Christians worldwide praying for Syria
Christians around the world are praying today for peace in Syria and the wellbeing of millions of refugees who have left their homes because of the fighting.
Pope Francis appealed to the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to join him in a day of prayer and fasting for the country.
"From the bottom of my heart, I would like to express my closeness in prayer and solidarity with all the victims of this conflict, with all those who suffer, especially children, and I invite you to keep alive the hope of peace," he said.
"I appeal to the international community to be more sensitive to this tragic situation and make every effort to help the beloved Syrian nation find a solution to a war that sows destruction and death."
The Pope will be offering his prayers during a mass vigil at St Peter's Square today.
In a letter to Pope Francis, the Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badreddin Hassou, spiritual leader of Sunni Islam, welcomed the appeal and said he would be joining in praying and fasting for peace in his country.
He thanked the Pope "for this appeal of great humanity, based on faith, to fast and pray together God Almighty in order to bring peace on earth and protect us from the power of evil and oppression".
Orthodox leader the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I and the head of the World Evangelical Alliance, Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, have both backed the prayer call.
The Bishop of Wakefield, the Right Reverend Stephen Platten, has also encouraged Church of England parishes to join with others this weekend in praying for peace in Syria.
The Church of England has published these prayers for Syria:
A Prayer for Reconciliation in Syria
God of history,
Witness of the struggles within families;
we pray for the divided family of Syria
as brother fights against brother,
and sister rejects sister.
We pray for those whose love of neighbour
has been destroyed in the bitterness of enmity.
May fear be submerged in compassion.
May distrust be diluted by hope,
as a vision of peace illuminates
darkened minds and hate-filled hearts.
We pray in the name of Christ,
our source of light and love. Amen.
A Prayer for Peace in Syria
Spirit of wisdom and grace,
the power of truth and judgement;
we pray for all who are working for peace
in the tangled conflict of Syria today.
For international leaders holding a thread of control,
for the politicians holding a thread of power,
for the religious leaders holding a thread of authority,
for the fighters holding a thread of influence,
and the citizens clinging to a thread of hope.
Bring unity through the untangled order of justice.
Bring reconciliation through truthful dialogue.
Bring new life through patient diplomacy,
determined mediation and courageous peace-making.
We pray in the name of Christ,
our source of inspiration and confidence. Amen.
A Prayer for the Victims of the Syrian conflict
We pray for those damaged by the fighting in Syria.
To the wounded and injured:
Come Lord Jesus.
To the terrified who are living in shock:
Come Lord Jesus
To the hungry and homeless, refugee and exile:
Come Lord Jesus
To those bringing humanitarian aid:
Give protection Lord Jesus
To those administering medical assistance:
Give protection Lord Jesus.
To those offering counsel and care:
Give protection Lord Jesus
For all making the sacrifice of love:
Give the strength of your Spirit
and the joy of your comfort.
In the hope of Christ we pray. Amen.
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September 9, 2014
"We are living in the final days" the carpet installer told me while working in my house recently. When I look at how Christians in our country are agreeing these days, I wonder if there is some truth in the words of this fellow believer. I must confess that the convergence of opinions among Christian leaders on the situation in Syria is surprising to me and at the same time it is hopeful.
I consider myself a quasi-pacifist. I oppose all kind of violence, including wars. But then, what do you do when hundreds of thousands are killed and thousands are massacred with weapons of mass destruction. There is evidence that government forces in Syria used the gas sarin as a weapon. Sarin can be fatal within one minute after direct ingestion of a lethal dose, due to suffocation from lung muscle paralysis. People who absorb a non-lethal dose, but do not receive immediate medical treatment, may suffer permanent neurological damage. I can't help but empathize with President Obama when he realize that the U.S. has the capacity to alter the balance of powers in Syria and thus possible stopping this massacre of hundreds of thousands. The high moral conscience of our culture and political system forces us, and our President, to consider the option of intervention.
