Observed annually on the Seventh Sunday of Easter, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) recognizes Sunday, June 1 as Jerusalem and the Holy Land Sunday.
This joint day of emphasis with the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) is an opportunity to lift up our partner churches in the region—The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
“These are our partner churches. That means we have an ongoing relationship with them and a commitment to walk with them in times of joy and in times of adversity,” said ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson.
“This is certainly a time of adversity. Jerusalem and the Holy Land Sunday is a time that we can lift up prayer, especially for those who are experiencing the particular harshness of the war in Gaza, and the increasing incursions into the West Bank with land confiscation and the increasing numbers of homelessness in refugee populations from the West Bank. It’s a time for prayer, awareness building and commitment to maintaining, celebrating and trying to sustain the Christian presence in the Holy Land.”
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, the leaders of the ELCIC and ACC have been steadfast in their call for, “solidarity, witness and advocacy for justice.” In letters to the church and government officials, the leaders appealed for prayer and advocacy for all those in the affected regions, for an enduring and sustained ceasefire; the immediate flow of life saving food, water, aid, fuel and humanitarian assistance; the release of all captives; and an end of occupation to allow for the beginning of a just-peace.
“When we see the extent of the damage there, I think the reason is very obvious why this year it’s incredibly important,” she said. “We remain heavily concerned for our partners who live in the Holy Land. Our churches are also suffering there – both financially, but also physically. They’re talking about it in terms of chronic fatigue syndrome. It’s not a post-traumatic fatigue system, it’s a chronic traumatic fatigue syndrome because it’s trauma that just doesn’t end. Everyone there knows people in Gaza, so they’ve all known someone who has died, been dispossessed or homeless. So, it affects the whole community, even those who aren’t directly involved in the war.”
In early April, Bishop Johnson travelled to the Holy Land alongside Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bishop Elizabeth Eaton for Palm Sunday. The trip served as a solidarity visit in support of ELCJHL Bishop Ibrahim Azar and the people and ministries of the ELCJHL.
Bishop Johnson encourages churches and individuals to remain involved leading up to and after Jerusalem and the Holy Land Sunday. She invites the following three meaningful ways to do this:
“Prayer is always No. 1,” she shared. “And that’s the main reason why we have this Sunday; it is an encouragement for people to pray for peace in Gaza, peace in the Holy Land. We want to pray for the Christian presence to be maintained because unfortunately with the difficult times, Christians are immigrating away from the Holy Land, and soon there will not be a very strong Christian presence there. No. 2 is to remain particularly observant of the news, so you can always direct what your prayers are for. And No. 3, be sure to watch for the letters that are being written by myself and other church leaders to advocate with our government to seek peace in Gaza. These are all things that I ask the ELCIC to consider doing for our partners in the ELCJHL.”
Congregations are encouraged to use suggested liturgical resources which are available here: click here.
Jerusalem and the Holy Land Sunday prayer:
