This week, the catastrophe and conflict between Israel and Palestine has escalated to devastating highs, as Hamas, a terrorist militant group attacked Israel with a rising death toll of nearly 2,300 people. This is a humanitarian calamity as over 6,000 are injured and countless innocent civilians and families are stranded without aid, food, and water. This tragedy is considered the bloodiest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.

As the people of Palestine suffer in this cultural conflict and geopolitical travesty, we have heard from one of our longstanding mission partners, Lutheran World Relief, who has a history of reaching people who are caught in the crossfires of this region. As you may have heard, last week, Good Shepherd was a regional collection site for Lutheran World Relief. We welcomed 29 area churches and loaded a total of 836 boxes that included 1,847 quilts, 2,838 school kits, 536 personal care kits, 512 baby kits, and 56 fabric kits. All these boxes are headed to a Lutheran World Relief Distribution site for world-distribution, including to those caught in this conflict. In addition, Good Shepherd Church will be dispersing additional funds to aid in this humanitarian crisis. We are a church that is For the World, and we are taking action. When you give to Good Shepherd, our collective gifts allow us to respond boldly in love to our neighbors in crisis. 

In closing, please join me in this prayer:

Lord, you are the giver of life. When life is taken unjustly in the hands of evil, we do not understand. We feel helpless as we watch this travesty unfold.

Lord, hear our cries.

God, we plead for peace in this region. We pray that you would thwart the Hamas group to cease fire and end this disaster once and for all. 

Lord, hear our prayer.

God, we pray for the families who have been separated due to death or kidnapping, and we pray that you would blanket them with your comfort. May they know that there is a God who is with them. May they know that they are not alone.

Lord, hear our aches.

God, we cry out for those who have lost loved ones. May your grace fill them with a steadiness to make it another hour. Ground them in your love.

Lord, see our tears.

God, empower those who are responding with aid, protect them and help them get to the people who need it the most. Give them courage to traverse in danger.

Lord, hear us.

God, we pray for an end to this violence. May your kingdom come in Israel as it is in heaven. Send an army of angels, fill the land with peace. God, we feel helpless. Give your church wisdom on how to provide aide, and embolden us to be a beacon of light.

Lord, we thank you that you have heard our cries. We trust that you are presently at work in redeeming a war-ridden world. May your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen.

For our World,

Pastor Tara Beth Leach