Christians gathered for ecumenical prayers in St Matthews Church, Westminster, on Saturday, before joining the Christian Bloc on the latest National March for Palestine.
After a welcome by the Rector of St Matthews, Fr Philip Chester, this gathering statement was read, reminding all that it was All Souls Day when the Church comes together to remember all who have died:
“This day also marks the 107th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration… which was instrumental in the creation of the state of Israel, the dispossession of the Palestinian people and many decades of oppression and violence.
“With lament we recall the role played by Christian Zionist theology in this dark history. This same theology continues to be employed today as a pretext for ongoing ethnic cleansing, apartheid and genocide.
As we gather for prayers on this All Souls Day – mourning every life taken in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Lebanon and across the Middle East – we refuse to let our faith be used to justify so many atrocities. We are united in our belief in a gospel of liberation. None of us are free until all are free.”
After the service ended, participants from many denominations, including Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists, Quakers (and two dogs) processed out to join the main march to the American Embassy, led by a drummer.
One of the marchers, Jenny Rossiter from Kentish Town told ICN: “I had to join the service on All Souls Day to remember all those lives that have been cut short by this hideous conflict.”
A record number of Christians from different denominations – clergy, religious and laypeople – gathered for prayers at St Anselm & St Cecilia’s Catholic church in Holborn on Saturday 5th October 2024, before joining the 20th National March, from Russell Square to Whitehall, to appeal to the government to stop arming Israel and demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Israel and Iran.
The prayers were led by Revd Sam Fletcher, an Anglican priest from Exeter, and Colette Joyce, Westminster Justice and Peace Coo-ordinator.
The Jewish Bloc was also the largest ever.
Organisers say more than 300,000 people took part in the demonstration.
John Sloboda, academic, musician, and co-founder of Iraq Body Count , told ICN: “As a British Catholic I consider that participating in these marches and rallies is an important act of witness that I can offer, in the face of the ongoing decimation of the Palestinian people.
“What our taxes are paying for goes against everything I hold dear as a Christian. Marching together with fellow Christians jointly asserting “not in our name” brings some relief and encouragement, in the face what would otherwise be an overwhelming sense of despair about our country and the ultra-timid role our church leaders are playing at this potentially apocalyptic juncture in world history…” More
Cardinal Vincent Nichols sent a message to priests in the Diocese of Westminster on Saturday, asking them to include urgent intercessions for peace in the Middle East in their weekend prayer intentions.
Dear Father,
You do not need me to tell you of the seriousness of the present situation in the Middle East and, in particular, the violence presently taking place in Lebanon and Israel. We see clearly that the potential for an escalating conflict, and all that this implies, is now immediate.
I ask you to include in the intentions for prayer this weekend an urgent cry to our Heavenly Father to touch and change all hearts that are intent on warfare, and to strengthen those who work for ceasefires and the progress of peaceful cooperation.
As this conflict spreads, more division will appear. As well as the threats and dread that fill the hearts of Jewish people, this conflict will now touch more deeply all Islamic communities, especially the Shia community in Lebanon, as well as the Christian communities there. Please pray that relationships here between these three great faiths can endure, not only in the countless interfaith local projects in service of those in need, which are such a feature of our society today, but also in many personal friendships. This is the witness we must continue to give.
Colette Joyce, Justice and Peace Co-ordinator with Westminster Diocese is currently on a pilgrimage to Jordan with Friends of the Holy Land. The visit has been hosted by the Jordanian Tourist Board who are keen to show that Jordan is still a country of peace and safety, despite the regional conflicts raging all around its borders.
Colette writes:
If there is one word that springs to mind after my first few days in the country it is ‘hospitable’. Every where we go people call out, ‘Where you from?’ ‘London, UK.’ Ah, welcome to Jordan!’ We have been extraordinarily well looked after by the hotel, restaurants, shops and site staff who want to show us the best that Jordan has to offer.
