to my presentations and
listened carefully. Many of them told me,
that they didn't know how bad your situation
is.
I am coming back through the same program. I
will not be placed in Bethlehem again, but I
will come and visit Bethlehem and hopefully
also meet people I know or meet new ones.
I often think of you and when I read the
newspaper here in Switzerland, I know how I
have to read it (between the lines). I know
that I cannot change big things. But I try
to do my best by informing people here about
your situation, hoping to change their
minds.
I wish you love, strength and peace
Susanne Bieri
Switzerland
UGANDA
You are the
cradle of love, life and strife
A trinity in human nature no doubt
But like water, fire and earth
Become brick and building
So must these build nation
For no gold or silver becomes pure
Unless in dirt it is mixed and fixed
And if He had not come and gone
The way He did in our midst
No Love, No Life
Would
It may take too long to realize our
destiny's end
But the beginning and the struggle
Is what peace is all about
Do not despair
What you suffer
I suffered even now
Hop with Hope
Saul will soon be Paul.
Mpolyabigere
RC RICED Center
UNITED KINGDOM
Sisters and brothers in Christ
I write as the Pastor of a Baptist
church in England, to pray for God's blessing on you and to tell you that your
plight is not forgotten. In your adversity, may the light of Christ shine
through, and may the world see in you the way to peace.
God bless you,
Bill Leishman
UK
__________
My church, St
Andrew's United Reformed Church in Sheffield, will be praying for Israel and
Palestine this Sunday using the prayer given to us by Jerusalem church leaders.
Sheffield/England
__________
To all the people of
Bethlehem.
My prayers &
thoughts are with you. I hope & pray that some day very
soon the wall will come down & that you will be able to reclaim your
land, livelihood and freedom.
From Robert & Shaune Shearer.
United Kingdom
__________
We would
like to send our love and prayers for Peace to our brothers and sisters in
Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
From Aglow
International
Wimborne,
England
__________
Peace,
not easy peace,
not the peace of denial or ignorance,
but the peace that is the sister of justice
be upon Bethlehem,
house of bread for the world.
Carla Grosch-Miller
United Kingdom
__________
We
pray for peace,
but not the easy peace
built on complacency
and not the truth of God.
We pray for real peace,
the peace God's love alone can seal.
We pray for peace,
but not the cruel peace,
leaving God's poor bereft
and dying in distress,
we pray for real peace,
enriching all the human race.
We pray for peace,
and not the evil peace,
defending unjust laws
and nursing prejudice,
but for the real peace
of justice, mercy, truth and love.
We
pray for peace:
holy communion
with Christ our risen Lord
and every living thing;
God's will fulfilled on earth
and all his creatures reconciled.
We
pray for peace,
and for the sake of peace,
look to the risen Christ
who gives the grace we need,
to serve the cause of peace
and make our own self-sacrifice.
God,
give us peace:
if you withdraw your love,
there is no peace for us
nor any hope of it.
With you to lead us on,
through death or tumult, peace will come.
UNITED KINGDOM
__________
May the lands of our ancient faiths
reclaim the human gifts of God's salvation. May they, beyond all tears,
find the forgiveness and courage to lift the portcullis of unhealed memories
that excludes the stranger and imprisons neighbours in anger.
(slightly adapted from a prayer
written by Michael Hare Duke, retired Bp of St Andrews)
United Kingdom
__________
Last year I visited
Bethlehem and the Holy Land for the first time -
Christmas became different.
Our thoughts and prayers for all of you accompany this message.
As one song we sing in our choir - the message is:
Let there be peace on earth - and let it begin with me!
with great affection for the people of Bethlehem
Elisabeth Campbell - from the
TERRA SANCTA EDUCATION
TRUST
__________
Dear precious Father
God
You give us the gifts
of life and liberty. Please grant the people of Bethlehem the abundance of life
and the joy of liberty
You blessed the whole
world through this little town of Bethlehem, now Lord, please return that
blessing to them
All your ways are peace
- please bring the depth of that peace to your children of Bethlehem
You have broken down
the wall of separation - now Lord please break down the walls in people's hearts
that have lead to the building of a physical wall of separation in your Holy
Land
Above all Lord, we pray
for a miracle - a healing of the hurts, a building up of the broken, a sign of
hope in place of despair.
Amen
Linda Jack – Bedford,
England
__________
Dear Friends and partners in Christ,
I pray that you will know His peace
and Grace in your lives in spite of the many difficulties you face.
Jesus proclaims 'good news to the poor', so He speaks to you, although
you are rich in spirit. He will comfort you in suffering. He is the God
of justice and He will see justice done. We are with you. Hold fast to
the truth which sets us free. May you be greatly blessed.
David
UNITED KINGDOM
__________
Dear people of
Bethlehem,
I send you my
best wishes and assure you of my prayers for peace for you.
Rev. Andrew
Hollins
The Methodist
Church, Cheshunt & Hoddesdon, United Kingdom
__________
I am not a religious
man and so I will not use religious language. I just hope that sense will
prevail in Israel, and in those countries that have supported Israel.
Palestine has suffered
so much for over 60-years, sadly largely ignored in the West. It is time
for justice, and I will pray to whatever god will listen that it comes soon.
The whole world will
be such better place when Palestine is free.
Derek Wharton
Dorset, England
__________
We have not
forgotten you "Oh Little town" of Bethlehem.
We love you all
The Adams family in
England
To the Palestinians of Bethlehem and beyond,
My name is Paul
Nicholson, I am a Roman Catholic (Latin) priest, and novice-master for the
Jesuit order in Britain and Ireland. I was blessed to be able to visit the Holy
Land, including Bethlehem, earlier this year, and to see the difficult
conditions under which you are living. I want to join my prayers with yours in
the forthcoming International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel,
asking God that the hopes laid out in the "It's Time for Palestine" message will
soon be fulfilled.
With love and
prayers,
Fr Paul Nicholson SJ
--
Paul Nicholson SJ
Director of Novices
Manresa House, 10 Albert Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 0AN
__________
The Ministers, Elders
and Members of the United Reformed Church in Morecambe hold you all in prayer at
this time of great trial. We pray that God will give you the strength and
courage to live out your faith in peace and love for all people. Remember you
are precious in God's sight. God will uphold your in the face of
adversity. Blessing to you all.
United Reformed Church
in
MORECAMBE
UK
__________
Hello, I am in England
and would like you to know my prayers and best wishes are with you.
Mrs S Kruse
ENGLAND
__________
You are not forgotten. Joining with
you in praying for peace & justice.
Greetings to all from Aberdeenshire,
Scotland, UK
__________
Dear God, We join our prayers with
those of the World Council of Churches for peace based out of justice in
Palestine/Israel. We urge our government to act in solidarity to end the siege
of Gaza and liberate Palestinians from oppression and Israelis from militarism.
As President Bush visits the UK we pray that he may realise that the only
solution is for the USA to stop arming Israel and support justice and peace for
Palestine and Israel so that children may grow up in peace and refugees return
to build new homes that will not be bulldozed. We pray that we may act to enable
Israelis and Palestinians to live together within secure boundaries and to
secure international peace. We ask this in the name of the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
UNITED KINGDOM
__________
We are praying for peace in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and
throughout Palestine; and for all Palestinians throughout the world, especially
for those unable for whatever reason to live in their homeland.
Mike Farley,
LPA,
The Church of the Holy Rood, Wool
__________
My
prayers go out to you my brothers and
sisters in Bethlehem and Beit Sahour at this
time especially, and also to the people of
Gaza and the West Bank. The time is now for
the occupation to end, for the Wall to come
down and for the people of this land to have
a just and lasting peace.
Please believe you are not forgotten by many
of us in the U.K.. We are holding a service
of prayer in solidarity with you on
Wednesday evening.
Be
strong - continue to hope a new day will
come.
Every Blessing,
Elisabeth
__________
Just to let you know we are praying for
peace and hope you are all reunited soon.
Chris and Carolyn Richardson, London,
England
__________
Our congregation will join others in special
prayers for peace in Jerusalem.
God bless you in your work and ministry as
our partners.
Don Conrad
Lawrence, KS
__________
Dear people
of Bethlehem, you will never be forgotten
your name is the centre of every Christian
bible and our faith; remember the people of
Berlin Germany whose families were separated
by a wall built by oppressors but finally
torn down by faith and hope . Each week I
light a candle in church for your freedom
and justice, in the hope that the flame will
reach out and warm man’s cold hearts and the
light of God open the eyes of the blind who
inflict injustice and suffering on your
people; may God reward you with His
strength and love;
Geoffrey
Richardson Oxford
__________
Peace be
on the Holy Land- Land of Jews, Christians
and Muslims.
Edward Egan
__________
Hello,
I have been
praying for peace in The Holy Land for many
years. Although I have not managed to visit
yet my wife I have booked a trip for next
year and are already looking forward to our
visit.
I wish to
advise you that I am delighted to
read that a day of prayers world wide is
taking place and I write to assure you that
I will be joining in with many other people.
George Baird
__________
For the
people of Bethlehem we join the song of the
angels in the prayer of peace and goodwill
to all people.
Morag
__________
At this time of tension across the Middle
East, and as Archbishop Desmond
Tutu expresses the distress of Christian
people around the world at the
plight of the Palestinian people, we offer
our prayers for peace with
justice between Palestine and Israel and
send our greetings to you, our
brothers and sisters in Bethlehem.
You are not forgotten.
Tony Dickinson
For the people of
The Parish of St Francis of Assisi,
Terriers, High Wycombe
__________
I
am a seventy year old man living in England
who is on fire for Jesus. So who would like
me to pray for them or make a friendship
link, which would also be
nice. Unfortunately I only speak English.
Respond if there is anything I
can
do.
Yours,
in the Lord,
Brian (Reeves)
__________
This message is an attempt to convey my
support at this time of anniversary.
I live in peaceful Surrey, England and I
make bread. I always use Zaytoun
and always pray as I knead.
May those prayers work through to those in
all societies and faiths that
peace and justice are born again in the land
we still call Holy.
I have been there and I can not stay silent.
I will do what I can to
campaign for Palestine.
With my love,
Penny Rivers
__________
We remember
especially our friends living in Bethlehem,
Beit Sahour together with those who work at
St Joseph's School, and Bethlehem
University. Our duty here is to keep the
message of Bethlehem alive, among those who
have no idea of what is happening. We pray
that your agony will soon end.
Monica &
David Toorawa
__________
Dear Friends in Christ,
During this week we in Christ Church send to
you our thoughts, prayers and good wishes
that you may soon all be sharing together
the joy of a peace. We pray that you will
find the justice and human security you seek
so as to live life to the full.
With best wishes from
Father Paul Lomas and all parishioners
in Christ Church, Heald Green
Cheadle
__________
To all in
Bethlehem working for peace and justice and
all the men, women, boys and girls who live
in Bethlehem and around:
We
send good wishes for your future in the holy
land, sharing two states so that everyone
can truly be at peace in their homes and
neighbourhoods.
I write as
a member and the leader of the Justice and
Peace Group in the small Scottish town of
Cupar (in the UK). We have about 60 members
from all the churches here and some who
aren't in a church. We all pray for
you when we meet and in particular on the
14th of each month when the Christian
Peacemaker Teams are in our prayer calendar.
One of our members belongs to the CPT and
keeps us informed about the situation in
your area.
In
solidarity and with every blessing on you
all.
Fiona Gordon
__________
Dear Brothers and
Sisters,
I pray you may find lasting peace.
