Every year in the third week of September the World Council of Churches (WCC) invites churches all over the world to pray, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people in the Holy Land.
Churches are joined in prayer by people of many faiths.
An organization called ‘T-ruah’, which refers to the horn, or ‘shofar’, which sounds in synagogue on high holy days, to call the congregation to prayer shared this post and prayer:
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights was founded in 2002. From the beginning we have mobilized a multi-denominational network of rabbis and Jewish communities to protect human rights in North America and Israel.
O God, Spirit of all Humanity
Help us to acknowledge the destruction,
trauma and devastation in Gaza,
to express the heartbreak for the tens of thousands
of innocent Palestinians who have died—among them so many children,
for their lack of food, shelter and medical care,
for the destruction of people’s homes,
for the millions of refugees the war has created,
for the hopelessness and despair.
We pray for a cessation of the violence and the safe return
of the remaining hostages. We pray for our ability to hold
in our hearts at the same time the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians.
We pray that we don’t harden our hearts or refuse to see
what is happening before our eyes.
We pray we preserve our humanity.
We pray for the future of both peoples on this land,
for the acknowledgement of both peoples
right to self determination
and the freedom to live in justice and dignity.
We pray that there will be an awakening and a realization
that the only path forward is one of coexistence.
— By Rabbis Felicia Sol and Roly Matalon, B’nai Jeshurun, NYC
United Church of Canada has Mission and Service global partners
In Africa and the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as global ecumenical partners with global mandates and membership. We are in partnership with:
ACT Alliance: a global faith-based coalition of more than 140 members, whose goal is to promote a locally led and coordinated approach to advocacy, humanitarian assistance, and long-term development.
The Ecumenical Church Loan Fund: a network of socially driven microfinance institutions that provide financial services to micro entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers.
The World Communion of Reformed Churches: working with its 232 member churches, the WCRC is active in supporting theology, justice, church unity, and mission in over 105 countries.
The World Methodist Council: links 80 Methodist, Wesleyan, and related Uniting and United Churches representing 80 million members in 138 countries fostering ecumenical and interreligious activities.
World Student Christian Fellowship: with 2 million members in over 90 countries.
The World Council of Churches: The WCC brings together churches, denominations, and church fellowships in more than 120 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 580 million Christians.
For a brief description of these groups go to:
https://united-church.ca/