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 !