I pray it may be more than the absence of
war; that you may have
Christ's powerful peace.
I pray that you may not be forgotten, that
the world will not give up on you.
I pray that you may one day be free to live
in peace and harmony with
all your neighbours: such harmony as to be
an inspiration to the rest
of the world.
God, who is with the broken and hurting,
bless you and keep you.
Amen.
Serena Aylward, Beckenham Baptist Church.
__________
We are all praying for
you here in Dorchester, England. The
churches are
all concerned, and we have an active
Palestine-Israel Group. When I was in
Bethlehem at Christmas 1994 the peace
process looked hopeful. I pray that
it may be revived.
Bill North
__________
From:
The
Reverend Max & Mrs Moira Paterson
St James
Church
Aberdeen
Scotland
We visited your lovely country last in 2006
when the
fighting
was taking place in the north. We love your
country and we saw something of the Peace
Centre in Manger Square. We pray every day
for those who work for peace and for the
many Palestinians and those Israelis who
want to live in peace and share this Holy
Land as was intended from the beginning.
We support the work of the World Council of
Churches in its work for justice and peace
in the Holy Land - we pray for the Peace of
Jerusalem.
You are not forgotten.
In the love of God
Moira & Max Paterson
__________
I would
like to pray for peace in Bethlehem and in
people's hearts. I wish that all will
find peace and comfort, whatever their
religious beliefs and wherever in the world
they happen to live.
Dear God, I ask this in Jesus' name - thank
you and Amen.
__________
Dear friends in Bethlehem
and Palestine,
I will be thinking of you as you meet around
Manger Square - and I
hope I will be with you again later this
year. I first came as an
Ecumenical Accompanier in 2004 and I
returned to the UK with a love
for the people I met. I returned in 2006 to
meet farmers between
Jericho and Jenin, and we now have a network
of volunteers selling
Palestinian olive oil, soap, almonds and
dates. There is hardly a day
when I do not take a small step against
injustice and for a JUST
PEACE. Your suffering hurts me too. May you
be blessed in your
ongoing witness to the gospel of peace and
loving kindness.
Anna
__________
Dear Friends in Bethlehem,
This prayer comes with our love, thoughts
and hopes from,
Tricia and members of South Somerset
Palestine Group
__________
God Bless Bethlehem
Guard her children;
Guide her leaders
And give her peace, for Jesus Christ's sake.
Amen.
__________
I pray that
peace and justice for all be restored to
Jerusalem. May the Palestinian people find
hope for the future. May the world stand up
for the rights of those oppressed for so
long.
Amen
May God bless the people
of Palestine with peace, hope, and an
opportunity for new beginnings for
themselves and their families. May they see
that all things are possible through the
grace of a God of grace, mercy, and justice.
Christine R.
__________
May we be at peace.
May our hearts be open.
May we know the light of our true nature.
May we be healed and a source of healing for
others.
I don't know whose thoughts these are.
They are not my original thoughts, but I
find them useful to center myself. I
pray for peace and healing for us all.
Linda
__________
Our Father in Heaven, who made the universe
and all that is within it, who made
humankind in Your image and gave us dominion
over all the Earth, hear our prayers, we
pray. Grant us wisdom in place of
territorialism, grant us justice in our
relationships with each other, enable us to
feel and demonstrate our belief in the
dignity and integrity of all people who
populate the Earth. Help us to see
each other as you see us, help us to find
that part of You that exists in each of us,
and to connect with that divine nature as we
seek to solve our problems.
Help us O Lord to Love our neighbors as you
have loved each of us. Thank you for
giving us what we need and not what we
deserve, for loving us when we are
unlovable, for believing that we can inhabit
Your Earth in peace and with justice.
Forgive us for straying from your wise
counsel and arrogantly thinking we can do
everything on our own. Forgive us for
thinking that we deserve to have everything
we want and being ungrateful for having all
we need and not trusting that you will give
us life in abundance.
Oh Heavenly Father, wrap your loving arms
around Your people who inhabit the land of
Israel and Palestine. Let the
territorial conflicts cease. Enable
the leadership of each group to build a new
nation in which each group is secure in the
land they both call home and the land which
those of us in other lands call Holy.
Enable the leadership to forge new alliances
and to make decisions that bring prosperity
and peace to all.
In the name of Jesus who taught us to live
in peace by loving You and loving each other
as You love us.
Amen
Tobi Bran
__________
My prayer is for leaders around the world to
open their hearts and minds to acceptance of
differences amongst God’s own people.
I pray that young people will be the agents
of change in the world and that someday soon
we will love and accept people for their
unique perspectives.
God's Peace always and in all ways-
lisa jeffreys
Youth and Family Minister
St. George Lutheran Church
__________
To our
brothers and sisters in Bethlehem from the
Methodist churches of
Llandudno and Conwy in North Wales, UK. It
is a decade since I was
last in Bethlehem as a guest of one of the
Orthodox churches there. I
recall their hospitality even today with
great warmth and on behalf of
our churches we send this prayer for peace.
Gracious God, hold close together in your
love all the peoples of
Bethlehem, of whatever culture or creed. May
the united struggle of all
men and women of good will turn back to you
the hearts of everyone, who
threatens to undermine the search for
justice and peace. So may the day
come and come quickly where hope will
blossom again like a flower and
your will be done on earth as it is in
heaven. We ask this prayer in
the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord of Life.
Amen
Nick Sissons/UK
__________
As someone who visited your land in 2004
with Christian Aid, our thoughts and prayers
are with you at this terrible time. The only
way forward seems to demand almost
impossible grace on your part but we pray
that a way may be found to end the horror of
your occupation.
Every good wish Pat and Brian Evans
(Yorkshire, England)
__________
I would like you to know that I am praying
for peace in your land. Not just peace, but
a just peace, where both Palestinians and
Israelis can respect each other and live in
harmony. I am praying for freedom from fear
for everyone, especially the most vulnerable
– children, old people, disabled people. I
am praying for everyone to be allowed to
worship in their own way and respect the
right of others to do the same. I am praying
for world leaders to listen to each other
and seek for peaceful and just solutions. I
cannot imagine how it must be to live in a
climate of fear and hostility as you do. For
many that is all they have ever known. I
hope you may feel supported by all the
messages sent from all over the world and
trust that God is in control.
Best wishes, Les Brentley
__________
Dear Friends
in Bethlehem, I know that you will be
gathering in Manger
Square to create a 'human clock' on 8th
June. I wish I could be with
you. We have asked our members to be
with you in prayer and thought on
that day.....and to use the Time for
Palestine litany as a focus for
their prayer.
As people of peace we must never allow
ourselves to feel that 'time is
running out'.... even in hard times we have
to take the long view that
justice and peace will come and that every
action we take, every word we
speak, every prayer we share on the way
contributes to creating a
community of peace. We must never
allow those who think they have power
over us to win!
I shall be in Antwerp where I know that we
will have a special prayer
service in solidarity with you all.
As always, with love, hope and peace to you
all
Pat
Pat Gaffney
General Secretary
Pax Christi
London
www.paxchristi.org.uk
__________
I pray that
this week will see renewed efforts to bring
Peace with Justice
for all the people of the Holy Land.
So that for the young people, fighting and
oppression will become a
distant memory.
God Bless you all.
Myra Jones, Bristol
__________
Gracious God,
who sent your Son to be Prince of Peace, we
pray for justice and peace in the land which
is called Holy. We pray for all who work for
justice and peace, especially for the work
of Wi'am and Sabeel. Be with all who suffer
from oppression, from land theft, from
closures, from harassment and from violence.
Bring about the day when people may know
freedom and help us to know that we are the
agents through whom you work. Empower us to
speak and act for justice and peace; do not
let us, the Christians in the West, pass by
our Palestinian sisters and brothers on the
other side, but energise us to speak truth
to power, in places where people do not wish
to hear the truth spoken, because it is
inconvenient or uncomfortable. Hasten the
day when the Wall of Oppression shall fall.
May the day come soon when all can sit
beneath their own vine, and olive and fig
tree, and none shall make them afraid.
All this we pray in the name of your Son,
the prince of Peace. Amen
Denis Beaumont
Chair, Methodist Peace Fellowship
__________
To all in
Bethlehem who read this,
please know that you are not forgotten, that
I am one of many thinking of
you, and I send my love and support.
I will do all I can to carry on telling your
stories and not letting
people forget you.
Love and thoughts
Anita from Dorset, England
___________
Dear friends
Lead me from death to life, from falsehood
to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to
trust.
Lead me from hate to love, from war to
peace.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our
universe.
What can be more simply expressed, and more
relevant today, than the International
Prayer for Peace?
I send this to you, to let you know I will
be thinking of you all in Palestine and
Israel this Sunday, and holding you, your
children, and your leaders, in my prayers. I
will also be praying this prayer for myself,
for if I cannot also be sure that my
own life is based on truth, hope, trust,
love and peace, how I can expect anyone else
to act from that basis either?
With peace and love
Catherine King Ambler
___________
Dear friends
We send you loving greetings from Yealand
Quaker Meeting in the UK for this Sunday
especially, hoping that on this day of
International Prayers for Peace in Palestine
and Israel you will know you are not
forgotten.
We pray for divided people to come together.
May fear, violence and conflict be replaced
with hope, peace and reconciliation.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Catherine King Ambler and Maria Brown
on behalf of Yealand Quaker Meeting
___________
Just to say that you are in our hearts here
in Dorchester, you are not forgotten and we
pray for your peace, your honour and your
joy. God bless you all Joanna
___________
Dear Palestinian Sisters and Brothers
I shall be thinking of you getting together
at Bethlehem's Manger Square on Sunday, 8
June 2008. I have just turned sixty having
spent my entire life as a Palestinian
Diasporan.
My heart and soul are with you in Palestine.
We will be together one day. Of that there
is no more doubt than that of night
following day.
All my love to you.
Dr Faysal H. Mikdadi
Dorchester
___________
Dear God, we pray for the little town of
Bethlehem, where traditionally Jesus came
into our world. As a baby he was helpless
and powerless, as many in Bethlehem must
feel today. Yet he grew in stature and in
spiritual power, and became the greatest
force for peace the world has ever known. We
pray the same for the Bethlehem of today,
that by the courage and the witness of its
people, the world may be challenged and
changed. We pray most of all for a change in
the minds and hearts of those who now
oppress the people of Bethlehem. We pray
they may hear the message of the prophets,
especially Micah, who spoke warmly of
Bethlehem long, long ago, but also reminded
us that what You expect of us is that we act
justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our
God.
Amen
Revd David Haslam, Minister of Herne Hill
and East Dulwich Methodist and United
Reformed Churches, south London.
___________
Dear friends
You are many miles away but very much in my
thoughts. I pray that the voices of the
peacemakers on both sides of the divide will
be heard and that the many people of
Palestine who suffer so much will soon find
justice and peace in their land.
It's time for Palestine and it's surely time
for peace!
With all good wishes for the future.
Teresa
___________
I want to add my wish for peace for
Palestine to all the prayers and wishes
other people send.
From Jenny Burt
___________
Dear Brothers
and Sisters of Bethlehem
Thinking of you all this week. You are a
brave people. Praying for you all.
Love and Peace
FRANK
___________
Good wishes
and prayers for the people of Palestine at
this time. May
they be given peace and justice, after all
these years of oppression.
Alexander Ryrie,
Melrose,
Scotland
___________
Please know that
we are thinking of you. Your courage and
strength in the face of so many difficulties
is unbelievable. I pray that a lasting and
peaceful solution might be found to
the problems in your country.
