Announcement from the Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher
Pray for Peace
October 11, 2023

I write today to the all the faithful of our diocese. Like so many of you, my heart is breaking for the people of Israel and Palestine. I had an opportunity to spend time in the Holy Land a few years ago with pilgrims from our diocese and I came back home not only with a deeper appreciation for the violence and hurt that go back thousands of years, but also with faces and names of our cousins there – Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Our group had a chance to meet with the former Archbishop Suheil Salman Ibrahim Dawani at St. George’s, in East Jerusalem. He and the current Archishop, Hosam Naoum, are in my prayers. We pray, too, for the many institutions of the Diocese of Jerusalem that regularly help families in Palestine, Israel, and Jordan that have been affected by the violence.

There are no easy answers when it comes to finding peace in Jerusalem but we can all pray even as we condemn acts of violence and terrorism.

They sit in ambush in the villages;
 in hiding places they murder the innocent.
Psalm 10:8

We can pray with St. Francis who travelled to this same land during the time of the Crusades, “Lord, make us instruments of your peace.”

I commend to you also the prayer that has been shared with us from American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Let's pray this faithfully until the whirlwind of war ceases and let's embody the peace for which this world longs.

Faithfully in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher
Bishop of Western Massachusetts
Olive branch Israel
Credit: Aaron Ovadia @Unsplash.com
A LITANY FOR THE RESTORATION OF PEACE
IN THE HOLY LAND

God of peace, we pray for the people of Palestine and Israel in these perilous and dangerous times.
For all who are fearful for the safety of their loved ones and themselves, we pray that the assurance of unfailing love, even in the midst of danger, settles upon them. Shelter them from despair and protect them from harm.
For all who are wounded, we pray they find healing.
For all who have died, we pray they find rest.
For all who grieve, we pray they find comfort.
For leaders on all sides, we pray for a renewed will to lay down arms, for the strength to put the grievances and wrongs suffered by their people to rest, and for the conviction to embrace a path of reconciliation and peace that preserves the rights and dignity of all of your children.
God of mercy, help us to remember there is no border that can separate us from your great love and protection, no stone that can sound the well of your deep mercy.
God of justice, we pray with hopeful hearts that your beloved children of the Holy Land will be spared a future of sustained violence and unrest and that a recognition of the humanity of all people will prevail.
We ask all this in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
STAY CONNECTED @EpiscopalWMA | 413-737-4786 | www.diocesewma.org