All faiths candlelit vigil in London for Norman Kember

All faiths candlelit vigil in London for Norman Kember

-12/12/05

Christians and Muslims

All faiths candlelit vigil in London for Norman Kember

-12/12/05

Christians and Muslims, peace organizations and other friends and supporters of Norman Kember, the British peace activist abducted in Iraq, will hold a silent, candlelit prayer vigil later today (Monday 12 December 2005) in Trafalgar Square, central London. The vigil will take place from 6 – 7pm.

Norman Kember, Tom Fox, Harmeet Singh Sooden and James Loney were in Baghdad as part of a Christian Peacemakers Team delegation to meet with those who are suffering under the terrible conditions that currently exist there. They were abducted on Saturday 26 November 2005.

Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi, one of the organizations behind the vigil said: “For Christians, Advent is a time of waiting and expectation. This year, the waiting and expectation of Advent take on another quality and meaning as we remember our friends Norman, Tom, Harmeet and James held in Iraq.î

She continued: ìOur vigils and prayers are an attempt to wait with them. To remember them and their families. To remember those who hold them at this time and hope that they hear the message of peace. We also vigil and witness as a reminder of the ongoing challenge to do all we can to bring peace and justice to the people of Iraq.”

This litany of the Beatitudes was composed by Jim Loney before the first Gulf War (thanks to CPT and Mennonite Church USA):

Let us pray ñ You have learned how it is said
Love your neighbour and hate your enemy
But I say this to you who are listening…
Love your enemies
Do good to those who hate you
Bless those who curse you
Be compassionate
Judge not
Do not condemn
Grant pardon
Because the amount you measure out
Is the amount you will be given back
Let everything you do
Be done in love
Blessed are the poor
For theirs is the kingdom of God
Blessed are they who mourn now
For they will be comforted
Blessed are the meek
For they will inherit the earth
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice
For they will be satisfied
Blessed are the merciful
For they will be shown mercy
Blessed are the pure in heart
For they will see God
Blessed are the peacemakers
For they will be called the daughters and sons of God
Blessed are they who are persecuted because of righteousness
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Meanwhile, vigils are also being held in the US and in Canada for the missing men, as well as on the West Bank and in Iraq itself.

“I really can’t imagine anything worse than the scenario that myself and my family are going through right now,” Ed Loney, brother of hostage Jim Loney, told The Canadian Press.

“(We) will remain committed to challenging the injustices of the occupation, and telling the stories of those forced to live under it,” Christian Peacemaker Teams said in a statement from Baghdad.

In a further development, Gulf Daily News reported early this morning that an Iraqi insurgent group has claimed the kidnapping of four Iranians on a religious mission to the war-torn country, according to a video shown on the Al Arabiya channel.

“Initial investigation confirmed they were dispatched on an official mission by the hawza (religious authority) in Qom,” said the channel’s anchor, reading a statement from a group called the Saad bin Abi Waqas Brigades.

Petition for the release of the four.

All faiths candlelit vigil in London for Norman Kember

-12/12/05

She continued: ‘Our vigils and prayers are an attempt to wait with them. To remember them and their families. To remember those who hold them at this time and hope that they hear the message of peace. We also vigil and witness as a reminder of the ongoing challenge to do all we can to bring peace and justice to the people of Iraq.”

This litany of the Beatitudes was composed by Jim Loney before the first Gulf War (thanks to CPT and Mennonite Church USA):

Let us pray – You have learned how it is said
Love your neighbour and hate your enemy
But I say this to you who are listening…
Love your enemies
Do good to those who hate you
Bless those who curse you
Be compassionate
Judge not
Do not condemn
Grant pardon
Because the amount you measure out
Is the amount you will be given back
Let everything you do
Be done in love
Blessed are the poor
For theirs is the kingdom of God
Blessed are they who mourn now
For they will be comforted
Blessed are the meek
For they will inherit the earth
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice
For they will be satisfied
Blessed are the merciful
For they will be shown mercy
Blessed are the pure in heart
For they will see God
Blessed are the peacemakers
For they will be called the daughters and sons of God
Blessed are they who are persecuted because of righteousness
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Meanwhile, vigils are also being held in the US and in Canada for the missing men, as well as on the West Bank and in Iraq itself.

“I really can’t imagine anything worse than the scenario that myself and my family are going through right now,” Ed Loney, brother of hostage Jim Loney, told The Canadian Press.

Petition for the release of the four.