Yours sincerely
Elaine Ferguson
32 Rushley Drive
Sheffield
___________
Grace Place Catholic Worker Community prays
every day for peace with justice in
Palestine.
I pray for an
end to the Occupation and the suffering of
the Palestinians.
To that end, I pray that information about
the suffering penetrates the Israeli and
American public.
I pray that Americans realize that their
taxes support a cruel Occupation.
I pray for an informed American public to
inform Congressional representatives.
I pray that my church adopts a resolution to
stop aid to Israel that feeds the
Occupation.
I pray that all churches adopt a similar
resolution.
I pray that the word spreads.
I pray for freedom for Palestinians.
Lorrie Hall
It is my fervent prayer that there will be
peace in Bethlehem in our time. I have been
to Bethlehem at a time of peace and quiet
and I pray that it can be this way again and
always. In the name of our Lord, Amen
___________
Dear people of
Bethlehem and beyond,
Here is a prayer for peace and justice. I
will remember you and your Living Clock on
8th June.
Janet
___________
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Bethlehem,
We send you our greetings and pledge of
solidarity with you in your struggle for
justice in your land.
We have been on two visits now with Amos
Trust and with ICAHD and have your cause
very much in our hearts. We speak about
Palestine as often as we can and are about
to organise a mock Israeli roadblock in
Bishops Castle, our nearest town, which we
hope will bring some publicity for the
issue.
We shall be thinking of you as you stage
your own demonstration and we keep you in
our prayers each morning.
With our best wishes,
Yours
sincerely,
John and Hazel Cribb
_________________
On seeing first hand while on a recent visit to the
Holy Land how the people of Bethlehem are
suffering such terrible hardship and
injustices under the present jurisdiction of
Israel, I wish to send my heart felt
thoughts and prayers for PEACE WITH JUSTICE
for the people of Bethlehem, Jerusalem and
all Palestinians under Israel's control.
Jill Read
St John the Baptist Church,
Alresford,
Hampshire
_________________
Stop and
think of your neighbour. Think of the
effect your way of life reflects the duty of
followers of every religion to love your
neighbour as yourself. May Justice become
the crown of Peace in this troubled land.
Ruth Renner
Normanton Lodge Farm, Normanton, Oakham,
Rutland.
http://www.renners.co.uk
_________________
Dear ones,
We, at
CCUMC, have formed a study group on
Israel-Palestine to learn more about the
situation and to work towards peace. We
pray for you daily -- both Israelis and
Palestinians -- and hope that our government
will do what it can to support a just and
equitable peace for all.
Judy Smith
_________________
Dear Father of us all
We know that you keep us always in the
hollow of your hands.
Teach those who govern to live justly, to
treat all with compassion and
to show mercy.
Bring an end to the occupation and Peace to
this land which we call the
Holy Land. Heal all wounds and bind up all
broken hearts.
In the name of the Light and Truth which
Jesus and the Prophets teach
Amen.
(From a Quaker who has just returned from a
visit to Bethlehem.)
_________________
Together with Christians
around the world I am praying for you. I am
conscious of the difficulties and suffering
of the people of Bethlehem and the area
around.
May God give you strength
and courage
Ruth Matthews, Canterbury
_________________
The Palestinian people
are not forgotten. We pray that you may live
in peace and with security for your children
in your own country, without occupation and
harassment by your neighbours.
Lesley Calder
___________
Dear friends, in solidarity
with you:
We pray for understanding
that puts an end to conflict;
mercy that quenches hatred;
forgiveness that overcomes
vengeance
and the gift of courage to
witness to the truth.
We pray for the commitment
to continue to act and work for peace.
Thinking of you at this
time,
Ann Farr, Coventry UK
___________
Assalamu alaikum
& wa barakatuhu
to you all. We are
sending you much love & want you to know that you are in our prayers each day.
We pray for peace and justice for you all, and for forgiveness when we have not
done enough to support you.
We pray for
reconciliation in the Holy Land and we dedicate ourselves to raising the plight
of your people in every way possible. You are not forgotton, many blessings.
Sue Malpass
on behalf of Stubbington
Church of the Immaculate Conception Justice & Peace Group
___________
I believe Bethlehem is
very special to God and that you are particularly precious in His sight. There
is growing outrage around the world at the way you are being treated - I so hope
that it bears fruit and that you will have justice and peace.
Margaret Cranfield
England
___________
Dear friends,
"To be at peace does not
mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work... It means
to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
I wish you that kind of
peace in your hearts but also the peace between nations who suffer so much
because of useless wars.
Pierrette Boissé, CND
___________
I was to
visit Bethlehem in April but unfortunately was not well enough - I hope another
time. Palestine is alive in all our hearts and I think the world is slowly
waking up to what has happened over 60 years. Things happen slowly at first but
your time will come to be a full nation again and live in peace alongside your
neighbours. Please remember you are not forgotten - we sell Palestinian
products in our church and gradually all the small actions that people are
taking will in the end have an effect.
In our love
and prayers at this special time - Sheila Gallagher and family.
___________
To all our brother and
sisters in Bethlehem and the land of Palestine
During this week of
prayer we stand with you and pray for peace and justice. You are not forgotten
- by us or our Lord.
Richard &
Heather McCallum
Yeovil Community Church
___________
I pray for peace and
justice in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. May the Israelis,
who themselves have suffered injustice, oppression and death, be more
compassionate to their Palestinian neighbours and may the international
community speak out against inhumanity to man in the land which is regarded as
holy to many different faiths. In .the name of Jesus the saviour of the world
himself born in Bethlehem, I pray this prayer.
Sheila E Deacon
___________
Dear
Friends,
We
hope and pray that a lasting solution to the situation in Israel and Palestine
can be found before anyone else is hurt.
Ann
and George Gammack
___________
The people of the parish of Saint Bernadette in
Whitefield, Manchester,
England wish to express their solidarity with their Christian sisters and
brothers in Bethlehem. Especially on this day we wish to assure you of our
prayers. We give thanks to the Lord who came to birth in your city for the
constant witness of Christian people there down the centuries. At the
present time, as you face hardship and persecution, may the Lord be very
close to you all. May he touch the hearts of those in governments to bring
reconciliation, peace and justice to this land.
Yours in Jesus Christ.
Fr. Christopher Lough
On behalf of the people of St Bernadette's Parish
___________
Having seen a
presentation of life in Nazareth & other cities in the Holy Land (holy for
Moslems, Jews and Christians alike) - surely the time has come for love not fear
to make this troubled area a place of peace and with my Christian friends and
family, I will pray for this with all my heart.
Valerie
H.
___________
I pray for
peace throughout the world but especially
today in the Holy Land.
I pray that
Palestinians and Israelis may learn to live
together.
May our God
bless you all.
Kris Pears
St Thomas
More RC Church, Coventry.
A Prayer
for peace in Israel and Palestine from the
Christians of Whaley Bridge Uniting
Partnership (Derbyshire)
God of hope
and healing,
You promise a land where love and justice
are one and the same,
a land where people from varieties of
culture, conviction and race are united in
joyfully serving you by embracing each
other’s needs.
All creation yearns for your everlasting
shalom
We pray for
the people of Israel and Palestine, for whom
that promise feels so distant.
Breathe your healing spirit into Bethlehem,
Jerusalem, and the countless other
communities of the Holy Land
for whom bullets, bombs and barriers have
become a way of life.
Reveal to them your way of abundant living.
Teach trust
to the Israelis and Palestinians who both
called this troubled land their home,
so that they may laugh, love and learn
together, making it a place where shalom can
be known.
Use this week of prayerful action by
churches for justice in Israel and Palestine
as an opportunity to move the hearts and
minds of world leaders in every nation, so
that the means to lasting peace may be
found.
We ask this
in the name of Jesus Christ,
who died so that all our relationships might
be healed.
Amen
___________
Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ
be assured
that this Sunday, and all this week, the
Christians belonging to the Church of
Ireland Parish Church of St Malachy in
Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, will be
praying for all Christians in the Holy Land,
and for peace, and for the abounding
blessing of God to pour upon those who
choose to follow in the way of the Cross and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yours
Revd Simon
Richardson
Curate
___________
Remembering the situation people in
the West Bank and Gaza face daily and
praying that wisdom and justice will
prevail.
Margaret in Tayport, Fife, Scotland.
__________
National
Board of Catholic Women
During this
week of prayer we assure you of the prayers
of Catholic women in England. The
International Committee of the National
Board are meeting on June 12 and we shall
remember you then.
Love,
strength and peace to you all at this time.
__________
Lord, you are the Light that the
darkness can never conquer.
Pour your light into the darkness of this
situation so that people can see better ways
of solving their differences.
Pour your light into the confusion of the
chaos caused by misunderstandings between
your children so that people an see new
strategies and possibilities.
Pour your light into each one of us, all
over your created world, for we ourselves,
are part of the darkness.
Amen.
I had the great joy and privilege to
visit the Holy Land in November, 2006.
I felt so close to my Lord at that time.
Please stop the fighting, and listen to the
still small voice of calm.
With love and prayers, Lyn Radcliffe.
UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
Dear Brothers and
Sisters,
I had the opportunity
to visit Bethlehem in January 2007 during a mission trip to the Holy Land
through the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
Our hearts were
broken at the sight of the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people and the
isolation of the people of Bethlehem. We are telling your story, working for
justice and praying for all of you.
Reverend
Linda Loessberg-Zahl
Linda
Loessberg-Zahl
Centennial United
Methodist Church
5401Freeport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95822
lzgang@frontiernet.net
__________
Dear People of
Bethlehem,
I lift up my prayers
for you to the almighty Heavenly Father.
May you be granted
fortitude, strength, comfort, understanding and faith, that the Father is with
you at every moment.
May peace return to
every corner and doorstep of your territory and may His love, compassion, and
grace be the daily element that guides your lives.
In His holy name I
pray.
Blessings and
prayer,
Andrea Durfee
Holdrege, Nebraska
U.S.A.
_________
Circle us, Lord.
Keep protection near
And danger afar.
Circle us, Lord
Keep hope within.
Keep doubt without.
Circle us, Lord.
Keep light near
And darkness afar.
Circle us, Lord.
Keep peace within.
Keep evil out.
Rev. Mark Chaffin
Chaplain
“Enlighten the people
generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil
spirits at the dawn of day."
Thomas Jefferson
_________
Wish all the
Palestinians peace with the Israelis. I pray each day that peace will come
and that you will be safe. I pray that the Israelis will stop building
settlements and roads and most importantly stop the building of the awful wall
of injustice on the Palestinian land.
Donna Burkhart
814-866-2781
4813 Victoria Way
Erie, PA 16509
_________
The Presbyterian church in the USA
is praying for you and for your liberation to end the 41 year Israeli military
occupation
We pray for our USA policy to change
toward the Palestinian people
We pray for Palestinian unity both
in the West Bank, East Jerusalem & Gaza to end the occupation
We pray for peace based on Justice
between both the Israeli Jews & Palestinian Arabs.
