6th April 2026

Yesterday, Easter Sunday, Israeli forces carried out a series of wide‑ranging operations across the occupied West Bank, breaking into homes, installing military roadblocks, and abducting several Palestinians. Whilst these operations were no particularly targeted at Christians, Christians are being driven out of the West Bank. The Christian population of the West Bank has shrunk from 5% of the total population in 1967 to roughly 1% today, about 45,000 people. Jad Isaac, the director general of the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem, which tracks the Israeli takeover of land and resources on the West Bank, said: “When Netanyahu says we are the only country which is taking care of the Christians, he’s a liar. He said that in Palestinian Christian communities in the West Bank “the strategy is to make life intolerable”. Relentless land grabs and intimidation is a pattern repeated up and down the West Bank in a campaign the UN has called ethnic cleansing.  The Guardian newspaper reports the words of Father Bashar Fawadleh, the parish priest of Christ the Redeemer church:  “First they kicked the Bedouin out in the last three years and put up their caravans and bring their cows and sheep. They are using the land without any permission from the owners and from ourselves".  Last July, settlers set fire to the grounds of St Peter’s church in Taybeh, a fifth–century Byzantine church. Since then, the town has been raided four times, with cars set on fire, tires slashed and windows smashed. Rifat Kassis, live in Beit Sahour.  He is a member of the town’s Lutheran congregation.  He said, " settlement is not just about the house, but it’s a whole construction, because with the settlement comes roads, military roads, bypass roads and settler-only roads to connect to other settlements,” Kassis said, “This is exactly our fear as Palestinians and also as Christians, that we will become like any other village next to a settlement, with daily harassment, daily shooting, daily arrests of our kids.” 

Loving God, we come to you in prayer sharing our concerns for our brothers and sisters in the West Bank. As they face daily intimidation, oppression and violence strengthen their faith when hope feels distant, lift them when they are in despair, grant them resilience.  Surround them with your love that, even in the face of fear, they may be able to show love to those who seek to do them harm. May their communities be places of light, where love overcomes hate, unity triumphs over division, truth is victorious over falsehood.  My your Holy Spirit move among their communities that they may feel your presence with them. May they also know they are not forgotten by the global church and that we hold them in our prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Seven-year-old Ben is a first grader at Campton Elementary in Campton, New Hampshire.  Ben is deaf and until recently, his days at school were marked by isolation and he struggled to connect with those around him. New Hampshire is one of the few states without a dedicated school for deaf students, and Ben is the only deaf child in his entire district so there was little support for Ben. However, a few classmates started learning simple signs so they could interact with Ben. This small gesture of friendship quickly grew into something much bigger. Soon, the entire class joined in. The the n whole school , including the staff committed to learning sign language together. Teachers and pupils in other grades began using sign language regularly, even when Ben was not present. Today, nearly every student and staff member knows at least some sign language. More importantly, they have created an environment where Ben feels seen, included, and understood. 

Almighty God and everlasting Father,

you are a great and mighty God,

a powerful and holy God.

You have created all that is

and we see your hand in the wonders of the universe.

We thank you, Father God,

for sending your Son into the world

to redeem us from sin,

that through faith in him we are born again,

made new, worthy to stand in your presence

and be adopted as your children.

Through your grace you have given us

that wonderful inheritance of life everlasting,

lived at one with you.

We praise you for Christ’s victory over death,

and that he reigns on high at your right hand,

with the Holy Spirit.

We now watch with anticipation

for the day when Christ our Lord will come again in glory

and power, and great triumph, to judge the world.

We join our voices with angels and archangels

and with all the company of heaven

to proclaim your glory for ever praising you;

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. Amen.