Today marks a year since the attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens at the Re’im music festival which saw around 1,200 people killed and 250 people taken as hostages. Since then, almost 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in strikes and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. In recent months and days, war is escalating across the surrounding regions. Let’s pray:

Father God,
We look back over this year in Israel, Gaza and the Middle East with heavy hearts.
Words do not come easily in the face of such violence, death and destruction.
So we pause in lament.

Be close to our brothers and sisters in Christ and all those who are mourning, those who are fleeing homes and livelihoods and those who are fearful and vulnerable right now.
We pray for diplomats and intermediaries on the ground. Give them the prophetic imagination of Isaiah to help transform swords into ploughshares.
Lord, Defender of orphans and widows, protect life and liberty.
Restrain evil and bring forth good.
Send your Spirit to comfort and heal, restore and forgive.

We confess that we can be quick to post on social media or even protest on the street, yet slow to pray.
Yet in this intimate place of intercession; we meet with you, the one who holds nations in your hands, we bring those in the midst of pain, grief and chaos into your very presence.
In prayer, this fallen world, seemingly lost between Eden and your new creation, holds hope and shape again.
Re-orientate us in you, your timescales, your ways and your purposes.

We dare to pray, on earth as it is in Heaven,
Peace, upon peace, upon peace.
Amen.