Salaam & continue your Sumud
Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel
AMIS-INC
3434 Roswell Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30305-1202
_________
Salaam to You All:
you continue to be in my prayers and I gain inspiration and
solidarity—SUMUD—from your courageous witness for justice and peace. We
continue to struggle in the US within our churches, academia, and peace
organizations to advocate for non-violent and just solutions for the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict but it always seems inadequate to the overwhelming
needs that you are dealing with on the ground. Many of us noted more awareness
of the Nakba this year than in previous years, and there are additional hopeful
signs of increased awareness among university students and many churches. As a
Presbyterian we are working, praying, and hoping our commitment to phased
selective divestment will remain steadfast despite the enormous pressures the
church is under, both from within the denomination and the usual outside
pressure groups. We also witness the utter foolishness of the ongoing
policies of the Bush Administration and how they continue to fail to bring
security, justice and peace, not only to the Israeli public, but also to the
Palestinians, Iraqis, Afghanis, and beyond. May your witness for a just
and durable peace continue for the long journey and know that you have a growing
body of supporters.
Salaam—Rev. Dr. Don
Wagner, Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, North Park University
__________
To the One God
who is both with form and beyond all forms, all space and all time; as a Hindu,
I pray for peace for all those in Bethlehem, Jeruselem, Gaza and throughout the
world. As Hindus we believe that all are part of one family, thus I suffer when
anyone anywhere in the world suffers.
I pray for wisdom
of local leaders and of world leaders to give up the ways of war and violence
and provide for all a safe and secure environment where all can grow and develop
as loving, caring human beings.
I pray that I too
may become more loving, peaceful and kind to all in thought, word and action.
Beth Kulkarni
Houston, Texas, USA
__________
Dear God,
In Florida right now you are pouring your Holy Spirit out on the people who are
coming from all the nations of the world. 14 people so far have been
raised from the dead, people have been healed of cancers, blind people can see,
deaf people can hear. We thank you Father for your mighty creative
miracles, for releasing people from their sickness and making them whole again.
Mighty God, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, we ask you to pour out your Holy
Spirit on the people of Bethlehem today to remind them that you have not
forgotten them. Amen.
FLORIDA/USA
__________
Hello,
I’m a member of Advent Lutheran
Church in Mill Creek, WA, USA, and a graduating student from the School of
Theology and Ministry in Seattle and affiliate with Luther Seminary in St. Paul,
MN. I serve on the Ecumenical Commission for NW Washington ELCA Synod and
on behalf of my family and associates, I send my wishes and prayer for peace.
We hold you in prayerful intention regularly.
While there is much suffering in our
world, divisions of people, war, poverty, and discrimination, there is also the
awesome wonder of the beauty of the earth, justice-making for the neighbor,
people who gather in the name of peace, acts of kindness, and giggling babies.
May you know the joy of hope in the midst of difficulties, encouragement in the
midst of despair, and the spirit of love in the midst of divisions. May the God
of presence, promise, and steadfastness raise you up in any crucifying
experiences you encounter in life and give you courage to be the change you want
to see in the world here and now.
The LORD bless you and keep you. The
LORD’s face shine on you and be gracious to you. The LORD look upon you
with favor and give you peace. Amen
Sincerely,
Jeannine Daggett
Snohomish, WA
__________
Dear Friends,
You are all in my
prayers and have been in my prayers for years. I visited Israel in 1992
and every time I hear news of what is happening I say a prayer of peace for you,
your country and your people. I will continue to pray for peace in Israel
and the world.
In Christ,
Beth Green
Youth Director, FUMC
Decatur, Alabama
1 Timothy 4:12
__________
Prayer is a powerful tool for peace
- something this world needs desperately. We need to pray "without
ceasing" for world peace. In our prayers we need to ask for forgiveness
for what we have done, both personally, as a country and God's world to hurt
God's creations and to help us and guide us to be more loving and understanding
toward others, as well as to protect and care for the world in which we live.
This way we can be on our way to a life that God wants us to have.
Thank you for what you are doing.
Ann Clegg
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
__________
Beloved
Palestinians,
Indeed I
have not forgotten you. Our visit with you
in February was the most compelling trip
I've ever made! No newspaper account
could elicit the emotions that this trip
brought out in all of the 91 United
Methodists visiting you. Righteous anger at
the injustices you suffer, inconceivable
frustration at our inability to change your
circumstances, and finally our utmost
admiration for your 'sumoud' in withstanding
such deplorable conditions - all together
form a bond between us that will remain
forever. You have our greatest respect and
love. We only wish that we were more
effective in lightening your load.
I believe
that each of us has told your story to
anybody and at every opportunity. Our
news media does not portray you properly and
we write letters to newspaper editors to
protest. You know Jimmy Carter has
proclaimed that no politician can succeed in
elective office without the blessing of the
powerful Israeli lobby. Most of us are
simple Christians and do not have great
clout. Nevertheless. we do what we can, and
we will not be silenced until you are
treated with the respect and admiration you
deserve.
YOU ARE OUR
HEROES!
PAULA COPELAND
__________
"It's time to respect
human lives in the land called holy.
"It's time to do away with double standards.
"It's time for peace."
AMEN!!!
Julie
North Dakota
__________
Ruby and I
pray for your safety and for your future in
your homes. We work here to tell
others what we have learned. And we are
doing what we can to seek leaders who will
work for peace. God bless you and keep you.
Ray Nelson,
Beaumont, Texas
__________
Our hearts
and prayers are with you as you struggle for
peace in your city and in your lives.
We visited with some of you this past
February and marvel at your wonderful
spirit. May peace come to all of you
in the Holy Land!
Janet
Garman
Syracuse, NY
__________
To all of my brothers and sisters in
Bethlehem,
The irony of this letter is readily apparent
to me before I even begin writing. You
see, I write to encourage you, but in
reality, it is you who encourage me on a
daily basis. In fact, my faith in God
is significantly deeper as a result of your
example. The strength of your
character has been a tremendous model for me
to follow in my own life. You have
certainly "stood firm in your faith" in the
face of adversity. As written in 1
Corinthians, I am inspired daily by your
ability to "Be on guard. Stand firm in
the faith. Be courageous. Be
strong. And do everything with love"
(1 Cor. 16:13-14, NLT).
I want you to know that I am vividly aware
of the injustices and struggles you face.
Despite the disappointing foreign policy of
my government, there are many of us in
America who are working hard to bring you
peace with justice. In the American
Christian community in particular, there is
an increasing number of movements that are
speaking out against the occupation and
other injustices in Palestine. By
leading, joining, and supporting these
movements, we aim to influence U.S. policy
in the Middle East towards a more fair
stance. In addition, myself and others
on campus raise awareness about your
situation through a group called "Students
for Justice in Palestine." We stand
firmly with you in your struggle, and it is
my greatest desire that these actions bring
you hope for the future.
Lastly, I am happy to announce that I will
be visiting your city this summer. I
am extremely excited to meet many of you and
work beside you in solidarity. Until
then, please know that you are in my heart
and my prayers always.
In Christ's Love,
Adam Sheets
__________
Friends:
We returned to the U.S.
from the West Bank and Bethlehem a month
ago. We
miss being there and send our love, prayers,
and the hope born in a manger.
Dwight Haberman and Debra
Ricci.
__________
"We in the church have
been steady and strong voices for
non-violence. As it says in one of our
Lutheran schools, ‘Violence is the tool of
the incompetent’. I believe it is also the
tool of the desperate and the
hopeless. This is not to excuse any violence
on any side but to face the hard reality
that unless people have something to live
for they have nothing to lose." From a
statement by Bishop Younan - Lutheran of
Jordan and the Holy Land
Palestine
and Palestinians are not forgotten. Peace
and justice transcends all religions and all
traditions.
Ruby
Nelson, Texas
__________
My name is Cynthia
Koutouan and I live in the United States in
Florida. I send you this message to
encourage you that you are not forgotten by
me or millions of other Christian brothers
and sisters around the world that mourn with
you, pray with you and rejoice at the
current and coming blessings to you all. If
it were not for you, we the non-Jewish
children of the Most High could not be
grafted into the family of the Kingdom of
Heaven. Thank you for all the labor,
suffering and sacrifices that you endure so
that I may be a part of you. I am by no
means thankful that you suffer but I am
thankful that because of how great and
strong a nation and people you are, you are
an example to your Christian brothers and
sisters everywhere. We pray for you, in your
daily activities for peace and protection
and that fear will not keep you from your
destiny. If you, the people of Israel are
suffering, we the body of Christ are all
suffering. When you rejoice, we all rejoice
with you. May God continue to bless you and
keep you and may His face shine continuously
upon and be gracious unto you.
With love and prayers
A sister in unity with
you
__________
Ah-hlan,
In July 2000 I lived in Palestine/Israel
with Palestinian
Episcopalians through St. George's College
in Jerusalem. Because of
problems with emails, I lost touch with all
of them but want them to
know that I have not forgotten about them
and would like to be in
touch with them again. Maybe someone who
will read this will help make
a connection for us. I have not forgotten
about the struggles of all
other Palestinians that I met either and I
continue to share the story
with people in the United States so that
they have better understand
the Palestinian reality (realities). As an
educator, I am inspired by
the work of AEI and will share your work
with my Muslim, Christian,
and Jewish friends here. Skukran.
Salam/Shalom/Peace
Masalama,
Lauren
Doctoral student
Los Angeles, California
__________
I pray for the day that
every child is safe in their home and
streets. That their parents have
enough food and money for more than the
basics needs. I also ask that we grow
in or tolerance and respect for all peoples
and of all religions. ....that we
leave judgement to God/Allah.....we love one
another as brothers and
sisters.....celebrating and caring for all
human suffering as if it were our own.
I ask this in Gods name
and his love,
Cathy Forgey
Clarkston, WA
__________
May God be with you at
this time and always. May peace also
be with you.
Sue Grace, Ohio
__________
We pray for you every week; you are not
forgotten.
We are always trying to teach people about
the injustices and inequities Palestinians
must face. We fight to correct
misunderstandings.
I know several Americans who have visited
Palestine and returned with a changed
perspective, more devoted to peace and
justice than before.
We remember all the refugees and those who
still lose their homes every day.
We hope for peace in your land and with your
neighbors.
We are with you; you are not forgotten.
Joel Abrahamson
__________
Dear
Friends in Bethlehem,
We lived
next to a refugee camp in Al-Arroub, between
Bethlehem and Hebron, in 1951 to 1953. We
worked with Doctor and Mrs. Lambie who built
a hospital there for tuberculosis patients.
We returned for a visit in 1985 and since
then have grieved almost daily for the
hardship and sorrow of the people in
Bethlehem. The hardships during the
50's seem not to compare with the hardships
that exist for you today.
We love and
grieve for you and we long for our prayers
for peace to be answered soon.
May the
love of god and the fellowship of other
believers comfort you in these days when
justice and peace seem so elusive.
Ruth and
Philip Rittgers
__________
Dear Friends,
You are never forgotten. I visited
Bethlehem, along with the West Bank, Gaza
and other sites in and around Israel many
years ago. You are a beautiful, spirited
people. I continue to pray for peace and a
safe home for you all.
Peace, Salaam, Shalom,
Rev. D. Kim Fields-Haley
__________
I think
about the wonderful, courageous people often
that we met On the Peace and Justice study
trip in February. My prayers and thoughts
have been constant. Sharing your story
and concern for peace and justice has been a
goal of mine.
My prayer for you is for peace for you, in
your homes, villages and land. May God hold
you tenderly in his hand and guide you as
you continue your struggle non-violently for
Peace. May more people become aware of
your oppression and make a stand for peace
and justice. We give praise to you oh
God. Be with us.
Maude
Caldwell
__________
My prayers surround the
people of Palestine. You are not forgotten.
May God's spirit surround you all and work
in and through you in a powerful way.
