Document
O Holy Spirit, tongue of fire, descend upon us as you descended upon the disciples gathered in the upper room for prayers. Sanctify us, free us from the bondage of sin and give us your power to speak with one voice.
Rushing wind, sweep over our lands and make your sound gather again the devout people from every nation under heaven. Help us manifest together the victory of life over death given through the Resurrection, making us signs of the living hope and witnesses of your peace.
Giver of life, abide in us, transform our former selves into a new life in faithfulness to God’s will. Along with all others with whom we live, with all nations and people, we would enter a new time, a time of transformation, when hatred is replaced by love, violence by dialogue, condemnation by forgiveness, self-centredness by sharing.
Power of unity, help us to move from the Babel of division due to ethnic or religious boundaries to the Pentecost of unity in the diversity of our gifts, traditions and cultures. Make us messengers of the good news, apostles of peace.
Middle East Council of Churches, 1990
Referenced by the WCC Central Committee: https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/central-committee/1990/call-to-prayer-of-peace-in-the-holy-land
Available in A Procession of Prayers, WCC Publications, 1998
Further statements from the Heads of Churches and Christian Communities in Jerusalem are available in Jerusalem Testament: Palestinian Christians Speak, 1988-2008 by Melanie May (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2010)
