Friends
As I wake up this morning to news of antisemitic rallies in England and a Palestinian child knifed to death by a well-loved landlord in America, to stories of rockets fired on Jerusalem and no signs of the much-needed humanitarian corridor out of Gaza, I simply don’t know what to write. A 40-year-employed cartoonist is sacked from the Guardian newspaper for submitting a cartoon that is believed to be anti-Semitic and Jewish schools were closed in London on Friday for fear for the children’s safety. Whatever our stance on the geo-political situation in the Holy Lands, this is war with dreadful consequences for the region. However hard Israel tries to minimise civilian casualties, and they are meeting with President Biden today to discuss how that will be done, all war has civilian casualties. Further, Hamas has no such qualms and there has already been more than enough pain to go around.
I was asked on Sunday why I hadn’t mentioned the situation in my sermon. I pointed out I had led prayers for the region but that I don’t know enough about the complexities of the situation to preach on it. We hold to the lectionary and in looking at how it dialogues with the world today, I chose on Sunday to speak of our destruction of the planet in the morning, the promise of a joyful harvest, even when sowing in tears in the afternoon and the difficulties in remembering God when our lives are easy in the evening. These things remain important even in the face of significant “war and rumours of war” in our world today. While we continue to consume irresponsibly, wars will be fought over resources and land. Yet we do have a promise that those who “go out weeping carrying seed with them will return in joy, carrying their sheaves”.
In this situation there is little we can do. We can contribute to disaster relief; we can reach out to those we know in the community who, by reason of Jewish or Palestinian background, may be experiencing fear or grief; we must pray. For we follow the Prince of Peace, we work on behalf of the wonderful counsellor, we are the children of the everlasting Father. At 12noon Friday the 27th of October, after Bible Study at Burnham Methodist Church, I will lead a short service of prayers for peace and reconciliation at Burnham. There will be the opportunity to pray, to reflect and to light candles. If you are unable to join us, you may like to light your own candle and pray where you are at that time.
God bless, Vicci.