Give us a sign on the World Week for Prayer in Israel and Palestine

From September 13-20, the World Council of Churches will hold their annual World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, which includes the International Day of Prayer for Peace on 21 September. The theme for 2020 is: Creative Solidarity in Common Fragility.

If you are clergy, or have some involvement in a church group, you can use the resources from the above links in your worship services and in educational and advocacy events during this week.

Churches, schools, organisations, congregations, and people of faith are encouraged to bear a common witness by participating in worship services, educational events, and acts of support in favour of peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians. The Christian churches in Jerusalem have issued a Cry for Hope as they struggle to overcome the despair of their people.

Resources can be downloaded by clicking here.

Along with the suggestions outlined in the World Council of Churches resource, the Palestine and Israel Ecumenical Network have come up with proposals for creative solidarity, linking with the Cry for Hope call that was issued by Kairos Palestine and the Global Kairos for Justice on the 1st July, 2020.

Cry for Hope not only asks us to sign the call but implores people to actively engage in their seven key asks. You can find out more about the Cry for Hope here.

The Hunter Ecumenical Social Justice Network is launching the Give Us a Sign Campaign for a two week period covering 13 to 21 September, to focus on the current situation facing the Palestine people. The Hunter Ecumenical Social Justice Network hope churches of the Hunter and Central Coast may join us in the Week of Action and use their noticeboards to convey a message.

You can use the church noticeboard with messages such as these, drawn from the Cry for Hope statement:

We cry for hope for the Holy Land: Justice for All

We cry for hope for the Holy Land: Peace with Justice for All

We cry for hope for the Holy Land. Injustice against people is incompatible with Christian belief.

We cry for hope for the Holy Land. We reject the oppression of the Palestinian people.

We cry for hope for Palestine. We believe in a God of love, mercy and justice.

We cry for hope for the Holy Land. We join Palestinians in their creative, nonviolent resistance.

We cry for hope for the Holy Land. We embrace Christ’s vision for love, mercy, compassion and abundant life for all Israelis and Palestinians.

 

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Teresa Brierley Image
Teresa Brierley

Teresa Brierley is Director Pastoral Ministries of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.