O Holy One,
war explodes once again in the lands of Israel and Palestine;
your heart must be breaking.
As we hear the cries of fear and terror, of anger and rage,
we want to respond, to reach out;
we yearn to do what is right.

But the path is not clear: What to say? How to act?
And so, we pray that you will help us find a way
to express your care and love for all your children.

May your Spirit guide our world leaders and all people of goodwill
to reject the path of violence;
to hold to the promise of a frail ceasefire,
and be committed to work for peace and justice.
We pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

The Right Rev. Gary Paterson
Moderator

I join in this prayer.

I echo that prayer - and would add that I pray for peace, not just in Israel and Palestine, but in every country and in every heart.

May peace prevail upon the earth.

A lot of prayer already takes place in the region. Hamas prays before sending rockets into Israel. Israel prays for the new settlements under construction.

Of course, to be fair, people have been praying for peace in the region for thousands of years as well, and look where those prayer have gotten them.

I don't think religious prayers are going to solve anything. I think religion is the root of the problem in Israel. I think one of the dumbest things you can do is pray for the solution to a religious war. It's like having sex to restore your virginity.

I don't know how religious prayers make a difference in Israel, other religious wars, wars of any kind, or in anything in life . . . but I do believe prayer makes a difference . . . I don't know how, where, why, when, or what . . . but I do believe prayer makes a difference somehow.  Perhaps the difference is just within me . . . but a difference is made none-the-less.