May God's spirit organize those around the
world that have great love in their hearts
for you to continue working for peace in
your land. May God open spaces in
relationship and may the world witness
enemies living as friends. May you be
richly blessed with the Faith, Hope, and
Love to continue walking through each day
with strength.
Amen
Michelle Shrader
|Pastor
Jackson, MS
___________
A recent
visit to Jerusalem and Bethlehem and other
parts of Israel/Palestine have placed people
who are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or
non-religious who live in your nation in my
heart. You do have a beautiful and
diverse place to live today, not to mention
rich strains of history which make the
stories especially valuable for our
remembering. May God help all peoples
of the world work for peace and appreciate
what each group has to offer for a better
society, one in which all people will come
to serve the one true God.
Rev.
Suzanne Simpson, USA
___________
We do
wish you peace and know, always, that you
are not forgotten, but are thought of and
prayed for by many, many people.
Evie
Miller
Texas, USA
___________
Having visited Bethlehem
in November, 2007 and having experienced the
warmth and hospitality of the people, I pray
ever more fervently for peace in your land.
May you continue to persevere and be
strengthened by the prayers and love of your
brothers and sisters in Christ around the
world.
Linda Whitley
San Francisco, CA, USA
___________
Brothers and Sisters,
Please know that you have brothers and
sisters in Southern California who remember
your plight and pray for your peace.
You have not been forgotten.
Thanks &
Peace ...
John T. Conrad
Lead Pastor
___________
Last February I was with
a group of Methodists who toured Palestine
and saw first hand the pain and suffering
that was going on in Bethlehem and other
occupied territories. I also saw the
fear in the eyes of the young Israeli
soldiers. I have been sharing stories
and praying for peace for Palestinians and
peace also for the Israeli citizens. I
am currently learning more about
compassionate listening and believe that my
best efforts can be placed in working with
current groups of moderate Palestinians and
Israelis who are working together to promote
peace.
Blessings to all.
Shalom and salaam. Peg Langer
__________
O Great Spirit of the Universe,
Hearts have
been breaking for over 60 years and continue
to break over the division between cousins
in the Middle East.
Please, O God,
help hearts and minds to open more and more
to allow for true peace, two nations fairly
established.
May all who
hate, who live in fear, and who do not seem
to remember their own peoples' horrific
experiences have a change of heart and mind
to do unto others as they would have others
do unto them.
Trusting in
your amazing power for good and love, I pray
this prayer,
Phyllis Taub
Albritton
1003 Highland Circle
Blacksburg VA 24060
__________
Heavenly
Father--God of all mankind, hear our solemn
prayer for
understanding, patience and love between
nations, tribes and individuals. We
come to you because you are the One who can
make this happen. Touch the
hearts of all in Jerusalem and bless them
abundantly… not our will O Lord,
but may yours be done.
M.WUND
USA
__________
Dear God,
Please help all parties to the
Israel-Palestine conflict decide to end 60
years of mutual animosity and warfare, to
forgive each other for past wrongs, and to
work wholeheartedly toward both a two-state
solution of mutually respecting and mutually
peaceable Israel and Palestine and an
internationalized Jerusalem freely open
to Christians, Jews, Muslims and people
of other faiths. Amen
Submitted by Douglas Daetz, Sunnyvale,
California, USA
__________
I think of you
in Palestine and Israel often. Thank
you for sharing your stories and for living.
Some of my friends went on a pilgrimage to
Israel and Palestine last New Year's and
their stories of your lives and
active
expressions of community are very meaningful
to me. Thank you for welcoming my
friends. I know your experience is
much fuller than I can understand or
imagine. I wish I could do more. I
pray for peace where you are and continuing
hope. And I pray to understand better
how I can be a voice for peace and
understand how to support creating peace.
Sincerely,
Teresa Baker
__________
GREENING WARRING
Ah,
how can I be part
of the greening
instead
of the warring
of the world?
*
Ah, how can you be part
of the greening
instead
of the warring
of the world?
*
Ah, how can we be part
of the greening
instead
of the warring
of the world?
*
Kent Ira Groff, USA
Permission granted with author credit
*With a group repeat each stanza three times
together
__________
This is from Churches for Middle East Peace.
Individual paragraphs might be used as
separate prayers.
O God, we come to you with open hands and
open hearts.
We pray for peace and for all those that
suffer violence and injustice in the midst
of war and conflict.
We pay for the innocent, combatants,
peacemakers, and religious and political
leaders.
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the holy
city of God and spiritual home to all the
children of Abraham.
O God of mercy and compassion,
Embrace our Israeli and Palestinian brothers
and sisters.
They have endured profound loss and sorrow.
They are fatigued by fear and anger.
Mend their broken hearts and failing
spirits.
Ignite in them sparks of hope.
Comfort them and guide them onto the road of
peace.
O God of peace and reconciliation,
Lift up the international leaders who search
for peace.
They have talked before without success.
They face a difficult road and many
obstacles.
Arouse in them a passion for righteousness.
Bless them and their work for peace.
O God of all creation,
Your people cry for peace.
May your promise of justice and enduring
love
Breathe renewed Life
Into our commitment to a sustainable peace,
When two states — Israel and Palestine — are
a reality,
Living side-by-side in security, harmony and
peace.
Amen.
All blessings and prayers,
Florence Steichen, csj
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Registrar, Bethlehem University, 1988-1992
__________
As-Salaamo
Aleykum,
Churches for Middle-East Peace forwarded an
announcement seeking prayers for peace from
every tradition. Here is a contribution. -
This was a prayer very often repeated by the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and all
God's Messengers):
"Bismillah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim. Allahumma
anta as-Salaamo, wa minka as-Salaamo, wa
fahayyana rabbana bis-salaamo; wa adkhilna
daraka dar as-Salaamo, al-Jannat. Wa
tabarakta yaa Dhul-Jalal wal Ikram. Amin."
"In the name of God, Infinitely Merciful,
All-Encompassingly Compassionate,
Oh God, Thou art Peace, and from Thee comes
all Peace. Oh Lord, make us to live by means
of Thy Peace! Bring us into the Place of Thy
Peace - which is Thy Paradise. And all
blessings be unto Thee, Oh Most Majestic,
Most Glorious! Amen."
To which I can add very little - except to
say that the Qur'anic term used to refer to
all the Abrahamic religions - "Ahl
al-Kitab", usually translated as "People of
the Book" - would far more accurately be
translated as "Family of the Book".
May God grant us peace.
As-Salaamo Aleykum, wa Rahmatullah, wa
Barakata Hu.
Gods' Peace be with you, and His Mercy, and
His Blessings.
Imam Rashid Patch
Oakland, California, U.S.A
__________
Here is my
prayer for peace to be read at the
public ceremony in Bethlehem on June 8th.
Holy God,
Let your just
and reconciling Spirit pour out, run through
and envelope all those in Israel and the in
Palestinian Territories.
May your Spirit
empower the oppressed, sooth those in pain,
encourage the fearful.
Dear God, help
all of us around the world who care about
the land of the Holy One to work tirelessly
for an enduring peace so that that place can
be a sign of the justice, peace and unity
that you desire for all nations.
Amen.
The Rev. Alison
M. Dingley
Episcopal Priest, Diocese of Hawaii
Serving in The Dalles, Oregon
__________
My husband,
Russell Deloney, and I join with Christians
throughout the world in praying for peace in
the Holy Land. Last November, we had
an opportunity to visit the Holy Land.
It makes the need and desire for peace even
more vivid. May God be with all of our
brothers and sisters in Palestine and
Israel.
God bless you.
Theresa Molgren
__________
May this prayer for Peace in
Palestine and Israel, bring all people of
these two countries hope and the
determination not to give up. Many, many
people in the US are praying for you and
that Peace will come to your region soon. We
stand by you and hope that God will inspire
those who are in control to think of the
humanitarian needs of all and the need for
healing. Amen
David and Yvonne
Turner
__________
Gracious and
merciful God,
We ask for your blessing on our Palestinian
friends who have lived under Israeli
occupation for 40 years on the West Bank,
Gaza, and the Golan Heights. Please
give continued strength, courage, and hope
to our Christian brothers and sisters whose
land has been occupied since the days of the
Roman Empire. We pray that the walls
--- both physical and emotional -- that
continue to be erected can be torn down
through small acts of understanding and
grace between Israelis and Palestinians at
check points, marketplaces, and places of
worship. We ask you to hold up all the
peacemakers, giving them wisdom and
patience, as they pursue the vision of peace
in a land shared by two peoples and three
faiths, living side by side.
Amen
Hudy McConnell
__________
Dear CMEP,
At Plymouth Church we have a peace
candle that we light each week during
each of our worship services. In this
way we remember the words of Bishop
Munib Younan: "The wider church must
not
leave us alone."
One prayer we regularly use follows:
God of justice, bless those who
work for peace through justice.
Strengthen their resolve in the face
of seemingly endless violence and
terror. Guide the leaders of the
peoples of the Middle East to
know your will and to support a
just peace for all your children.
Amen.
Blessings,
John P. Gardner
Plymouth Congregational Church
of Fort Wayne, UCC
www.plymouthfw.org
__________
Gracious God:
Thank you for the rich history and
traditions that we in the West have
treasured and that we have received so
generously from the Middle East. Thank
you for the generations who have lived
peacefully together in that part of
your beautiful earth.
We pray today for your wisdom and your
divine direction to guide our feet into your
ways of peace for Palestine and Israel
today. We ask your special blessings
on Palestinians and Israelis who are working
together to bring peace so that their
children and their children's children might
grown up together in peace. Let us hear
their voices, honor their work, and please
God, protect them from harm.
We pray for those who would do harm
because they have not known or
felt justice. Forgive them Lord, and teach
them your ways of justice and peace.
Amen
From Patricia Forner
Member
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Herndon, Virginia
__________
THIS IS MY
SONG
This is my
song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart
is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy
shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as
mine.
My country's
skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on clover-leaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and
clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
Oh, hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.
Florence Wyand
__________
I pray that Churches around the world be in
solidarity with one another, forming a
global ethic, envisioning structures to put
more order and harmony into our human
family. Let us listen to one another,
pray for one another, love one another, even
those who disagree with us or oppose and
harm us. God is love.
Rev. Benjamin J. Urmston, S.J.
Peace & Justice Programs
Xavier University
3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45207
www.xu.edu/peace/ben.htm
__________
My wife and I pray for our friends in
Bethlehem and the surround areas. We have
been blessed by having opportunities to know
some of you personally and to listen to your
faith-filled stories. We join with you in
prayer seeking a just peace for all
Palestinians. We ask God to direct the
leaders of Israel, Palestine, and other
nations to a God-pleasing solution. Our
prayers also ask God to continue to hold the
Palestinian people in His hand and squeeze
them with an over abundance of his power and
love. May God be with you always.
Bill and Judy Lubben
St. Louis, Missouri
__________
This prayer comes from the East and West
Hebron United Presbyterian Churches, Salem,
NY
God of Justice, Prince of Peace, we lift up
to you the people of Palestine, your
children. Though Abraham is spiritual
father to Christians, Jews, and Muslims,
still we continue to do violence to each
other. Christ's disciples suffer
oppression and injustice as people of faith
often have suffered oppression and
injustice, indeed as Jesus the Christ
suffered oppression and injustice even unto
death on a cross.
Merciful God, if ever there were a time for
peace, it is now. If ever there were a
time of great upheaval and violence, it is
now. We cannot make peace without you,
yet we are called to make peace
with
you. Empower us now to take the steps
needed to bring us closer to true peace.
