28.4.22
Last weekend the Holy Saturday Service was celebrated across the Holy Land. Thousands of Palestinian Christians and pilgrims celebrated the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Resurrection – Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, even though the Israeli authorities had imposed new restrictions on attendance. The authorities sought to limit participation to 1,000 worshippers, over a 90% decrease from previous years. Palestinian Christians and Church leaders criticized this move as an infringement of the right to freedom of worship. The local community tried to fight their way across the barriers yet they were stopped by the Israeli forces.
- Lord Jesus, you suffered for us and have risen from the tomb. Alleluia! May Christian worshippers continue to celebrate your resurrection in the Holy Land in the years to come.
Lord, in your mercy..
In the past week more than two hundred people, mostly Palestinians, have been hurt in clashes in and around the Al-Aqsa compound. Many Palestinians have been outraged by the massive Israeli police deployment at the compound. They are also angered by the repeated visits to the site by Jewish worshippers, who are permitted to enter, but may not pray there.
- Merciful Father, we pray for an end to the use of force by the Israeli police in and around the Al-Aqsa compound and for the resulting injuries to staff and worshippers at the mosque. We pray for a calming in the spike of violence and that the Israeli authorities would act to maintain peace, rather than to provoke violence.
Lord, in your mercy…
On Saturday, the 23rd of April the Israeli authorities announced the closure of the Erez Crossing, after rockets were fired by a splinter group from Gaza into Israel. The closure comes just before the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, which will make it even harder for families in the enclave to survive. Israel carried out air raids in different areas of Gaza twice last week, in response to rocket attacks from Gaza.
- Lord, we pray for a de-escalation in the tensions in Jerusalem, Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. We pray for an end to the Israeli occupation and for an end to the isolation and impoverishment of the enclave of Gaza.
Lord, in your mercy…
Thousands of Israeli settlers marched to the evacuated settlement outpost of Homesh, near Nablus on Tuesday, the 19th of April. They passed through several Palestinian villages before marching from a location near Homesh, which was built on land belonging to the Palestinian village of Burqa. Forty Palestinian protestors from Burqa were injured in clashes with Israeli forces sent to protect the settlers. The march took place despite the Israeli Supreme Court ruling stating that the settlement of Homesh is illegal, as the land belongs to private owners from Burqa.
- Lord, we pray for an end to the provocative settler marches to the evacuated outpost of Homesh. We also pray for an end to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, as these settlements are illegal under international law.
Lord, in your mercy…
Last week the small Samaritan community of around eight hundred gathered at Mount Gerizim, overlooking the West Bank city of Nablus to celebrate Passover. The Samaritans trace their lineage back to the ancient Israelites who established themselves in the northern kingdom of biblical Samaria.
- Lord Jesus, we remember how graciously you spoke to the Samaritan woman and offered her living water at Jacob’s Well, despite the enmity between Samaritans and Jews in those days. Help us, Lord, to reach out to others of different faith backgrounds with your love and grace.
Lord, in your mercy..
Last week members of the Jewish faith were commemorating Passover. Jewish families gathered for Seder meals to remember the Israelites’ release from slavery in ancient Egypt, eating lamb, unleavened bread and bitter herbs and drinking wine.
- Lord, we pray that Jews in Israel will be able to celebrate their religious festivals peaceably and that they may also respect the different faiths and holy sites of those who share their land.
Lord, in your mercy…
- We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Lord, in your mercy…