Christian Aid is asking churches to pray for peace on Sunday 21 September, coinciding with UN World Peace Day and the global call to prayer from the World Council of Churches.
In a joint letter, Patrick Watt (CEO, Christian Aid) and Bishop Mike Royal (General Secretary, Churches Together in England), write:
"We are witnessing the devastating escalation of violence in Gaza and the West Bank with Israel’s latest decision to mount a new offensive in Gaza City threatening hundreds of thousands of people with further forced displacement. The cries of Palestinian church leaders for solidarity and an end to the conflict have echoed across the global Church, urging us to respond with clarity, compassion, and conviction.
We believe the gravity of this moment demands a visible, united Christian witness—one that speaks to our shared commitment to peace, reconciliation, and the dignity of all God’s people.
In response we are urging churches across Britain to pray for peace on Sunday 21st September, coinciding with UN World Peace Day and the global call to prayer from the World Council of Churches.
We have developed these plans in close collaboration with a wider group of Christian agencies that includes Tearfund, Embrace the Middle East, Amos Trust, Sabeel-Kairos, Quakers in Britain, All We Can, Reconciling Leaders Network, Difference, Friends of the Holy Land, USPG, and the Centre for Missionaries from the Majority World
Prayer could include holding a minute’s silence; or the prayer from Archbishop Hosam of Jerusalem; or joining the #FastforGaza action. Your prayers might focus on one or more of the issues below:
- An immediate ceasefire in Gaza
- Unfettered access to humanitarian relief.
- An end to violence in Israel and Palestine.
- The release of Israeli hostages and those Palestinians who are unjustly detained.
- A meaningful peace process.
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland have provided an accessible online hub of resources for prayer and action. This includes theological materials, liturgical resources, and guidance to help churches engage confidently with the complex realities of the region. www.ctbi.org.uk/middle-east-prayers"
