A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 4/22

Passover begins at sundown today, April 21, and will conclude on Tuesday, April 30. This year the joy of Passover will be tempered by the tragic situation in the Holy Land. For our meditation tonight I turn to my friend, Alden Solovy, and his beautiful prayer: "Children of Gaza, Children of Israel."

Dear Children,
What can we say to you in times of war?
What can we say when you run for shelter, not for joy,
When you hide, not to seek, but huddle in fear?
No, it is not a game when you
Cry tears of dread in the night.

O grief,
O war and terror,
You have stolen our children.
You have stolen our rest.
And now you wish to steal our hope
In tomorrow.

Children of Gaza and Israel,
We pray for you to find each other,
In laughter and friendship,
Before someone teaches you
Anger and hatred,
While you are still pure with
Curiosity and wonder.

Children of Israel and Gaza,
We pray for you to find comfort
In the cradle of your mothers’ arms,
In the bosom of quiet and peace,
Without rocket or mortar to break
The gentle stillness of the air,
The lovely silence of the night.

One G-d,
Maker of All,
Is this too much to ask?
Is this too much to dream?
That one day all children of the world
Will run with glee toward one another,
Will hold hands together in delight,
To skip and twirl and dance
To the rhythms of peace?

Protect us, Lord while we're awake

and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Tonight's song is as beautiful as it is simple...

Peace for the Children by Doreen Lankshear-Smith

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Peace for the children, peace, peace,

Peace for the children we pray.

Following the path of One of peace,

we work for healing, we work for peace;