Week of Prayer for the Middle East

President of the Uniting Church in Australia Rev Charissa Suli has called the national Uniting Church to a Week of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East from 29 September - 5 October.

The call comes after Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon yesterday, in an eruption of what have been simmering cross-border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The strikes killed at least 492 people including 35 children. More than 1,600 others have been injured and tens of thousands have fled their homes.

In a pastoral statement released today, the President lamented the escalation of violence in the region and urged the Uniting Church to stand in prayer and solidarity with the people of the Middle East and with diaspora communities.

"This ongoing conflict continues to cause immense suffering and loss on all sides," she writes.

"As we grapple with this news, we are reminded of the deep connections we have within our Uniting Church family."

"In the past 24 hours I have heard from people in our community grieving for their family, friends, and loved ones back in Lebanon. We hold them in our prayers, standing in solidarity as they process pain and uncertainty."

"In these troubled times, we turn to the Word of God for peace and hope. This peace, a gift from Christ, transcends the fear and violence that so often consumes our world. Let us hold fast to this promise, even in the darkest moments."

The pastoral statement and call to prayer will be sent to congregations, communities, councils and agencies of the Uniting Church.

"I invite every congregation, agency, faith community, school, family, and member within the Uniting Church to join in a Week of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East from 29 September to 5 October 2024"

The letter offers a theme and a short prayer for each day of the week, written by the President, which communities can use to guide and shape their own engagement in this time of prayer. Social media tiles for sharing the daily prayers are now available.

The letter also invites leaders of other faiths, Christian churches and ecumenical bodies to join in praying for peace. Uniting Church communities are encouraged to consider how they might pray together with other churches local to them.

In March, the Assembly Standing Committee called upon members of the Uniting Church to pray for, listen to, and promote the voices of those who are suffering in the region, to participate in events and actions in support of a just peace, and to consider donating where possible. Your community might like to explore one of these in support of this Week.

President Rev Charissa Suli will launch the Week of Prayer, live on the Assembly's Facebook page, on Sunday 29 September at a time to be confirmed.

This article first appeared on the Assembly website.