The Methodist Church in Britain is relaunching and expanding its Gaza appeal to support emergency work being carried out there, and in Lebanon. The Gaza/Lebanon Justice Appeal will be supported by All We Can and the United Reformed Church and will benefit partners working in the area. We hope that by working together we will be able to have a greater impact on the work we do alongside our partners.
Jude Levermore, Head of Mission for the Methodist Church says: “We are called to be co-workers for God’s mission of reconciliation and justice, to act and serve among fragile humanity. We believe the crucified Christ is embracing the pain of war affecting people from all parties and backgrounds and we feel compelled therefore to act together with care and compassion. We wait for sanity to prevail but in the meantime we stand with our partners in solidarity and give what we can.”
David Thomson, CEO of All We Can says: “The relaunch and expansion of this emergency appeal, in collaboration with the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church, is part of our commitment to better serve where the need is greatest. Alongside our partners, we call for peace in the region and the respect of humanitarian international law by all. We’re putting our efforts into supporting those who are already responding directly, meeting the urgent humanitarian crisis as it only continues to worsen.”
Philip Brooks, Deputy General Secretary (Mission) for the United Reformed Church (URC) says, "Given the desperate humanitarian crisis experienced by the people of Gaza and Lebanon, it is good for the URC and its global justice programme, 'Commitment for Life', to join with our Methodist ecumenical partners and All We Can in support of this vital appeal. In the face of overwhelming force and deep injustice, we hope to bring ecumenical solidarity and practical support to help alleviate the plight of so many people who are enduring conflict in this region."
The Methodist Liaison Office (MLO) based in Jerusalem works alongside several partners in Gaza, many of whom have had to adapt the support they offer in light of the Israeli Defense Forces' military campaign. The United Reformed Church is a long standing partner of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon which is currently working in Lebanon after the airstrikes by the IDF. The Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees which is part of the Near East Council of Churches (NECC) and the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre which had just opened a clinic in Gaza when the violence started, are working in the most difficult of circumstances.
A prayer for the appeal
In your humanity, incarnate God, you walked this earth,
Promised through the prophets as the wonderful counselor, the prince of peace.
The footprint of your reign is embedded in the land.
Bring now, we wholeheartedly pray, your wisdom and your peace into the world.
That our world may not be ruled by war, injustice and hatred
but by peace-loving wisdom that offers everyone life in all its fullness.
Strengthen us that through our prayers, action and giving
that we may strive to be co-creators of the vision you offer the world,
in the name of the wonderful counselor and the prince of peace, amen.