Candlelight Vigil in Bethlehem

In response to the call of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and many faith-based organizations around the world, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and in cooperation with local institutions organized a candlelight vigil to say NO to war and YES to Peace on Sunday, March 16.

Over 300 people from the different walks of life silently participated in the vigil which started at Al Madbassa Square, and passed through the old city of Bethlehem to reach the Nativity Square an hour later.

The vigil ended by a short prayer calling for peace and justice:

Let us not be afraid to defend the weak because of the power of the strong.
Let us not be afraid to defend the oppressed because of the might of the oppressor.
Let us not be afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
Let us not be afraid to defend the children because of indifference of the adults.

Let us seek courage to walk the road to freedom.
Let us seek courage to lift the burden of despair.
Let us seek courage to build the world of justice.
Let us seek courage to speak the word of truth.

May the light of the candles bring us hope and may this night unite the people’s of the world to struggle for a better life for all. We say Yes to peace and justice and NO to war.