Opening Worship
Leader:
It's time for Palestine.
It's time for Palestinians and Israelis to share a just peace.
It's time to respect human lives in the land called holy.
It's time for healing to begin in wounded souls.
It's time to end more than 60 years of conflict,
oppression and fear.
It's time for freedom from occupation.
All who are able to speak truth to power must speak it.
All who would break the silence surrounding injustice must break it.
All who have something to give for peace must give it.
For Palestine, for Israel and for a troubled world,
It's time for peace.
From Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum
Silence
Reading: Psalm 122:6-9
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.
It's time for Palestinians and Israelis to share a just peace.
It's time to respect human lives in the land called holy.
It's time for healing to begin in wounded souls.
It's time to end more than 60 years of conflict,
oppression and fear.
It's time for freedom from occupation.
All who are able to speak truth to power must speak it.
All who would break the silence surrounding injustice must break it.
All who have something to give for peace must give it.
For Palestine, for Israel and for a troubled world,
It's time for peace.
From Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum
Silence
Reading: Psalm 122:6-9
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.
Silence
Reading: Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.
Prayers
Leader: God full of compassion, who heals the broken- hearted and binds up their wounds, we ask you to show all your children the way of love and compassion, so that hatred ceases to scar their lives. Jesus Lord of love,
Response: In your mercy hear us
Leader: Source of Life, we call upon you to send your abundant blessings into every home, Israeli and Palestinian, so that new hope may overcome old fears. Jesus Lord of life,
Response: In your mercy hear us
Leader: Righteous One, who exhorts us to pursue Justice, we fervently pray that a spirit of righteousness may prevail, so that both peoples find the courage to reach a just settlement of their differences. Jesus Lord of righteousness
Response: In your mercy hear us
Leader: Maker of Peace, who teaches us to be seekers of peace, we entreat you now to spread your tabernacle of shalom over all the inhabitants of your land, and to support the peacemakers among both peoples in their efforts to walk the path of reconciliation, so that a just peace may reign supreme at last speedily in our own day. Jesus Lord of peace
Response: In your mercy hear us
Adapted from Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue prayers for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Leader: Let us listen to the Lord's Prayer Aramaic (the language Jesus spoke) and then join together to say the Lord's Prayer in English
Reader 1: May God bless you with discomfort …
at easy answers, hard hearts,
half-truths, and superficial relationships.
May God bless you so that you may live
from deep within your heart
where God’s Spirit dwells.
Reader 2: May God bless you with anger …
at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people.
May God bless you so that you may
work for justice,
freedom and peace.
Reader 3: May God bless you with tears …
to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation and war.
May God bless you so that you
comfort them and turn
their pain into joy.
Reader 1: And may God bless you with
enough foolishness to believe
that you can make a difference
in this world and in your neighbourhood,
so that you will courageously try
what you don’t think you can do,
but, in Jesus Christ you’ll have
the strength necessary to do.
Reader 2: May God bless you to fearlessly
speak out against injustice,
unjust laws, corrupt politicians,
unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,
senseless wars, genocides, starvation,
and poverty that is so pervasive.
Reader 3 May God bless you that you remember
we are all called
to continue God’s redemptive work
of love and healing
in God’s place, in and through God’s name,
in God’s Spirit, continually creating
and breathing new life and grace
into everything and everyone we touch.
Franciscan Blessing for Justice and Peace
Leader: Let us share the Peace
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