We must also consider if our moral conscience has a greater weight than the teachings of Jesus and the gospels. In the gospel we read, "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." Mt. 26:52. The position of Jesus in regards to war and violence is unequivocal to me. The heart and mind of the Creator cannot settle for anything less that the protection of all life. The message of the scriptures is clear "seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14, 1 Peter 3:11)
I must confess the weakness of my faith when I consider our capacity to deal with a dictator and bring about peace to a country engage in civil war. It is then when the witness of my fellow Christian leaders offer me hope. Our merciful savior must be looking to the Church in the U.S. this days with a smile in his face.
This is what Christian leaders in our country are saying:
Pope Francis asked leaders of the world's 20 largest economies to "lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution" to the Syrian civil war and promote instead a "peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation."
"the path of dialogue and negotiation between all components of Syrian society, with the support of the international community, is the only option" to end the conflict in Syria. (Chairman of the USCCB bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace)
"Over and over we have tried to use the sword - in Iraq, in Afghanistan, now possibly in Syria... and the sword has failed. The cure becomes as bad as the disease. When we fight fire with fire, we only get a bigger fire, and a bigger mess." Shane Claiborne
Leith Anderson, President NAE: "On September 3, the National Association of Evangelicals surveyed evangelical leaders to ask "Should Congress authorize direct U.S. military intervention in Syria?" Sixty-two and a half percent said "no." Thirty-seven and a half percent said "yes." I was surprised because I expected the answers would be the other way around."
National Council of Churches: "We welcome the resolve of President Obama and other leaders to stop future chemical attacks against an innocent populace. However, we are deeply skeptical that U.S. military action against Syria will prevent future attacks. Indeed, we fear such action may have consequences beyond U.S. planning and control, including more death and widespread destruction."
"Old military solutions have clearly failed. It's time to find a better and more successful way." Jim Wallis
Very few Christian leaders in our country have remained neutral or silent on this issue, the majority agree on the option to address this crisis by peaceful means. We can't also be completely naive, motivations may be different. The apparent trend of agreement, including the common work on immigration, among Christians in the U.S. should be celebrated. The glory belongs to God's Spirit. It is the Spirit who is shepherding us towards the Kingdom.
Today, I pray for President Obama and for the U.S. Congress. I join millions in our country and around the world who are praying for peace in Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Colombia, Sudan...peace for God's creation.
Rev. Carlos L. Malave
Executive Director
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
September 6, 2013
ELCA members called to prayer for the people of Syria
13-70-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are called to pray Sept. 7 for the people of Syria, the Middle East and throughout the world. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) -- one of the ELCA’s six full communion partners -- offered prayer petitions supported by the ELCA and other Christian denominations.
The prayer is for the protection of people “affected by the fighting in Syria” and for “all who are working for peace: international leaders, politicians, religious leaders and ordinary citizens” and that “all of us be strengthened by the hope of a future built on love and justice for all.”
“In the midst of the complexities, volatility, uncertainties and tragedies in Syria and the surrounding region, let us join together in praying for peace,” said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop.
“We can have deep differences about the responsible way forward,” said Hanson. “Our religious convictions may be different. The public debate is intense and so much is at stake. What better time to pray? God has entrusted us with just one creation. We are all created in God's image for relationships that reflect God's desire for harmony, dignity and peace with justice. Let our prayers be cries of lament. Let us listen for God's word of promise. Let the diverse languages and petitions of our prayers reflect the beauty of diversity in the midst of our one God given humanity. Yes, may we humbly confess our sinfulness and gratefully receive God's gift of mercy and strength to be about God's work of peace and reconciliation.”
Earlier in the week, Hanson sent letters to the U.S. president and Congress urging for more diplomatic efforts over pursuing military action in response to reports of the use of chemical weapons against the people of Syria.
ELCA members and congregations, through this church’s Washington Office, are invited to write to Congress and to the president to “vote against an authorization to take military action against Syria” and to ask the president “not to take such action.” ELCA members are also committed to keeping decision-makers in prayer, asking that “God will continue to give them wisdom as they discern the best path to avoid atrocities while pursuing peace.”
To learn more the ELCA's advocacy efforts, visit http://www.ELCA.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Advocacy.aspx.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with more than 4 million members in nearly 10,000 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God's work. Our hands,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.
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