Dear friend,
Following on from my email a month ago, our field teams have sent us a more detailed list of prayer points regarding our church family in Israel/Palestine, which I include below. Our colleagues emphasise that, “As members of the global church and Open Doors, we are deeply connected to both the Jewish people and Palestinian Christians. While we recognise the existential threat upon Israel, the crisis for the Palestinian Christians and the future of the church cannot be overlooked and calls for urgent action.”
Because of this urgency, and along with many other Christian agencies, Open Doors is calling on churches across Britain to pray for peace in Israel/Palestine on Sunday 21 September, coinciding with UN World Peace Day and the global call to prayer from the World Council of Churches.
Your prayer could include some of the 10 prayer points below, holding a minute’s silence; or this prayer from Archbishop Hosam of Jerusalem:
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: in Your mercy, provide for all those in Gaza and beyond who suffer from hunger and starvation, that they may be given both physical bread to nourish their bodies and heavenly bread to sustain their souls. By the power of Your Spirit, bring a speedy end to this cruel war, the release of all captives, care for the sick and wounded, comfort for those who have lost loved ones, and the opening of a pathway for a just and lasting peace here in the very homeland where Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ministered during His earthly life; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
-The Most Reverend Dr Hosam E. Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, August 2025
In particular, along with our brothers and sisters in the region and across the UK & Ireland, we urge you to pray for:
- Immediate solutions to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and safe delivery of aid
- An end to the violence in Israel and Palestine
- The release of innocent captives
- A meaningful peace process and a commitment to solutions which go beyond current thinking.
Thank you.
Every blessing,
.jpeg)