A Call to Prayer and Public Witness for Peace in the Holy Land

September 17, 2025

Funded by Christian Aid's partner CFTA, a team cook up nutritious meals of bean stew and rice for displaced people in the Khan Younis area of Southern Gaza.

As part of our ecumenical engagement with issues of peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, CTBI is supporting member churches, Bodies in Association and partners in a call to prayer and public witness on Sunday 21st September, UN World Peace Day.

Information about the initiative and how to get involved can be found below.

If you have any resources you wish to contribute please contact the CTBI Web Editor.

A separate joint statement from Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, is also supported by Church leaders across Britain and Ireland.

We have also collated Prayers and statements on violence in the Middle East from our member churches.

Christian Aid, Tearfund, Embrace the Middle East, CAFOD, Sabeel-Kairos, Amos Trust, All We Can, Reconciling Leaders Network, Difference, Friends of the Holy Land, USPG, Centre for Missionaries from the Majority World, Commitment for Life.

We are witnessing the devastating escalation of violence in Gaza and the West Bank. The cries of Palestinian church leaders for peace and solidarity have echoed across the global Church, urging us to respond with clarity, compassion, and conviction.

As Christian agencies rooted in faith and justice, we believe the gravity of this moment demands a visible, united Christian witness—one that speaks to our shared commitment to peace, reconciliation, and the dignity of all people.

We are calling on churches across Britain to pray for peace on Sunday 21st September, coinciding with UN World Peace Day and the global call to prayer from the World Council of Churches.

The call to prayer and public witness is supported by the Baptist Union of Wales, Church of England, Church in Wales, Quakers in Britain, Union of Welsh Independents and the United Reformed Church.

What your church can do on 21 September 2025

Please include prayer for peace in your services on or around 21 September. You can use these suggestions or the links to resources from the joint Christian Agencies.

Consider holding a minute’s silence in the service
Use the prayer below from Archbishop Hosam of Jerusalem
Joint the #FastforGaza action.

A Prayer for the Holy Land for 21 September 2025

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world:
In your mercy, provide for all those in Gaza and beyond who suffer from hunger and starvation, that they may be given both physical bread to nourish their bodies and heavenly bread to sustain their souls.
By the power of your Spirit, bring a speedy end to this cruel war, the release of all captives, care for the sick and wounded, comfort for those who have lost loved-ones, and the opening of a pathway for a just and lasting peace here in the very homeland where your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ministered during his earthly life;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen

The Most Reverend Dr. Hosam E. Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, August 2025

Points for Prayer

Your prayers might focus on one or more of the issues below:

An immediate ceasefire in Gaza
Unfettered access to humanitarian relief.
An end to violence in Israel and Palestine.
The release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees.
A meaningful peace process.

Welsh

Gweddi dros y Tir Sanctaidd ar gyfer Medi 21

Dad Grasol, daeth dy Fab bendigedig, Iesu Grist o’r nefoedd i fod yn fara’r gwirionedd
sy’n rhoi bywyd i’r byd:
Yn dy drugaredd, dyro fwyd i bawb yn Gaza a thu hwnt sy’n dioddef o newyn er mwyn
iddynt dderbyn bara materol i fwydo eu cyrff a bara nefol i gynnal eu heneidiau.
Trwy rym dy Ysbryd, tyrd â’r rhyfel creulon hwn i ben ar frys gyda rhyddhad i’r holl
garcharorion, gofal meddygol i’r clwyfedig, cysur i’r rhai sydd wedi colli anwyliaid ac agor
lwybr i greu heddwch cyfiawn a pharhaol yma yn y wlad lle bu dy Fab, ein Harglwydd
Iesu Grist ei hun yn gweini yn ystod ei fywyd daearol.
Yr hwn sy’n byw ac yn teyrnasu gyda thi a’r Ysbryd Sanctaidd, un Duw, yn awr a hyd byth.

Amen

Y Parchedicaf Ddr. Hosam E. Naoum, Archesgob Anglicanaidd yn Jerwsalem, Awst 2025

Public Witness

We have clearly heard the call from Palestinian Church leaders for greater public witness and solidarity, and we are therefore inviting churches and church leaders to consider how to best respond.

Immediate suggestions include

Share this call to prayer within your networks and with other churches
Encourage your congregation to consider their prophetic witness—what more they might do to stand for peace? There are links to further resources for churches below.
Consider joining the Red Line for Gaza weekly actions
Join with other faith leaders in public witness, amplifying the call for justice and reconciliation

We are discerning a moment for a larger-scale public witness by churches nationwide and will share more details as soon as possible.

Resources for Churches

Christian Agencies have a number of resources for churches wanting to find out more, from orders of service, prayers, campaigns, opportunities for public witness and study group materials.

Here we have compiled some helpful links to further information.

Christian Aid

Inspire your church to act for a just peace – Christian Aid
Films, resources for services, vigils and events, campaign actions and more.

Christian Aid, Embrace the Middle East, Sabeel Kairos, All We Can, Quakers in Britain, Reconciling Leaders Network, Difference.

Additional resources

Joint Public Issues Team

Prayer for Peace in Gaza, in the West Bank and in Israel

Photo (top) Majdi Fathi/Christian Aid: Funded by Christian Aid’s partner CFTA, a team cook up nutritious meals of bean stew and rice for displaced people in the Khan Younis area of Southern Gaza.