Middle East
Committee
Below is the text of a letter to the priest at Christ
Church in Nazareth. That letter accompanied the 'Peace' cards
prepared by one of our church school classes. As mentioned in the
letter, the messages our children wrote were quite touching. One
memorable one said, "Have a Lot of Peace!" So we should all pray.
Thanks to the children who prepared the cards. Thanks to everyone
who contributed the cards mailed earlier. We sent a total of 31
cards this year.
Dear Rev. Nasser:
Earlier this month I mailed a package of Christmas cards and greetings
from members of Westmoreland Congregation United Church of Christ to
the members of Christ Church in Nazareth. I hope you received
this package and that its message of shared Christian love was apparent
to your people.
Then, on December 23, one of our children’s classes prepared ‘Peace
Cards’ to be sent to your church. This package contains those
cards. Please know that we are teaching our children that
families in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza want and crave peace.
Some of the messages the children wrote are quite touching. Most
also made paper doves to represent their desire for peace in the Middle
East. We hope that you and your congregation will enjoy these
cards and will recognize them as true expressions of love and concern
from nine and ten year-old children in the United States.
In the name of the Prince of Peace,
 Prayer for Peace
"Spirit of God, come afresh on your Holy Land. Help
your people to restore broken relationships. Give us patience to break
down barriers of suspicion and mistrust; ability to discern personal
prejudices and the courage to overcome fear. Encourage us to respect
each other's integrity and rights, so that your kingdom may be
established on earth as it is in heaven, for Jesus' sake. Amen"
This "Prayer of Peace" is used each Sunday by partner
churches Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ,
Washington, DC, USA and Christ Episcopal Church, Nazareth, Israel.
To contact the Middle East Committee, please e-mail them
at: mideast@westmorelanducc.org
Last updated Wednesday, January 2, 2008.
1
Westmoreland Circle
Bethesda, MD 20816
301-229-7766
Email the church office: churchinfo@westmorelanducc.org
www.westmorelanducc.org
An
Open and Affirming Congregation
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