Note: The following was used in our worship service on 10/29/2023.
God of every place, God of every people
We lift our eyes, our hearts, our voices to you
In our grief
In our pain
In solidarity with victims of violence
We have no other hope.
We say your name: Creator Spirit. Father of All. God of peace. God of justice. Liberator.
God of every place, God of every people
We grieve the loss of life in Israel on October 7
We name Aharon Haimov, male, age 25
Hana Ben Artzi, female, age 69
Malek Ibrahim Alkra’an, male, age 14
Jawad Ibrahim Alkra’an, male, age 15
We say their names.
God of every place, God of every people
We grieve the loss of life in Gaza since October 7
We name Mayam Hahdi Ashraf Barghouth, female, age 3
Yousry Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Omari, female, age 69
Khaled Mazen Muhammad Dabour, male, age 17
Azza Mazen Muhammad Dabour, female, age 19
We say their names.
We pray for the Israeli hostages held in Gaza since October 7
We name Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23
Inbar Haiman, 27
Hagar Brodutch and three children—Ofri, Yuval, and Uriah, ages 4 to 10
We say their names.
We pray for the millions of Palestinians who live in Gaza without resources to sustain life
Who lived there for decades, who live there now
We name Sireen Beseiso, female, age 36
Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, male, age 54
Afaf Alnajjar, female, age 21
Nihal Alami, female, age 33 with her son and husband
We say their names.
We pray for ourselves and our community in Jackson, MS
A community of Christians, Muslims, and Jews, a community that works together in WTJ
We name our leaders: Hugh Hollowell, Imam Warith Deen Muhammad, Rabbi Joseph Rosen
We say our own names: _____ (say your own name aloud). God, we need you.
God of every place, God of every people
We lift our hearts, our eyes, our voices to you
In our grief
In our pain
In our solidarity with victims of violence
You are our hope.
We say your name: Creator Spirit. Father of All. God of peace. God of justice. Liberator.
by Rhoda Byler Yoder, Open Door Mennonite Church, October 29, 2023, with credit to Masjid Muhammad Prayer Vigil, October 28, 2023; Voices Together, Worship Leader Edition; and multiple news reports.
