National Prayer for the Middle East, organised by the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly
Last night (Mon, 9 March), the Uniting Church in Australia gathered people from across the country for a National Online Service of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East, led by President Rev Charissa Suli.
More than 140 people joined the service, including members of our church, ecumenical friends from Catholic and Anglican communities, and people of different faiths. Together we prayed for peace, compassion and wisdom in the face of escalating conflict.
The service began with an acknowledgement of First Nations peoples and an opening prayer from Rev Ken Sumner of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Scripture from Psalm 46 reminded us that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble”.
Participants also heard from Pastor Jirair Ghazarian, a minister currently in Lebanon who joined the service and shared the reality facing communities in Beirut and throughout the Middle East, where many families have been displaced by violence.
Four of our Synod Moderators, as well as Rev Dr Gaby Kobrossi, Rev Dr Krikor Youmshajekian and Australian Defence Force chaplains helped lead prayers for civilians, displaced families, humanitarian workers and leaders. Pastor Ghazarian, who will soon serve at the Armenian Uniting Church in Willoughby, also shared in the prayers.
As followers of Christ, we continue to pray for justice, reconciliation and lasting peace.