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Feb. 28, 2026
Dear friends in Christ,
It's Saturday evening, nearing the end of a day when we awoke to the news that the United States and Israel had launched military strikes against Iran.
Tomorrow morning, we will gather in worship across Maine, joining our hearts in prayer for the world, for our service men and women, for Israel-Palestine, for Iran, and for a quick and peaceful end to the conflict.
Earlier today, the Most Rev. Hosam E. Naoum, Archbishop of Jerusalem, wrote asking for our urgent prayers. "These developments touch the essence of Jerusalem and the Middle East. All the countries currently engaged in this fight, and those that tolerate retaliatory blows, fall within our ecclesiastical borders," he wrote. Read the rest of his letter here.
I commend to you also the letter sent today by our Presiding Bishop, in which he writes: "As Christians who follow a Prince of Peace, we mourn that today’s attacks will surely mean further hardship for the most vulnerable Iranians and, as retaliation inevitably follows, suffering that will spread across the entire region."
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Faithfully in Christ,
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