13th December 2024

Praying for peace this advent.

This advent we are invited by Christian Aid to take time to pray for those around the world who are living in situations of conflict and war. On the third Sunday of advent (this coming Sunday) we focus on the story of Hassan, a primary school teacher, and his wife Zahra, a lawyer, who left their village near Al-Fashir, Sudan after fighting broke out, making the dangerous journey south whilst Zahra was heavily pregnant with their son, Farhad.

Hassan writes:

When we left, my wife was pregnant. Two months ago, after we arrived here, thank God she delivered a baby. We were three, but now we are four. She delivered at the maternity ward in the camp. It was difficult under these circumstances. We live in a place where the quality of health services is not as good as they are in Sudan. We are happy despite the difficulty. The positive thing is that you are not alone in a tragedy where people help one another. That’s why the people who came along with us made us create new families. After that we have hope in life and are able to continue.

A prayer for displaced families.

We rejoice in relationships and families, thankful that you designed us for community.
Forgive us our apathy in which we often look away from the hardship of others.
Cause us, in love, to look outward to others and upward to you,
And so enable us to live lives that truly display your love to our global family.
God of love, strengthen our hearts to act in service of those whose lives have been damaged by hatred.
Amen

Written for Christian Aid by Mari Tutesigensi.