Suffer the children Let us pray for peace

Mathew 19: 14Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (NIV)

The other day the television news highlighted the children of Gaza and Israel who are suffering because of the fighting. Children in Gaza went to a UN school where they thought they would be safe and the school was bombed. There are no safe shelters for children or anyone in Gaza. Children in Israel spending there days in a bomb shelter and dreaming of rockets and bombs over night.

Why is this happening? The UN passed a resolution to stop this but the fighting continues except for three hours a day for humanitarian purposes. Why can't the Arabs and Jews get along with each other?

Here are the statements from the United Church of Christ about the situation:

UCC offers its prayers, offerings and advocacy to urge peace for Israel-Palestine

January 6, 2009

In Gaza, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and at least 3,000 injured as a result of the Israeli military campaign. Israelis have also been killed and others injured by rocket attacks originating from Gaza. The result of violence has only been more violence, more suffering.

Gaza has become the focus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the last couple of weeks, with a focus on eradicating Hamas elements. Gaza – the most densely populated place on earth – is a small landmass of roughly 140 square miles, with a population of 1.5 million Palestinians. Gaza has been essentially sealed since Israel withdrew in August 2005, with little access for supplies (food, medicine, or fuel), a condition that has been made especially clear in the past days. Unemployment is at an all-time high, and despair among Palestinians – both Muslims and Christians – is extremely high.

Collegiate statement on Gaza

In a Jan. 6 Epiphany letter, the UCC's Collegium of Officers, urging comprehensive peace in the Middle East, prayed that "nations shall come to your light, and rulers to the brightness of your dawn."

"Today we hear the Psalmist remind us of a Sovereign who "delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper, who has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needed, who from oppression and violence redeems their life." " -----
" May we no longer be at ease in a world grown comfortable with its cruelty and war. Indeed, may we be so ill at ease that Rachel's wailing drowns out the cruel silence of our rulers, and Herod's sword is stayed by the Child who is the redeemer of life. For once again the light has come, the glory of the Lord has risen, and nations shall come to the light, even rulers to the brightness of God's dawn."

The UCC is calling for funds to help the people of Gaza.
Support humanitarian relief

The UCC is seeking an additional $75,000 for the immediate and long-term needs in Gaza. Already, $25,000 from the UCC's One Great Hour of Sharing offering has been sent to partners in Jerusalem who are preparing a shipment of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies and plastic sheeting, as soon as Israeli authorities open a border crossing.

Christ Church people can also advocate for peace by sending a letter to members of congress and Secretary of State Rice. The letter is on the UCC website.

Advocate for justice, healing
Take action to support international efforts to broker a comprehensive cease fire and pressure Israel to allow humanitarian relief supplies – including food, medical supplies, and fuel – to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands.

The UCC has a presence in the middle east. Our Conference Minister John Deckenbach recently showed the photos of his recent trip to the middle east when he lead a discussion about it during an adult ed program at Christ Church.

About the UCC's work in the Middle East
Through Global Ministries, the United Church of Christ has long-established mission relationships in the area. Here are the positions of the UCC’s General Synod.

Lastly the whole ecumenical community is calling for peace.

Ecumenical responses
Statements calling for a comprehensive ceasefire and urgent humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza have been issued by many UCC partner bodies, including the Middle East Council of Churches, the Jerusalem Bishops and Patriarchs, the Sabeel Liberation Center [word doc], the World Council of Churches, and more.

My heart is sad and I pray for all the people in the middle east both in Gaza and in Isreal that they can decided to stop bombing each other and live in peace. Maybe I am unrealistic but at least I can pray for peace. I hope you will join me

Jeannette Brown
UCC Representative.

Note: Most of this information is on the UCC web page. The links above should work and connect you to the web page