19 September 2013
Churches call for peace, prayer and advocacy in the week ahead
UK Churches will promote peace and justice next week, beginning
with
Peacemaking Sunday on 22 September and continuing with an
observance of the
World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel from 22-28
September.
The Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain and
United Reformed Church have worked together to produce
resources and materials for this year's Peacemaking Sunday on
the theme: 'The things that make for peace' (Luke 19:42). The
current situation in Syria will be a vital focus of prayer and
advocacy, as will the Israel Palestine conflict, which will also be
reflected upon in the week that follows.
Dr Daleep Mukarji, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference,
said: "When we contemplate the violence that has devastated Syria
or indeed other parts of our globe, peace can appear to be an
unachievable goal. But we take heart from our faith in the
peace comes from God, revealed to us in the life and example of
Christ who was himself no stranger to violence, enmity and
suspicion. Peacemaking Sunday and International Peace Day
offers an opportunity not to take action on one day but to reflect
on the contribution that we each might make every day to further
the cause of peace wherever we are."
Peacemaking Sunday is the Sunday that falls closest to the United
Nations International day of Peace, which is on 21 September 2013.
Resources prepared by the Joint Public Issues Team include
suggested song choices, biblical reflections, prayers of confession
and intercession and visual resources. Photographs with
accompanying text are also available.
The
World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel has been initiated by
the World Council of Churches'
Palestine Israel Forum (PIEF). The theme for this year's week
of prayer is 'Jerusalem, the city of justice and peace'
corresponding to the vision of the
Kairos Document issued by Palestinian Christian leaders in
2009. Individuals and congregations observing the World Week for
Peace 2013 will call people of faith to pray with churches living
under occupation. A
special prayer from Jerusalem and other
resources have been prepared for the week.