Bishop leads prayers for an end to violence in Gaza

 

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds has led the first of a series of special services of prayer for an end to violence in Gaza, held each day at Leeds Parish Church. The Rt. Revd John Packer led clergy and lay people at the city's civic church in prayers for peace on Monday 19 January and he said the service represented a clear call for an end to violence.

“Demonstrating our concern for the need for a cessation of the killing in the Holy Land is the primary reason we held this service. It came out of an awareness of the number of innocent people who have died in the conflict.”

 

Bishop Packer, who visited Israel just two months ago, in November 2008, used a Litany of prayers from St George’s Anglican Cathedral in  Jerusalem (see below) where he preached during his visit. “We want to demonstrate our unity with the Diocese of Jerusalem and Bishop Suheil, the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem."

The Diocese of Jerusalem has one of eleven hospitals in Gaza, the Al Ahli Arab (Anglican) Hospital. The  Bishop of Jerusalem, the Rt. Revd Suheil S. Dawani, has called for churches around the world to pray.

 

Litany of Prayer for Peace during violence in Gaza

Adapted from prayers of the Cathedral of St. George the Martyr, Jerusalem

 

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world                   

Have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world                   

Have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world                   

Grant us your peace.

 

Lord, have mercy

Christ, have mercy

Lord, have mercy

 

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the birth in the town of Bethlehem of the Word made flesh, your Son, Jesus Christ, who dwelt among us full of grace and truth.

Lord in your mercy,          hear our prayer.

 

We thank you for his life, his death in the city of Jerusalem as he carried our sins and suffering, and his glorious Resurrection in which he gave us new life with him.

Lord in your mercy,          hear our prayer.

 

We thank you for entrusting to us the ministry of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace-making for the healing of your creation.

Lord, in your mercy,         hear our prayer.

 

We pray for all victims of bloodshed, violence and persecution and those who are in danger in the Holy Land – in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank, and throughout the world.

Lord in your mercy,          hear our prayer.

 

We pray for all who grieve for loved ones who have died in the desperation of violent actions in the present conflict.

Lord in your mercy,          hear our prayer.

We pray for all who promote violence, that their hearts may be turned to the way of peace.

Lord in your mercy,          hear our prayer.

We pray for children and young people whose lives are blighted and ravaged in this time of great turmoil, that you may fill them with hope for the future.

Lord in your mercy,          hear our prayer.

We pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for us, for the leaders of Israel, Palestine and throughout the Middle East; upon those who exercise leadership in military and defence establishments, for all members of the United Nations, for all those in authority in the nations of the world, to seek peace and pursue it.

Lord in your mercy,          hear our prayer.

 

Heavenly father, we praise and glorify you.  You are our only refuge in a troubled world.

Lord in your mercy,          hear our prayer.

The Lord be with you.     

And also with you.

 

Let us pray.

Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and peace: give to us and the people of all the nations a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that all of your people may use their liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen