The Sunday Adult Forum discussing war in the Holy Land has been extended to Sunday, October 29. The Adult Forum in the Trinity Library begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 9:45 a.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church prays for an end to all wars and for peace and safety for all residents of Israel and Palestine.
Letter from Bishop James Hazelwood, New England Synod
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Dear People of the New England Synod,
Many of us awoke Saturday morning to the news of violence and war in the Gaza section of Israel. “Though we can’t be sure why Hamas chose to launch this attack now, we do know that there are several background conditions — including not just the ongoing occupation but also recent surges of conflict in Jerusalem and the West Bank, a far-right Israeli government, the possible role of Iran and Israeli-Saudi negotiations about normalizing relations — that made the situation especially combustible… (read more here)”.
As I write this letter to you on Saturday evening here in the US, I am offering up prayers for the entire region, and especially our partners in ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). I ask you to lift up Bishop Ibrahim Azar, the pastors and people of the ELCJHL, as well as our ELCA missionaries Revs. Meghan and Gabi Aelabouni.
As this situation unfolds, I will keep you abreast of the needs of our companion synod in the Land called Holy. In the meantime, please pray for peace.
Sincerely,
Bishop James Hazelwood
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers.”
8 For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.
From Psalm 122
For the ELCA Social Statement on the Israeli Palestinian Conflict, click here.
For Prayers Around the Cross for Peace in the Middle East, consider this resource.
For a helpful article explaining why this attack happened now, click here.