Show us how to meet violence with strength,
but without hitting back.
We pray, O God, in your own precious and
holy name and in the power of your Holy
Spirit, for in Christ we remain; Amen.
__________
Holy Lord,
Even before Abraham, Your Holy City was
Holy. Your High Priest
Melchizedek first bore witness to Your
resolute identification as the
One God of Righteousness and Peace. Before
any of our faiths (Jews,
Christians, and Moslems) Your Holy
City bore remarkable witness to
You and now binds all humanity to You.
We Your children, have erred and done wrong
to ignore the suffering
and injustices committed against the weak
and powerless in your Holy
Land. Have Mercy Lord!
We have witnessed the instruments of State
used to oppress,
subjugate, demean, and brutalize persons
whose only offense is being
alive in Your Land and of the "wrong faith",
and we have done nothing
to correct this. Lord Have Mercy!
We have seen the homes of innocents
destroyed, while the court of
world opinion weeps, and we have done
nothing. Lord Have Mercy!
On the doorstep of your Holy places we have
seen unspeakable
violence. Lord Have Mercy!
We have seen murder used as a disparaging
instrument of individual
and group actions. Lord Have Mercy!
We have seen murder used as an instrument of
state policy and felt
powerless and done nothing. Have Mercy Lord!
We have felt the reality of The Wall, built
by the state to separate
us, Your children. We know that trust in it,
in weapons, and in
settlements on land owned by others
will be doomed to fail without
the grace of your Righteousness and Peace.
Lord Have Mercy!
We see the state transform your Holy Land
into the land of Revelry
and Empire and the land of Despicable
Deprivation and Despair. Lord
Have Mercy!
Help us to be agents of Your peace and
reconciliation in the world.
Help us to know and do your will as your
agents of compassion. Shower
your grace on us all and help us to have the
will and strength to
follow your guidance. Save us from the
precipice now before us.
Lord, Holy One, hear our prayer.
__________
I am a great admirer of Bishop
Tutu, of South Africa, who has written in
the Boston Globe about Palestine:
God has a dream for all his children. It is
about a day when all people enjoy
fundamental security and live free of fear.
It is about a day when all
people have a hospitable land in which to
establish a future. More than anything
else, God's dream is about a day when all
people are accorded equal dignity because
they are human beings....
God's dream begins when we begin to know
each other differently, as hearers of a
common humanity, not as statistics to be
counted, problems to be solved, enemies to
be vanquished, or animals to be caged.
God's dream begins the moment one adversary
looks another in the eye and sees himself
reflected there.
I pray that while the hope for peace in
Palestine/Israel remains slim, just as in
South Africa during the apartheid years, we
will sustain that hope and work and pray
that it will come to pass. I pray that
God's dream, as Bishop Tutu describes it
will come true
Amen.
Jean Lutterman
__________
I pray for the peace, the
"shalom", that is God's deepest desire for
all
people, and certainly for the peoples whose
history is so deeply rooted
in the land we still call "holy." May
God's spirit empower you in this
journey toward peace.
Joy Ann Szopinski
__________
I'm pastor of Atonement Lutheran Church in
Saugerties, NY. Through the years, we've
created what I call a Shalom wall. People
have made Shalom pieces from wood, leather,
etc., all of them the word Shalom, in
Hebrew, which we have displayed in our
Parish Life Center. Recently the rabbi of a
synagogue in Kingston, a city near us, gave
me another Shalom piece to go on our Shalom
wall. It was done in needlepoint.
We send greetings to our Lutheran brothers
and sisters in Bethlehem, in Jerusalem, and
in Jordan. We send greetings to Bishop Munib
Younan. We pray for Shalom for Israelis and
Palestinians, for Jews and Christians and
Muslims, praying for reconciliation. Our
congregation is celebrating our 149th
anniversary on Sunday, June 8. We will be
praying for you on our anniversary Sunday.
May God bless you and may God bless the
world with Shalom.
The Rev. Edward R. Schreiber
Atonement Lutheran Church
Saugerties, NY
__________
Lord of all the earth and all
those who dwell therein,
I repent of my indifference to and
participation in the constant idolatry
of our North American nation before the
imperialistic power structure of
militarism and petro - capitalism. The lands
of our lords life and death
on earth have been made a killing field due
to the worship of these
worldly idols. We have not followed the
command to love our neighbor as
ourselves and God most of all. My government
has colluded with those who
equate American nationalism and militarism
with Christianity and has lead
the world into a sinful disregard for the
environment and has oppressed the
poor and dispossessed. Let us return to the
spirit of the jubilee and
seek God's righteousness on earth without
condoning the excesses of those
who murder in the name of Islam or oppress
the poor and alienated in the
name of Yaweh or Christ. Grant us the grace
and wisdom to follow your
greatest commandment to love one another
with the sacrificial love of
Christ.
Amen
I am retired pastor in a small town in
northern Minnesota, U.S.A., but the Holy
land people are in my heart and prayers.
David R. LaMaster
__________
O Most Holy One, you are the very source of
all life and of our little lives as well.
You alone bring peace into our hearts. That
peace binds us to all others in a free
spirit of good will. We long for peace and
well-being for all your children, especially
Palestinians and Jews. Keep us in constant
communion with these two peoples and
Yourself as well. We are one in heart and
mind. Help us not to weary in peacemaking.
O Great God / Allah, grant peace to
Jerusalem as a holy place of three faiths
from which emanates the will to give
ourselves to one another for the sake of the
wellbeing of all your children. AMEN.
__________
Wishing
Bethlehem the peace and stability it
deserves. Thanking the
people of Bethlehem for their efforts in, so
far, surviving the
horrible occupation. Our thoughts and
prayers are always with you.
Albert Hazbun
Holy Land Education Committee
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem
El Dorado Hills
__________
To the people of Palestine;
As you participate this week in the
International Church Action for Peace in
Palestine, please know that you are kept in
my prayers every day. A few years ago I
visited the Holy Land and spent a week in
Bethlehem. I saw first hand the way that you
live, how you are treated, and the
wonderful, struggling people that you are. I
learned that what the media in the United
States portrays is not the true picture of
the situation there. I learned about the
injustice and the oppression that you
suffer. I pray that the truth would be known
and shared worldwide. I pray that world
leaders would acknowledge the truth and
stand up for your rights, I pray that the
Lord would shower His mercy and grace on you
so that you may live in peace and freedom. I
pray that you might receive all that you
need and that you may have hope. I pray that
the Palestinian Christian community will
shine as a bright beacon of hope and that
God's love will be known by all
Palestinians.
These are my prayers for you as I look
forward to peace. Know that you are not
forgotten, and that my heart cries for you.
Be strong and courageous, stand for truth,
and put your trust in the Lord of your
salvation.
Blessings,
Suzanne Giguere
__________
Our prayers are with the people of Bethlehem
and throughout the area each day. We have
visited Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour,
Al Khader, Al Khalil, Al Quds and so many
other towns many times, and have so many
wonderful friends there. You inspire us
daily, and we hope to return soon. Even
more, we continue to work and prayer for
justice and for full human rights for all
Palestinians.
With deepest love and fervent prayers,
Larry and Lynn George
Sacramento, California
(United Methodist pastor)
__________
Dear sisters and brothers,
Please know that you are remembered often in
our prayers at St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Denver, Colorado, USA. Our own, Jan Miller,
will be traveling your way very soon. You
are admired for the strength of body, mind
and spirit you continue to show. We pray
for peace for you and all people. We pray
for courage as you struggle to remain
faithful to your calling and your mission,
even through the most difficult of
circumstances.
Each week as we are dismissed from worship
with a blessing, these are the words our
pastor, Kevin Maly speak. I pray them for
you:
Go forth into the world in peace. Hold
fast that which is good. Render to no one
evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted,
support the weak, help the afflicted, honor
all people. And the blessing of almighty
God, Father, Son and abiding Spirit be upon
you and remain with you.
God hold you safely and bless you with peace
and joy.
Love in Christ.
Janice Hoffman
__________
Dear people,
My family and
I hold you in our prayers. May every
blessing be your in these times of gross
injustice. We stand in awe
at your courage and steadfast faith.
Professor
Peter Walshe,
Department of
Political Science, University of Notre Dame,
Indiana.
__________
Dear Brothers
and Sisters of Palestine,
Please know that there are those who walk
alongside your every step,
who hear your every story, and who dream
your dreams for you and for
your children. These steps and stories and
dreams fill our prayers
and guide our efforts here on your behalf.
May God give to you peace
and freedom and to us the wisdom to know how
best to help you.
Anne Glynn Mackoul
Princeton, New Jersey
__________
Holy Creator of us all, called by many names
by your children, direct our hearts, minds,
and souls in the direction of the peace you
would have us experience.
Amen
Dear Friends,
As you meet in Jerusalem, my prayers and the
prayers of my congregation, St. Paul
Lutheran in Denver, Colorado, are with you
as you work toward a just peace in Israel
and Palestine. Two weeks ago I had a table
with information about the ELCA Peace Not
Walls campaign at our Synod Assembly in
Colorado. I also led a lunch discussion and
made a short presentation to the whole
assembly. I will be in Jerusalem and
Bethlehem later this month as part of a
delegation with Sabeel and will bring back
your stories to share with Lutherans and
others in the United States.
I am also encouraging our congregation to
contact our elected officials, urging action
for peace in the Middle East. May God go
with you as you continue your work.
JAN MILLER
Parish Associate
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Denver
www.StPaulDenver.org
__________
Please add my prayer to those
of many people around the world who pray for
peace in Palestine and Israel.
Karolyn Mangeot
Corydon, Indiana, USA
Dear God of all people,
Please hear the prayer of one small
Christian who is far away from the
violence in Israel and Palestine. Please
bring peace to this divided land and
assure the people that many Americans pray,
hope and seek for justice and an
end to the conflict that ruins the lives of
both Jews and Palestinians.
God/Allah, please bless both sides and help
them talk together so that they
may live together in peace on their own
lands. Amen
Gracious
and loving God, we pray for all of our
Friends in Palestine. We pray for the
children and for their schools. May the
children know the peace and joy of learning
and that far away friends love them and care
for them and pray for their safety and
happiness. We pray for all Mothers and all
Fathers. We pray for security and peace so
parents can go about the business of caring
for their children and loving and enjoying
their neighbors. We pray that all people
might learn that A WORLD OF FRIENDS CAN BE A
WORLD OF PEACE.
A prayer
to God with our love from Bernie & Diana
Long, First Baptist Church, Madison
Wisconsin, USA.
_________________
Oh, God of us all, open
our hearts and minds to see you in the faces
and dreams of the men, women, and children
of the Middle East. Their lives are held
hostage by the rigors of wars, intifadas,
and one-up-manships that persons of power
exert over them and the institutions of
their land. You are a God of peace. May we
be instruments of your peace. May peace come
to all your people. AMEN.
Delano M. McIntosh
_________________
May peace
descend upon all who dwell in the land where
Jesus walked among
the people. May God`s spirit descend upon
you bringing justice and peace,
reconciliation and healing.
