Prayer As we journey through Lent, we have a series of Lenten Reflections from various Palestinian clergy. Read the reflections here With the war continuing in South Israel and Gaza and the pressures to expand the conflict in the wider region, we ask you to join us in prayer for all using these dedicated prayers for peace here. Praying for our Christian family in the Holy Land is central to our work, in partnership with those who live and witness where Jesus prayed, taught, healed, died and rose again. A FORM OF PRAYER FOR EASTER 2024 Now Jesus Christ is risen from the grave. Alleluia!The glory of the Lord shines radiantly. Alleluia!The gospel trumpets tell of victory won. Alleluia! (from the Easter Proclamation : Common Praise) Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand shall be for ever. Amen. Reading St John chapter 19 verse 41 – chapter 20 verse 8 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid him there. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed. Death and life have wrestledin a wondrous fight,the leader of the livingfell to the powers of nightdead, yet he reigns in powerhis strange victory to share. (after the Easter Sequence; Common Worship) God of power and might,in the name of your Son,Lord of Life and Death,we give you thanks, for the eternal hopeof the light of your Love,always shining in the darknessthat cannot overcome it. Lord Jesus,you live to intercede for us;hear our prayer for the suffering people of the Holy Land.Lord, hear their cries. Lord, lifted upto draw all people to yourself,bless the peacemakers,those bringing aid,those caring for the wounded,the sick and the dying,the bereaved and alone. Lord strengthen your Church,bless its leaders and all who call on your Name. Lord, have mercy,Son of God,Life-giver. Amen. Creator and Redeemer,who brought your Sonfrom death to life,draw those for whom we prayinto your love divine, all loves excelling. Amen. A FORM OF PRAYER FOR HOLY WEEK 2024IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE SUFFERING OF THE HOLY LAND ‘Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord’ (Lamentations chapter 2.19) O Lord, hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord listen and act and do not delay (Daniel 9.19) Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15.15) In the darkness of unknowing,when your love seems absent,draw near O God,in Christ forsaken,in Christ risen,our Redeemer and our Lord. (Common Worship) They took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull. (John 19.17) God of heaven,when the foundations are shakenand there is no escape,test us, but not to destruction,look on the face of your anointed,and heal us in Jesus Christ your Son. (Common Worship) A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.”’ (Luke 23.27-29) Lord Jesus,look with pity, on mothers,and all who cry out in pain and anguishfor their children in your land.Lord, hear their prayer. Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (Luke 23. 32,33) Crucified Lord,as you gave yourselfto an agonising deathbetween criminals,in the deep darknessof man’s inhumanity to man,bring the light of your justice and graceto pierce the darkness of human despair,with the light of your mercy and hope. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani ?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (St Mark 15.34) Hear our cries, O Lord,for the suffering and despairing,the wounded and the hungry,the bereaved and the lost,the exhausted and the hope-less.In your deep solidaritywith our broken humanityyou are our Hope. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last….And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. (St Luke 23.46,48) Gracious Lord,friend and brother,be with us in our trials.In your mercy deliver us,God most holy,God most strong. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. (St. John 19.41,42) Lord Jesus, crucified King,we open our hearts to you, for our brothers and sistersin their deep anguish.Guide all Church leaders,with your grace and wisdom.Lord, hear us. We pray for exhausted doctors and nurses,for distressed parents and children,for the sick and the wounded.Lord, hear us. Look with mercy on those struggling to bring Aidfor the starving , for medical care and temporary shelter.Lord, hear us. Lord, you wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend,hear the anguished cry of the bereaved. Lord, hear us. Bless those striving to bring an end to this conflict.Lord, hear us. Crucified Saviour,in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen. A FORM OF PRAYER FOR LENT 2024 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;the testimony of the Lord is sureand gives wisdom to the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart;the commandment of the Lord is pureand gives light to the eyes. Who can tell how often they offend?O cleanse me from my secret faults! Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Psalm 19 verses 7,8,12,14) A Scriptural Lenten Intercession Isaiah 1.16,17 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;remove the evil of your doingsfrom before my eyes;cease to do evil,learn to do good;seek justice,rescue the oppressed,defend the orphan,plead for the widow. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortalhave mercy on us. Jeremiah 6. 13,14,16 From the least to the greatest of them,everyone is greedy for unjust gain;and from prophet to priest,everyone deals falsely. They have treated the wounded of mypeople carelessly,saying, ‘Peace, peace’,when there is no peace.Thus says the Lord:Stand at the crossroads, and look,and ask for the ancient paths,where the good way lies; and walk in it,and find rest for your souls.But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortalhave mercy on us. Romans 5.8-11God proves his love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortalhave mercy on us. Glorious Saviour,rescue us from the subtle evils that are too strong for us,from poisonous words and the spirit of war:by your judgement overthrow the forces of violencethat all the world may join to worship youin thanksgiving for peace,now and forever. Amen. (Common Worship) A Prayer for all the People in the Land of the Holy One Saving God,look with pity on all in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank:the bereaved, the wounded, the homeless;those struggling to bring aid and relief;doctors and nurses and all medical staff;neighbours and friendssharing their struggle, grief and despair.Lord, have mercy. Strengthen in faith and unityour brothers and sisters in Christ.Be their light in the darkness.and their hope amidst despair.Lord, have mercy. Guide with your wisdom those who are seeking peace,and the laying of new foundationsfor justice, peace and reconciliation.Lord, have mercy. O Lord, hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord listen and act and do not delay! (Daniel 9.19) Living God,reach through the violence of the proudand the despair of the weak,to create in Jesus Christa people free to praise your holy name,now and forever. Amen. Lord, let us go peaceful, in gentleness, through the violence of these days…Through darkness, in troubled times, let holiness be our aim. (Paul Field, adapted) Join our Prayer Bank To register to receive prayer resources and to show your solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land please click here Reflections Blog We are pleased to bring you a series of reflections on our Reflections Blog page. This will be a monthly series of blogs, click here to view the Blogs. Christmas sermons 2023 There are many powerful Christmas 2023 sermons, we have brought you a selection here To help you with your Daily Prayer Access our library of prayers and reflections, please click here Manage Cookie Preferences