March 20, 2015, 2:18 PM
Prayers for Yemen
As the worldwide community hears the tragic news from Yemen, where suicide bombers attacked two mosques in Sanaa, our hearts and messages of support and peace go out to friends and family across the world.
Dear friends,
My heart filled with sadness and empathy this morning as I awoke to the terrible news of the bombings in Yemenite mosques. I wish there was something I could do to make all the hurting stop but, in these moments, I am reminded of something a friend shared during a Bible study this week: "The least -- and the most -- we can do is pray." He was reflecting on a verse in the Bible that says, "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." (Nahum 1:4)
This is how I feel when I think of our brothers and sisters in Yemen -- and those in Pakistan affected by the killings, in Vanuatu affected by Cyclone Pam, the people who are hurting right here in my city and country, and many more.
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
In Peace,
Sari Heidenreich, URI Regional Coordinator for North America
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Dear all,
How would it be to set up a dayli prayer line all over the world at a special time. Perhaps 7 PM. And to invite people from all religions to join. I will start it in our local CC in Austria tomorrow. "For peace and friendship" between all people on the planet. I set the handy alarm with the sound of the ocean and I will imagine, how waves of friendship flow over the landscape everywhere.
And I invite you or your friends to join. (To help figure out what time to pray, you can click this link and it will tell you what time 7 pm in Austria is in your city.)
With greetings by heart.
Elisabeth Ziegler-Duregger, Catholic member of URI CC Lienz / Austria
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Its sad and unfortunate that a few people
can hurt so many people and we all seem helpless
our prayers for the people in all the affected places
Nageeba Hassan, Executive Director, Restoring and Empowering Communities (REC) CC
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Dear Sisters and Brothers, may our prayers, love and healing reach all those affected by the bombings in Yemen and disasters around the world.
A global prayer for our whole world will be very powerful.
In peace,
Kiran Bali MBE JP, URI Global Council Chair
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Dear Brethren,
The events in our world today, though very saddening, serve as constant reminders to us of the great urgency and significance of our work together to promote peace, justice and healing for all. It was Pakistan, then Tunisia and today it is Yemen, who knows next? We must remain prayerful, vigilant and continue to give out our gifts and time, sometimes, even the supreme gift of ourselves.
It is well.
Emmanuel Ivorgba, Regional Coordinator, URI West Africa
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Dear friends,
I was deeply struck by hearing news of the attacks today, following fast on the heels of other recent tragedies. Although when hearing news like this it's easy to close your eyes and despair, it's also essential to remember that there is an even greater importance and urgency to the work we are doing. It's important to focus on the future and stay strong and positive, because we can't give up as long as there is injustice and violence in the world. To my global family in Yemen, I am sending my love and thoughts of strength to you. Every day brings us closer to a future where, hopefully, one day all humans will learn to coexist in peace.
Gaea Denker, URI Global Communications Manager
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Dear friends,
I am very sorry to know about the bomb blast in Yeman, killing innocents. May souls of victim's of blast rest in peace, condolence to their families dear ones. May Peace Prevail in Middle East, May Peace Prevail in Pakistan, May peace prevail on earth, and religiously motivated violence come to end.
May God bless and protect His people.
Jahangir Piara
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In Jerusalem, I weep for sisters and brothers in Yemen and pray for those who lost their lives to such horrific violence and their families and friends. We will join you all in global prayers for peace and friendship on Saturday.
In peace…
Victor Kazanjian, URI Executive Director
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Our prayers are going out to all of those families who lost love one in this sad, sad act of violence against innocent people. There is so much I could express but this is a time for our URI family to lift our prayers for Yemen and recommit ourselves to bridging peace --anchored in love-- through all that we do. Tomorrow the Trail of Dreams CC will be leading a walk for justice. We will start the walk with a prayer for our brothers and sisters in Yemen.
May Peace Prevail on Earth,
Audri Scott Williams, Global Council Trustee for URI Multiregion
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It is really very terrifying to read that places of worship such as that a Bohra mosque in Karachi and 2 churches in Lahore Pakistan are bombed and today we read of mosques in Yemen are attacked resulting in the killing of many people. I am sure many more people have suffered injuries and some of them seriously. I feel so helpless in such circumstances. At this moment all I can do is pray for them and offer them my deepest condolences. I wish there was respect for all. And each person had freedom of religion and expression. I wish some day religiously motivated violence will end.
These situations pose a big challenge for us as members of URI. I know we have an in important role to play in such circumstances. Let us reflect together what we can do for the suffering humanity.
May Peace Prevail On Earth!
Father James Channan OP, URI-Pakistan Regional Coordinator
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Salam!
This is such a tragic news! My heart sinks and so much suffering all over the world. I wish this world also gets a Messiah.
Praying and in grief
Qutub Jehan Kidwai, Regional Coordinator, West Zone, India
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I cannot appreciate enough the work, our URI sisters and brothers are doing in Yemen! So good to hear, they are fine in this critical situation. They should know, that we all in our mind are with them.
With all my best wishes
Marianne Horling, Global Council Trustee for URI Europe
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We have joined the prayer and meditation for Yemen and other places for peace and compassion.
Dr. Jinwol Lee, URI Asia's Regional Coordinator for Korea
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Dear friends,
We pray for all our brothers in Yemen, we pray for peace prevail on earth.
Peace,
Dra. Enoé Texier, Coordinadora Regional de la Iniciativa para las Religiones Unidas, (URI) América Latina & El Caribe
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Greetings of peace!
We, all URI Pakistan, CC members, other religious leaders, and other civil society, offered Peace Prayers and Meditation for our Yemeni brothers on Friday and Sunday in Mosques and Churches. Special prayers were offered: Peace in Pakistan and Youghnabad Churches blast, and blast in Mosque in Karachi on Friday. I take privilege to thank all brothers and sister of Global Staff and URI Family who sent solidarity messages prayers of healing and peace in Pakistan. Now the journey is starting to resolve the conflict between Muslim and Christian in Pakistan. Fr. James Channan OP, URI Regional Coordinator, myself, and other URI members did play a vital role in the present issues.
May Peace Be in Yemen!
May Peace Be in Pakistan!
May Peace Prevail where there is a violent atmosphere!
May Peace Prevail on Earth!
Yuel Bhatti, Executive Secretary, United Religions Initiative Pakistan
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Dear my Brothers,
Sadness is a small word if you come to compare it with what we really feel when we see the pictures of dead children in the mosque with their dead fathers. It is really hurting so much you can't imagine how the mothers and sisters of those affected people feel. They were waiting for their fathers and brothers to come back from the Friday prayers but they didn't come, the horrible news only came to them. Let's pray for them, let's pray for peace in the whole world.
CC Yemen Youth of Peace Organization