Sr. Jeanne Bonneau, CND
_________________
Lord God, we come before you on behalf of the
suffering people of Palestine. We pray that
those who oppress them may open their hearts
to end the terrible occupation of their
land. We pray that peace may come
especially to the little town of Bethlehem,
the birthplace of our Lord, the Prince of
Peace. May your mighty arm stretch over
them to give them comfort, so that they may
not despair and lose hope in your mercy. In
spite of all outward appearances, help them
to continue to trust in your everlasting
kindness. May they not forget that you are
with them. We ask this in the name of our
Lord, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
The Rev. Arthur Preisinger
Houston, Texas
_________________
Prayer For Peace in the
Middle East
Creator God who made
all people equal in Your sight, touch the
hearts of all who lament the continuous
conflict in the place so many of us hold as
holiest on earth. We lament the loss of life
from Israeli guns, Islamic/Arabic suicide
bombs, or Hamas rockets. It matters little
to victims and to those oppressed HOW mayhem
is carried out. Victims are just as dead,
lives are just as ruined, hopes are just as
dashed. Please, merciful Lord, show us a
better way. Show us the way of peaceful and
just resolution. Let us never cease to pray
for peace, for restored dignity of all
peoples, for restoration of feelings
of security. We are sorry for our
prejudices. We are sorry we see our
perceived enemy as The Other who is less
worthy of respect or compassion. Help us
to see each other as Jesus saw us - as
flawed but lovable and if lovable worth
saving for a peaceful future.
In Jesus' name, Amen
Leilani McConnell,
Silver Spring
_________________
Dear
Friends,
The staff
of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program hold
the people of Bethlehem in our prayers this
week and at all times. We pray for justice
and peace for Palestinians and Israelis. May
God guide us all in the paths of peace.
God of the ages,
God for all people,
we pray this day for the people of
Bethlehem.
May they know your presence providing
sustenance and support,
courage and faith,
hope and love.
May they know that a cloud of witnesses
surrounds them,
sisters and brothers who care deeply and
seek ways
to provide encouragement
to offer assistance
to work together with them for peace and
justice.
May they know -- and know soon --
the day when justice rolls like water
and righteousness flows like an everlasting
stream
and your peace prevails.
We give thanks for our sisters and brothers
in Bethlehem who
share good news,
make peace,
feed the hungry,
pursue justice,
promote human rights,
seek interfaith understanding,
and live humbly with you.
Stand with them.
Bless their efforts.
Be also with all the children of Abraham,
Hagar, and Sarah.
Provide grace and courage, strength and
comfort,
and all that is needed for living together
in these days.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The
Rev. W. Mark Koenig
Coordinator, Presbyterian Peacemaking
Program
Compassion, Peace and Justice Ministry
General Assembly Council
Louisville
www.pcusa.org/peacemaking
presbyterian.typepad.com/peacemaking
_________________
Salaam, to the people of
Bethlehem and the surrounding villages. You
are daily in my thoughts and prayers as you
live through these long years of the
Occupation. I carry in my heart the images
of The Wall, of the Checkpoints, of the
bullet holes that mark the places of
shootings. I remember the women I have seen
in refugee camps holding the keys to their
homes and land, and weep for their loss and
their waiting in the 60 years of the Nakba.
I remember with sadness the olive trees cut
down and poisoned on your lands.
At the same time, I also
lift before God the grace and warmth and
welcome of the people and
children who touched my heart with their
stories and the sharing of their homes. You
were water
in a parched land. You were oil to gladden
the heart. You shared the shade of an olive
tree
with me and offered a cup of coffee while we
talked. And I am grateful to God for such
friendship.
I pray for the end of the
injustices, the arrests, the humiliations,
the killings, the taxing,
the taking of your land and the pollution of
your streams--all in the name of security.
And I pray that the God of hope, who has
sustained your faith all these years, will
continue
to uphold you. Know that there are many
beyond The Wall who cry out against your
plight and try to work for your freedom and
peace.
In the name of the Holy
One, I pray. Amen.
Reverend Katherine
Cunningham
New Jersey Israel/Palestine Education Group
_________________
Our loving
God, the Holy One of all People of the Book,
we ask your forgiveness for all that we have
done as individuals and as nations to thwart
peace in the country where your Son once
walked. Help us to do all in our power to
actively promote peace and nonviolence
there. Enable the people ,both Palestinians
and Jews, with your help to regain their
ancient lands in such a way that all
concerned will be encouraged to work
together for their common good.
Rev.
Rendell and Florence Davis
___________
Ever since I visited Bethlehem in November of 2005, I
have prayed daily for the ministry of Lutheran churches and for peace for the
area. May God continue to give strength and guides to bring about peace and
healing.
Pastor Sylvia Mueller
California
___________
We pray that
the people of Palestine will know that they are not forgotten. This evening we
shared memories of our pilgrimage to the Holy Land last year through photos
shown to a group of 40 friends. We told of our visit to Bethlehem, and the drop
in numbers of pilgrims. We recalled our visits to BASR and PARC and shared the
stories we were told there. We showed the wall and the Israeli settlements. We
read ‘It’s time for Palestine’ and prayed the prayer from the Jerusalem
churches. We feel closer to you through our experience, and pray that you will
know freedom, and a time when Palestinians and Israelis share a just peace.
Anne
and Peter
___________
Holy God,
All Merciful, All Compassionate, Giver of Life and Author of Peace,
We long for you to teach
us your peace;
Teach us to listen to
your gracious word, and to do it;
Let your spirit of peace
dwell in us, and breathe through our thoughts, words, and actions;
We long to have your
peace in us, and to share it with others;
We long for your peace
here in our world among us.
Please, we pray, be peace
here with us, that we may be peace in our world, for our world, and towards your
world of love and justice to come.
In your great and holy
name we pray
Amen
Thank you for this
opportunity,
Heather
Thiessen
Acting
Director, Women’s Center at LPTS
White Hall
Louisville,
KY
___________
We are members of Ascension Lutheran
Church in South Burlington, Vermont, and we have the honor to have a sister
congregation relationship with the Christmas Church in Bethlehem, Palestine. We
send our prayers and deepest longings for peace to you, our sisters and brothers
in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and all of Palestine.
Your struggle has been long and hard, and you have been amazingly resilient in
the face of the brutal and unjust Israeli occupation and in fighting against the
temptation to return violence with violence.
We hope and pray that God will continue to strengthen you and that you will soon
experience the fruits of your long labors--the joy of a just peace for you and
your children
Sincerely,
Mousa Ishaq and Kristin Peterson-Ishaq
Essex, Vermont
___________
I count
myself among the growing numbers of
people in the U.S. who are becoming
concerned about what is happening to
Palestinians in the Middle East
and beginning to learn about the peace and
human rights movement in Palestine,
Israel, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. For me
I am particularly excited about
the new housing that is planned in
Bethlehem. My prayers are with the people
of the churches and faith communities.
Doug
Wheeler
Denver,
Colorado
___________
I feel so
close to all the people in Palestine because
my husband and I have been on four work
teams there with the Methodist Church. So I
pray always for peace with justice for both
Palestine and Israel. God, may peace
prevail in Palestine. Gwen Johnson
__________
Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Palestine:
Please know that there are people here
in the America and around the World who
are working to get the message to others
about your suffering. I, for one, think
about you and pray about your well being
everyday. There is a large community of
people here who are trying to unite and
bring the message of peace and justice
for all people. We see your suffering,
we are talking about it and trying to
raise the conscience so that change will
come about soon.
We feel that the "tipping point" is
almost here.
Mahraba
Christine from Arizona
VANUATU
THE DELIVERANCE PRAYER
FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST BY
GOD’S APPOINTED
APOSTOLIC MOTHER OF THE PACIFIC REGION AND
VANUATU, PS. WENDY-MYRIAM HIMFORD
SUNDAY 08TH
JUNE, 2008
God the Father, God the
Son and God the Holy Spirit,
We, the Holy Church of
All Nations, at the Holy Mount of Numbatu,
in the middle of capital Port-Vila, called
the “Holy Land of the Holy Spirit” since 30th
April 2006, we are blessed today to be
present at Bethlehem, the birthplace of our
King Jesus Christ, through the mouthpiece of
our brothers and sisters of all nations and
to be able to celebrate Pentecost Day 2008
with our royal family, from the Republic of
Vanuatu, the natural Bethlehem of “Tierra
Australia del Espiritu Santo”, called the
“South Land of the Holy Spirit” in English
or “Terre Australe de l’Esprit Saint” in
French, delivered on Sunday 14th
May 2006 from 400 year-curse of slavery and
colonisation by Ps. Wendy-Myriam Himford,
God’s appointed Apostolic mother of the
Pacific and Vanuatu region.
God the Father, God the
Son and God the Holy Spirit,
On your first Pentecost
Day, you gave the “Torah” to Moses to teach
Israel how to live in order to enter into
the Promised Land as a kingdom of priests.
Because of the failure of Israel nation to
obey to the “Torah”, your word became flesh
through your heavenly son Jesus Christ.
On
Pentecost Day after the resurrection of our
messiah, you sent your Holy Spirit to teach
the disciples of Jesus Christ how to build
the Holy Church of all Nations through race
equality, gender equality, and generation
equality in order to fulfill the “Torah” in
order to enter into the Heavenly Promised
Land of New Jerusalem.
Altogether in unity by
faith and body, we claim the blood of Jesus
Christ to wash all your children of the
Middle East from political to spiritual
leaders to new baby born, we claim the blood
of Jesus Christ to wash all creations of
God, space-time, of the Middle East, in the
name of Jesus Christ, we cast out all demons
of lies, demons of steal, destroy and kill,
demons of corruption, demons of division and
competition, demons of pride and the evil
spirit of Babel Tower and all demons of
principalities, authorities, powers and
princes of darkness out of the Middle East,
out of Palestine and out of Israel. In the
name of Jesus Christ, the Lord rebukes you
Satan, out of the space-time of the Middle
East and burn in Hell for thousands of
years.
In Jesus Christ’s name,
we proclaim Jesus Christ, King of Heaven,
King of the Middle East, King of Palestine,
King of Israel and King of all nations. May
you pour out your Holy Spirit to all
children of Middle East, may you give them
your Spirit of Truth, your Spirit of Love
and your Spirit of Wisdom.
May you forgive Palestine
and Israel for their rebellion. May you
bless them with Peace through their
spiritual and physical reconciliation with
you. May your reign come and your will be
done in Heaven like in the Middle East,
Palestine and Israel. May your Church of all
nations become a beautiful and holy bride
for our King Jesus Christ to take possession
of his political Sovereignty on earth. In
Jesus Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
With all our warmest greetings, blessings
and love from Vanuatu.
OTHERS
(COUNTRY NOT KNOWN)
Dear Lord,
ay the prayers of your oppressed children be heard.
May peace be more than words blown on a chilly wind in an arid land.
May it live and grow,
As a spring that flows from the heart of the people
and carries new possibilities of which we have not yet dreamed--
a future where thy will is done in the holiest place on earth.
Amen
__________
My wish and prayer is that
everyone could follow the golden rule. Father, I ask that you will protect
those who are trying to survive in Palestine. Be with the people working
to make Palestine and Israel a better, safer place to live, work, and grow
together. Touch each heart to make caring for and about other people a
priority in each life. Bless those working for peace in this fragile
society. In Jesus name I pray.
Judy
__________
I would like to pass on this
message, praying for peace in the Middle East, and particularly for peace
between Palestinians and Israelis. My heart goes out to the Palestinian people
and Israeli people. Continuing the tit-for-tat struggle of violence will
achieve nothing, and I pray that there will continue to be efforts made to
overcome the violence and to find a peaceful solution.
