Our International Peacemakers have arrived. They are in orientation. On Friday they leave for visits across the country. Please hold them and those they will visit in prayer.
Gracious God, with joy and thanksgiving, we celebrate the arrival of International Peacemakers from partner churches. Guide and protect them as they travel from Sudan, Bolivia, Israel and Palestine, Indonesia, Colombia, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, and the Philippines to U.S. this week. Give them safe passage through our borders and ease of travel across the country.
We pray for Shehadeh Shehadeh, Elena Timofticiuc, and Lorena Velazquez Reyna who were scheduled to participate but are not able to do so for health reasons. Work your healing within them. Guide those who provide them care. Strengthen their families.
Merciful God, prepare our homes and our churches as we welcome International Peacemakers. We give you thanks for individuals, families, congregations, and presbyteries who will open their homes to our ministry partners. We are grateful for their generosity and hospitality to strangers who will become friends. Bless their homes and enrich their lives and they bless and enrich the lives of our new friends.
Prepare our ears and hearts as we listen and learn about their ministries of peace. Prepare our hands and feet as we work together to end violence and injustice as seek to create a culture of peace.
Blessed are the peacemakers…
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
The Rev. Bridgett Green