As we travel, we can see a country just getting on with life. It is hard to believe, at times, that there is so much turmoil just a few miles from here. While we’ve been here there have been attacks in Lebanon with pagers and walkie-talkies connected to Hezbollah exploding in streets and homes, killing dozens and injuring thousands more. Rockets have been fired at Israel, bombings continue in Gaza, arbitrary arrests take place in the West Bank and hostages from Israel still languish in Palestinian bunkers. Peace negotiations have faltered, as the risk of escalation rises, and it is hard to know how peace can possibly be restored.
For me, a strong motivation for making the trip was to show solidarity with the people of Jordan who are suffering from the effects of conflict in the region and also with all those in the Holy Land who are desperate to see an end to the fighting. Now that I am here, it is clear that they need that solidarity more than ever.
Before 7th October, Jordan would receive 7,000-8,000 tourists a day to its historic sites at Jerash and Petra. The sites are still open in all their glory but the visitors can now be counted in dozens. I have been stunned by their historic significance and beauty and hope very much to return to spend longer learning about them, hopefully with others, in the near future.
For Christians there is the added significance that these are Biblical lands and we have visited sites connected to Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Most deeply moving of all is the Baptism site, where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist ‘on the far side of the Jordan’ which was only identified in 1995 when excavations became possible following reduced military operations. It has been endorsed by Pope John Paul II and visited by Pope Francis in 2016.
Here, between the river and the desert, I felt for myself a deep sense of connection to what our guide, Bashar, called ‘the sunrise of Christianity.’ Here is located the origin of Christian baptism that I experienced at six weeks old and which I have witnessed many hundreds of times since, most recently at Farm Street Church last Sunday. Priests from the new Catholic church rising above the shores of the Jordan poured water over our heads from a font beside the river to ‘Remember your baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’ From the actions of John and Jesus sprang a faith tradition that now connects two billion people around the world and across two thousand years of time.
For Rustom Mkhjian, the Armenian Christian Director of the Baptism Site Commission who showed us round, one of the most remarkable aspects of the restoration of the Baptism Site is that it has been sponsored by the Muslim royal family who deeply understand the significance of the site for Christians and why they should protect it and make it accessible to pilgrims. “This,” he said, “is how it should be everywhere in the world.” Relations between Christians and Muslims are good here and there are deep lessons for peace to be learnt from the Jordanian approach to welcome and hospitality.
St James’ Piccadilly, was the gathering place for the Christian Bloc taking part in the 18th national march for Palestine in London on Saturday. Some participants, from churches of different denominations, came from as far away as Hertfordshire, Surrey and Sussex. After prayers together they joined the main march in Regent Street, walking alongside Jewish, Muslim and secular campaign groups, passing Hyde Park before ending near the Israeli embassy on Kensington Road. Organisers say more than 100,000 people took part.
Speaking from a stage, broadcast on screens, a series of speakers described the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank and appealed for the British government to stop arming Israel.
Daniel Kebede from the National Education Union said: “Across the UK and in many parts of the world thousands of children are returning to school. But for the children of Gaza there is no such respite from the relentless war that has blighted their young lives for almost a year now. Palestinians place a high value on the education of their children and young people. 625,000 in Gaza have been denied the inalienable right to education since October 7 last year.
“Now we are in a second school year which there is no prospect for returning to school. No respite from the relentless bombardment that is terrorising their young lives. Scholasticide is taking place in Gaza. The destruction of all education infrastructure with the deliberate targeting of schools and universities and the indiscriminate killing of children and their teachers. Almost 10,000 schoolchildren have been killed along with over 400 of their teachers.
“According to NGOs working in Gaza, 93 per cent of their schools which have specific protection under international law have sustained major damage. 156 UNRWA schools have been hit directly, despite the fact that many are providing refuge for displaced people.
“All twelve of Gaza’s universities have been bombed, leaving 88,000 students unable to continue their education. 90 percent of the Palestinian population has been displaced. Over 40,000 killed. 94,000 injured. Many more missing beneath the rubble.
“How long must this be allowed to continue? We need a ceasefire now. The ICJ has ruled that there is a credible case that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. The UK must now ban all arms sales to Israel. My union, the National Education Union will continue to stand up for the Palestinian people. We will continue to stand up for the rights of children to have an education.”
Sophie Bolt, CND Vice Chair questioned why the UK government has no money for pensioners’ cold weather payment; no money for families with more than two children – yet they have money to supply weapons to Israel.
