Adult Forum in the Home 24 May 2020Day of Prayer for Jerusalem and the Holy Land

For many years our national church has designated the 24th day of each month as a Day of Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land. Of course that means that every Christmas Eve, we are praying for that little town of Bethlehem that today is an open air prison patrolled by soldiers at checkpoints and nearly surrounded by the looming walls of the security barrier. This Sunday is the 24th day of May and we are invited to join with Anglicans to pray for peace in Jeru-shalom “the city of peace.”

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The image on the previous page is from the back cover of the April/May 2020 issue of Canada Lutheran. It shows the security barrier with its graffiti messages – the most prominent of which is “Rachel is Weeping” – a verse from Jeremiah that Matthew quotes in chapter 2 of his Gospel after recounting King Herod’s “slaughter of the innocents” when Herod tries to kill all the new born and toddler baby boys in Bethlehem in attempt to eliminate “the new born king” that the Magi asked him about.

For today’s Adult Forum, join Bishop Susan Johnson on her solidarity visit to Palestine and Israel 6 months ago in November 17 – 28, 2019. Sample some of the two resources below and then join in the prayers and song on the final two pages in praying that “the hopes and fears of all the years” might be met in God’s gifts of mercy, justice and peace.

The Kairos delegation included representatives from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church in Canada, the United Church of Canada, the Presbyterian Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Two of the representatives were Indigenous First Nations women.

The first resource is an 18 page photo journal report on the delegation’s visit in November with recommendations for action.

Pages 16 & 17 introduce the 8-person delegation Page 18 features a blog reflection from each of the participants. I admit, I’m biased, but

I’d suggest you start with Bishop Susan’s reflection, One Day: Three Stories of Resilience and Self-Determination that takes one on a journey to a fresh water project in Qalqilya, Palestine; “our” Augusta Victoria Hospital atop the Mount of Olives and a women’s organization in Jericho. (The Augusta Victoria Hospital has long been supported by the Lutheran World Federation http://www.avh.org/ourhistory/ourhistory.html )

https://www.kairoscanada.org/final-report-from-the-kairos-delegation-to-palestine-and-israel-last-november

The second resource is the web site for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land – the ELCIC’s partner church and our Eastern Synod’s companion church. If you visit this web site, you’ll learn much about this remarkable church, it’s history, mission and ministries.

www.elcjhl.org

Then conclude your study of, and virtual visit to, the Holy Land with the prayers assigned for this May 24th Day of Prayer for Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

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