02.10.2024

A Prayer for Peace Amid Escalating War

Last night, after we had prayed in our Diocesan Synod for peace in the Middle East, our friends in Jerusalem were watching missiles traversing the night skies as the conflict in the region escalated further; the lives of more and more innocent people are at risk.

Our partners in the Diocese of Jerusalem have called for prayer for de–escalation and negotiations leading to an end to hostilities and a just and lasting peace in the region. So today we continue to pray for peace and call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to this war.

We pray for the people of the Diocese of Jerusalem and all whom they serve, regardless of their faith or ethnicity, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. We pray for the safety of all people in the region. We pray for an immediate ceasefire and that all with influence in the international community will use that influence carefully to de–escalate this conflict. We pray for the peacemakers and the peacekeepers, including almost 400 Irish troops on peacekeeping duties in Lebanon. And we pray for all of those who work so hard to alleviate the human suffering as a result of this war, in particular the intrepid and courageous staff of Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza city and its temporary field operations who continue to treat the sick and wounded in horrific circumstances.

At this time we ask that all people of Dublin and Glendalough stand in solidarity with our partners in the Diocese of Jerusalem and hold their fears in our hearts.

 

Almighty and All–loving God we stand in silence before you in days of darkness and in nights of fear.

We pray to you for peace where there is warfare, for life where there is death and for hope where there is despair.

We pray for all those for whom insecurity is now a norm in daily living. We pray that hostilities be brought to an immediate end by those given the power and authority to ensure that justice and peace embrace all who are at enmity in The Middle East.

Our sisters and brothers in The Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East are bound with us in the communion and fellowship of God the Trinity and we pray that they be upheld and strengthened in their terror and distress.

This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen  

+Michael Jackson

Dublin and Glendalough

 

 

 

The United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough has had a formal friendship link with the Episcopal Dioscese of Jerusalem since 2016 and has raised funds for Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza since 2014. 

Background image Bernard Hermant on Unsplash.