Robert Renton
__________
Heavenly Father,
Worlds away your body hears and
reads about what happens in Palestine, the land you chose to send your Son, and
the injustice their seems hopelessly immovable. As we see failed peace talks,
special interest lobbies, and political spin clouding our view of the hurt,
grief, and faith of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, help us to remember
that you are a God who promises deliverance and the end of oppression. Your ways
are higher than our ways, and your thoughts higher than our thoughts, O God, so
as we find ourselves without hope let us return our eyes to you and your hope.
Like David, let us keep our eyes fixed on your even as our feet are ensnared,
knowing that our help comes from the LORD.
I pray, God, that your children
in Palestine would not stop planting olive trees, or creating after school
programs, or building houses for their children. Bless your people with the
courage to seek life overflowing, to the fullest, with your grace, even in the
midst of occupation. Let the mustard seeds they plant become like great
trees of faith, giving rest in their shade.
I pray that you would keep your
hand on the children there ... that they would not grow to hate, even with all
they see, but that they would learn your love and they would bring about
redemption for your people.
All this we pray with faith in
your unimaginable power,
Amen
__________
my prayer is all round peace for
the world generally.
yours
pastor femi
__________
The prayer that comes to my
mind when I think of the beautiful people
of Palestine, who were so gracious when I visited with the United
Methodist Church in February, 2008, is the song, "Let there be peace
on earth..." May God bring peace to the people of this troubled
land; may he unleash them from the shackles of oppression and bring
to them a brighter future.
Dee Poujade
__________
May our eyes remain open even in the face of
tragedy.
May we not become disheartened.
May we find in the dissolution of our apathy and denial,
the cup of the broken heart.
May we discover the gift of the fire burning
in the inner chamber of our being--
burning great and bright enough
to transform any poison.
May we offer the power of our sorrow to the service
of something greater than ourselves.
May our guilt not rise up to form
yet another defensive wall.
May the suffering purify and not paralyze us.
May we endure; may sorrow bond us and not separate us.
May we realize the greatness of our sorrow
and not run from its touch or its flame.
May clarity be our ally and wisdom our support.
May our wrath be cleansing, cutting through
the confusion of denial and greed.
May we not be afraid to see and peak out truth.
May the bleakness of the wasteland be dispelled.
May the soul's journey be revealed
and the true hunger fed.
May we be forgiven for what we have forgotten
and blessed with the remembrance
of who we really are.
The Terma Collective, 'Life Prayers.'
__________
God bless you in Jesus Name
Ben
__________
Eternal God, in whose perfect
kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.
C Sue T
__________
Almighty God our heavenly Father,
guide the nations of the
world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among
them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they
may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
__________
O God, the Father of all, whose
Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth:
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
C Sue T
__________
June the 8th is my youngest
son's birthday. He will be thirteen years old. My wish and prayer is that he
will grow up to see all peoples in the Holy Land living in peace and security
whether they be Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheists or of any other belief.
May God, who sees us in our full existence from birth to grave to resurrection,
be with all of you every day. May you have every good thing in abundance. I pray
that all of you will be happy and free of anxiety.
In God's name, let there be peace, joy and restitution for every one of you.
Amen
Jon Creffield
__________
Allmighty God, loving father,
create in us a new heart, we need you!
Dear Jesus, my crucified Lord,
set us free to love and to forgive!
Holy Spirit, your presence
may empower us to jump over the walls!
__________
May God hear our prayers for
peace and bring you peace now and forever. Amen
__________
We pray for peace,
but not the easy peace
built on complacency
and not the truth of God.
We pray for real peace,
the peace God's love alone can seal.
We pray for peace,
but not the cruel peace,
leaving God's poor bereft
and dying in distress,
we pray for real peace,
enriching all the human race.
We pray for peace,
and not the evil peace,
defending unjust laws
and nursing prejudice,
but for the real peace
of justice, mercy, truth and love.
We pray for peace:
holy communion
with Christ our risen Lord
and every living thing;
God's will fulfilled on earth
and all his creatures reconciled.
We pray for peace,
and for the sake of peace,
look to the risen Christ
who gives the grace we need,
to serve the cause of peace
and make our own self-sacrifice.
God, give us peace:
if you withdraw your love,
there is no peace for us
nor any hope of it.
With you to lead us on,
through death or tumult, peace will come.
__________
When Jesus prayed, "that all may be one", He also revealed to us God's will for
unity among His children. I lift my small voice in prayer for unity among
the Christian Churches around the world and in Bethlehem, for unity among the
Jewish, Christian, and Muslim believers around the world and in Bethlehem, and
for the peace that will flow from unity.
God bless you. I hope to spend a few days in Bethlehem this
October praying for peace and praying for the ugly wall to crumble.
Your brother in Christ,
Frank
__________
Our prayers are with you.
Know you are not alone.
Love,
Divers family
__________
May those who live in
birthplace of Him who had 'no place to lay his head' find comfort in their pain.
__________
May God give you the strength and
courage to face the trials and tribulations that are in front of you. May
he give you peace and love when you fully rely on him, and may he guard you in
the times of turmoil. Know that I, along with others, am praying for peace
and love in our world. May God bless you –
Lynn Prieshoff
__________
I pray for peace in all the world, and
especially in Israel and Palestine. May the God of love and peace hasten
the day when peace will reign in every heart!
Harry Bolen
__________
Let us pray that all
living beings realise that they are brothers and sisters, all nourished from the
same source of life, so as to lead all on the path of reconciliation to peace
and justice
Peace be with us, peace
be within us.
__________
Seigneur Jésus , toi qui a su
rassembler dans ta pauvreté riches et pauvres, puissants et démunis, je demande
instamment la paix en Palestine et en Israël. Ces deux populations ont tant de
richesses humaines à partager sur cette terre . Ne permets pas que
tout cela soit enfoui sous la
poussière des gravats et de la poussière soulevée par les bombes ou les
roquettes, ni enfermé derrière un mur gris entourant la ville où tu es né.
Chaque personne est précieuse à tes yeux. Donne le réconfort à ceux qui
souffrent d'être humiliés par ceux qui devraient être leurs frères, et soutiens
particulièrement la foi des chrétiens de Bethléem qui sont très courageux.
Garantis leur sécurité et leur pain quotidien. Donne aux décideurs et à chacun
et chacune de nous le sens de nos responsabilités dans l'avènement de
cette paix. Resssuscité, ton amour est plus fort que la haine, de nos égoïsmes
et de toutes nos incompréhensions. Donne à tous l'espérance et le courage de
bâtir la paix. Amen.
__________
Seigneur, que ton peuple trouve sa
force en Toi! Et tu lui garantis la
paix!
Agathe
__________
Je prie pour tous les frères de
Palestine : Israëliens et Palestiniens qu'ils voient leur terre pacifiée et
féconde. Qu'ils soient heureux du bonheur de l'autre, c'est le prix du bonheur
personnel. Je souhaite pouvoir aller à votre rencontre l'an prochain.
__________
eñor te pedimos por
la Paz de Los pueblos y en especial por aquella que se construye desde lo
individual, para poder que realmente sea y llegue como una Paz duradera.
Que nuestras
diferencias no Sean motivo de lucha sino de conversaciones constantes para
construir Paz y amor.
__________
MOST HOLY GRAND ARCHITECT
OF THE UNIVERSE,
Please hear me as I ask
YOU to let YOUR PEACE REIGN SUPREME in
Bethlehem. ABBA, I ask this in the
NAME of THE GREATEST SAVIOR--JESUS THE
IMMORTAL CHRIST.
Love,
EL
__________
To all our
brothers and sisters, where–ever you are,
you are not alone, God and Jesus are always
with all of us, remember the story.
One day I
was walking on the beach with Jesus by my
side, we were talking and I was telling him
about my problems, suddenly I notice that I
could only see my footprints in the sand and
I cried out “Where are you”? Have you left
me? No, Jesus answered, never would I leave
you, but you can’t see my footprints because
I am carrying you and your problems.”
So there
you have it in a nutshell, never believe you
are alone, you are not.
Toomi
Elsie.
__________
I've been sent an email
by Pax Christi which mentions that I can
send a message to remind the people of
Bethlehem that they are not forgotten.
With the work of such
organisations we can feel part of a world
which strives not to forget anybody. Our
world is not perfect because we do not
choose to make it perfect and we cannot
control the choices of others, or even whom
we would like to lead us.
But we can pray together
for a better world, and by praying together
we have already taken the first step towards
it.
God loves this world and
he loves every one of us. Nobody's
worries or cares or difficulties are too
petty, and no-one's joy or smiles are
unshared. He is with us all and loves
us all so much that he calls us to him every
second of every day, no matter who we are or
what good or bad things we have ever done.
So nobody is forgotten.
Katherine Jones
__________
Our Gracious, Forgiving,
and Loving Lord,
You have blessed your
creation and your creatures in an
overwhelming way. While we often live our
lives at a pace that does not allow us to
recognize your continual presence, we
acknowledge it and offer our praise and
thanks.
On two occasions this
past year you have enabled me to go from the
comforts of my home, my family, and my
country to both build Habitat Homes and
visit in the countries of the Middle East.
In being there, I have learned that you
also are very present in the lives of the
gracious people of Jordan, Palestine, Israel
and Egypt. Not surprising, however, is the
evidence of an ever-present power of evil
making itself known in selfishness, control,
and oppression.
Our earnest prayer is
that you would flex the muscle of your
Divine Power and bring about the will to
make peace among the leaders and
the peoples of our Middle East countries.
We live in a global community and cannot
but feel the pain of our hurting brothers
and sisters. That's not unlike your son,
Jesus Christ, speaking about the Body of
Christ - individual members of the body
cannot exist apart from the others.
May your justice and
peace begin to spread like an
infectious epidemic among all peoples.
Trusting in your mercy, and knowing that
you hear all prayers, we offer our deep
gratitude.
This we ask in the
powerful Name of Jesus Christ,
Amen
Paul Gibertson
__________
Our Father in Heaven,
You challenge us to pray
"God-sized prayers", for your Kingdom to
reign on earth as in Heaven. I pray
Lord that your will and your love would
dominate the leaders, institutions, and
governments of those in Israel and
Palestine, and that your glory would be seen
over the earth. But I also pray God
that your magnitude would be felt in small
ways, that individuals would know your peace
in their hearts and minds, that you would
"stoop down to make us great".
I pray what you prayed
Jesus for us the night before you suffered
and died: that we would have unity in you.
I pray that the pain, fear, and anger found
in our various Christian communities,
especially against each other, would submit
to your Shepherding, care, power, and love.
I pray that our strength
in our Churches would give us strength to
testify to your love and resurrection
outside of our Christian circles. Give
us the hope and the faith to know that you
have changed our world irreversibly with
your death and resurrection.
We love you God.
You are so faithful to us.
In your name we pray Jesus,
Amen
__________
Heavenly
Father,
We
earnestly pray for all the people living and
working in the land of the Holy One. We long
for peace and understanding so that all the
people can feel free and secure. May we all
strive to build bridges of reconciliation
and love, instead of walls of
separation, which only creates fear and
insecurity in the hearts and minds of
everyone. We pray that those in authority
will use their positions wisely, fairly, and
touch their hearts to understand the
suffering and destruction selfish decisions
create. This we ask in your name. .Amen
__________
This
message brings you the assurance of our
thoughts and prayers especially at this
time. Many people are with you in your
struggle and we do what we can to bring the
situation of the Palestinian people before
our leaders. We admire your courage and
faith.
Wishing you every blessing
Lornq
__________