Dr Ismail Patel from Friends of Al Aqsa expressed his grief at the barbaric behaviour of Israeli forces towards prisoners, and Palestinian civilians. By acting like this “Israel dehumanizes itself” he said.
Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom gave a heartfelt speech in which he said: “Israel has failed for 76 years to erase the Palestinian people and it will continue to fail. It must leave occupied territory now and third parties must end their support for Israel’s unlawful occupation.”
See his full address here:
Saturday’s march was organised by a coalition of organisations, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al Aqsa, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Forum in Britain. The Christian Bloc included Catholic, Anglican and Methodist clergy and religious, representatives from the London Catholic Worker, Pax Christi, Christian CND and Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace.
One Christian campaigner, a retired schoolteacher, told ICN: “These marches are tiring, but they are nothing compared to the hardships experienced by people in Gaza. I can’t imagine how they survive, sleeping in makeshift tents with severe shortages of food and water. This is the least we can do.”
Once again this Saturday, 7 September, Westminster Justice and Peace will be joining the Christian bloc at the Ceasefire Now! rally in Central London to pray and march for peace and justice for Palestine.
The UK government has finally acknowledged that weapons made in this country are being used to commit war crimes in Palestine, but has suspended only 30 of its 350 arms contracts with Israel. Nothing short of a full arms embargo will do. The UK must stop arming Israel immediately.
Schedule
12.15 – Meet outside St James, Piccadilly, W1J 9LL 12.30 – Pray together 13.00 – Join the march
Brendan Metcalfe, CEO at the charity Friends of the Holy Land, will be speaking at St Thomas More RC Church, 9 Henry Road, London N4 2LH on Friday 13th September at 7pm, followed by a Q&A session.
Brendan’s talk will include an update on how Friends in the Holy Land are supporting Christians in the current crisis. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Holy Land, especially as Brendan recently visited Jordan and the West Bank.
Admission free, refreshments will be served. Donations welcome.
All are very welcome to join Westminster Justice and Peace and parishioners from surrounding parishes at this talk.
All are welcome to join the Westminster Holy Land Roundtable on an outing to the Phoenix Cinema, East Finchley, 52 High Rd, London, N2 9PJ, to see the London premiere of a ‘Gaza – A Story of Love and War’ on Sunday 8th September at 3.30pm.
There will be an in-person Q&A with director Mike Joseph after the film.
Synopsis
Two journalists meet to share stories online. Mike Joseph is Welsh, of Jewish parents, and unable to get into Gaza. Sami Abu Salem is Palestinian and unable to escape. Mike’s uncle fought in Jewish forces which destroyed Palestinian Burayr in 1948. Sami’s mother escaped from there to refuge in Gaza. Ten years earlier, Mike’s mother was expelled from Germany, to refuge in Wales. As they talk, a very personal history of the Palestinian Nakba is narrated, from 1948 to 2024. We hear remarkable connections in their stories. Their talk leads to a most unexpected question: Is coexistence possible? They dare to explore hope.
Ten days later comes Hamas’ bloody invasion. Israel responds laying siege to Gaza and killing tens of thousands.
So an exchange of impossible hopes is lost in the ashes of war and genocide.
The host and moderator of the Q+A will be Tim Llewellyn, of the Balfour Project. Tim was formerly the BBC Middle East Correspondent, amongst others covering the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
FROM THE GUARDIAN REVIEW
“Made on an infinitesimal budget but with compassion, empathy and consideration, this documentary is the product of an encounter between two journalists…The conversation they did manage to record before all hell broke out is moving and thought-provoking. The two men emphasise how much they have in common as children of trauma, rather than what might divide them.” The Guardian
Many months have now passed since the beginning of this terrible war. The suffering caused by this conflict and the dismay at what is happening are not only unabated, but seem to be fuelled again and again by hatred, resentment and contempt, which only intensify the violence and push away the possibility of finding solutions.
Indeed, it is becoming increasingly difficult to envision a conclusion to this conflict, whose impact on the lives of our people is greater and more painful than ever before. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find people and institutions with whom a dialogue about the future and peaceful relations is possible. We all seem to be crushed by this present, which is characterized by so much violence and, admittedly, anger.
