An invitation to a "circle of
prayer for the Middle East"
[4-3-02]
This call for a "circle of prayer for the
Middle East" was forwarded to an EcuNet meeting, THE HOLY LAND
TODAY, by Franklin Ishida of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America.
He writes:
I received the following out of the blue by fax. I
called the person and he just wanted to figure out how to spread the
word about prayer. In my conversation, I realized he was no
"naive" person, but well-versed in history and the
tradition of the church speaking out for peace. He also is well-read
in what the media is doing to paint only a certain picture of the
violence in the Middle East. More than anything, he is very
confident in the power of prayer.
Here is what he sent me and he asks that it be
passed around.
Franklin Ishida ELCA/DGM
Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
A Worldwide Prayer Circle for Peace in the Middle
East, for Israel and Palestine, and for all of the Rest of Us who have a
Stake in Peace
It was acknowledged by many people that a peaceful end
to apartheid in South Africa seemed impossible. Many people of many
different religious and spiritual traditions created prayer chains
around the world to pray for a peaceful end to apartheid. Nelson Mandela
emerged to lead a peaceful transition that ended apartheid. Many people
of faith believe that those prayers made a difference.
Today there is an opportunity to connect the many
people who are already praying for peace in the Middle East and to add
to their numbers. You and I can invite all faiths, especially Jewish
people and Muslim people. You and I can surround their prayers with the
support of prayers of Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and others.
Terrorists, armies and politicians are demonstrating
what violence, force and killings can do.
What will praying for love, compassion and
reconciliation do?
What will including millions and millions of people in
a payer chain for peace do?
What will the conversations of people about their
prayers across faiths do?
What can our religious leaders do to publicize and
encourage interfaith cooperation in prayer?
What other benefits can interfaith cooperation create?
If terrorists can show the commitment to level the
World Trade Towers in New York in a single day and armies and
politicians can show the commitment to spend a billion dollars each day
on trying to bomb terrorists, what can millions of people of all
religious faiths with the help of God do in prayer for love, compassion,
and peace?
Thomas Coleman, Hinsdale, Illinois
