It always seems strange that churches should focus so movingly on events in Bethlehem and the Holy Land during Christmas without giving any thought to what’s happening in Bethlehem today. Some people do not even know that Palestinian Christians exist. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a prayer said in every church, written in Bethlehem, praying for Palestinians there and throughout the Holy Land who continue to experience threats to their ability to thrive as individuals and as a community. So, I asked the pastor to the Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, to write a prayer for us all to use.

I’d like to ask everyone to try to have this prayer read in their church over Christmas and to share it, so that many churches pray together, in a great wave of prayer.

“Lord God our Father, who made yourself known to us in your Son, Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, grant to Palestinian Christians who live in Bethlehem today and throughout the Holy Land, resilience to endure and remain in the land and to continue the Christian witness. We pray for all Palestinians to be steadfast under pressure. Amen.”

Written by Revd Dr Munther Isaac

Christians gathered in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem on Christmas Eve

Christians gathered in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem on Christmas Eve