However, these days seem to be important to be able to turn the tide of the conflict, and among them especially August 15, which for us is the day of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven.
On this day, before or after the celebration of the Eucharist or at another suitable time, I invite everyone to a moment of intercession for peace to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I hope that the parishes, the contemplative and apostolic religious communities and even the few pilgrims who are among us will unite in the common desire for peace that we entrust to the Blessed Virgin.
After having spent so many words and after having done what we can to help and be close to everyone, especially those who are most affected, all that remains is for us to pray. In view of the many words of hatred that are all too often spoken, we would like to offer our prayer, which consists of words of reconciliation and peace.
Enclosed you will find a prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption that you can say on the day of this Solemnity.
Let us pray that in this long night that we are living through, the intercession of the most holy Mary will open a glimpse of light for all of us and for the whole world.
Wishing you all the best in Christ,
+Pierbattista Card Pizzaballa Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins
Prayer for Peace from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem for the Feast of the Assumption 15 August 2024
Supplication for peace to Our Lady assumed into Heaven
O most glorious Mother of God, raised above the choirs of angels, pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel and with all the angelic powers of heaven and with all the saints, to your most holy and beloved Son, our Lord and master.
Obtain for this Holy Land, for all His children and for all humanity the gift of reconciliation and peace.
May your prophecy be fulfilled: the proud are scattered in the imaginations of their hearts; the mighty are overthrown from their thrones, and finally, the humble are raised; Let the hungry be filled with good things, the peaceful be recognized as children of God and that the meek may receive the earth as a gift.
May Jesus Christ, your Son, grant us this, He who exalted you today above the choirs of angels, who crowned you with the diadem of the Kingdom, and has placed you on the throne of eternal splendour. To him be honour and glory forever. Amen.
More than 100,000 people took part in last Saturday’s National March for Palestine in London.
The Christian Bloc gathered in Mount Street Gardens next to Farm Street Church for ecumenical prayers, Taize chants and intercessions written by Palestinian Christians, before setting out to Park Lane to join the march through London to Parliament.
The group included Catholic, Anglican and Methodist clergy and religious, members of the London Catholic Worker, Pax Christi, Christian CND and Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace.
Weaving their way through the heart of London towards parliament, the Christians marched alongside the Muslim and Jewish bloc, calling for: Ceasefire now; End to the occupation; End to the Apartheid; End to arms sales to Israel; Boycott, divestment and sanctions and Support the ICJ rulings.
A small counter-protest known as ‘Enough is Enough’ took place at Piccadilly Circus, with protesters waving Israeli flags and holding placards of Israeli hostages.
A group of Holocaust survivors sat at the side of the protest with placards in support of the Palestinian protesters reading: “Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide.”
At the end of the march, various speakers, including former Labour and now Independent MP Apsana Begum and the chair of Young Labour, Jess Barnard, addressed the crowds from a stage outside Parliament.
Ms Begum said: “For ourselves, for each other, for our diverse communities across the UK and for the men, women and children of Gaza and all those facing oppression all around the world, solidarity.”
Ms Barnard said: “Starmer we don’t want excuses, we don’t want delay, we don’t want you to say you’re different from the Tories, we want you to smash the Tory legacy of complicity in Israeli war crimes. We want action. No more delay, no more excuses.”
Four arrests were made during the march. The Metropolitan Police said one arrest was made for directing a Nazi salute towards a counter-protester. A second was made for a placard suspected of supporting a proscribed organisation. Two further arrests were made for having an offensive placard.
John Sloboda, from Christians for Palestine told ICN: “It was really noticeable how peaceful the march and rally was, with lots of song and comradeship. The ‘confrontation’ with a small group of Israeli flag-wavers was marked simply by people singing even louder.
“It was also noticeable how low-key the policing was, and how the marchers were enabled to mingle with tourists and passers by. The police know that these marches are exactly what they claim to be: demonstrations of peaceful solidarity with the Palestinian people, attended by people representing the full diversity of our society in age, ethnicity, and religion.”
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 