E te whānau a te Karaiti,
I want to personally invite you to join me for a special prayer gathering on Thursday 14 August at 7.30pm at Nayland Street Chapel, Sumner.
Like many of you, I’ve been deeply grieved by the ongoing and escalating violence in the Middle East.
Many of us have seen confronting news reports, images, and testimonies from the region. While I acknowledge the difficulty of discerning truth in today’s media landscape, what can’t be denied is the immense cost being paid by ordinary communities who are bearing the brunt of war.
The human cost is heartbreaking especially among the innocent civilians, families, and children caught in the crossfire. The weight of it all can feel overwhelming, but as Christians, we are not powerless.
We are called to pray. To contend for the powerless and the innocent.
With that in mind, this gathering will be a quiet time of intercession and lament. Together, we will pray for peace, an end to the hostilities, and for healing in places torn apart by conflict.
We’ll also lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ in the West Bank, many of whom are facing persecution currently because of their faith.
I want to be clear, however, that this is not a political gathering.
It is a Christian one.
I'm inviting you to join me, not to make statements, but to bring our sorrow, hope, and faith before Jesus Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be peacemakers, to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. That calling hasn’t changed, even in the midst of complexity and uncertainty.
You are warmly welcome to join me to seek the peace of Christ for the Middle East, and for our world.
Grace and peace,
Rev Harry
Vicar, Sumner-Redcliffs Anglican Church
