Gathering to Pray for Gaza Inter-Faith Vigil

Gather with those from different SEQ faith communities to pray for people in Gaza, especially for a:
• permanent ceasefire (including the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners)
• just peace.
Thanks will also be given to God for the reinstatement of UNRWA funding.
The vigil will commence at 6.45pm and close at 7.45pm with a First Nations elder blowing a conch shell at the start/finish.
Between 3pm and the vigil commencing, community leaders will read the names of children who have died since October.
During the vigil, leaders from different faith groups will read in diverse languages from their holy books and lead prayers.
Readers and prayer leaders include:
• Sheikh Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh (Islamic scholar and Palestinian).
• Sameer Ellagta (Palestinian father from Gaza).
• Archbishop Jeremy Greaves (Metropolitan Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Queensland).
• Bishop Bill Ray (Anglican Church Southern Queensland Bishop).
• Dr Elizabeth (Executive Officer of Jewish Council Australia).
• Emma Beach (Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Executive Officer).
• Sr Wendy Flannery (Sisters of Mercy and Australian Vice-President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom).
• Dr Nora Amath (Director of Islamic Relief Australia, a UNICEF partner).
• Dr Ian Leivesley (Queensland Congregational Fellowship lay leader, Queensland Churches Together Faith and Unity Commission representative and psychiatrist).
• Ven. Lozang Lhagsam (Buddhist nun).
• The Rev’d Dr Greg Jenks (Dean of St George’s College, Jerusalem, 2015–2017).
• The Rev’d Deb Bird (Anglican Church Southern Queensland priest, based on the Sunshine Coast).
• The Rev’d John Martin (Uniting Church minister).
• Nadia Saeed (Brisbane Sunni community member and human services professional).
• Helen Zahos (Greek Orthodox woman and humanitarian paramedic/nurse).
• Fr Martin Arnold (Ukrainian Catholic priest).
• Ram Karuppiah (Tamil community elder).
• Erfan Daliri (Baha’i).
• Sherril Butterworth (Anglican Schools Commission Executive Director).
• Peter Branjerdporn (Anglican Church Southern Queensland Justice Unit Coordinator and pharmacist).
• Walters Nkemfack (Christian African Diaspora leader and educator).
• Christine Venner-Westaway (Brisbane Quaker community member).
• Michelle McDonald (Anglican Church Southern Queensland journalist).
More community leaders will be announced as they are confirmed.
There will also be brief periods of silent reflection, music and prayer.
Those who do not practise a faith/spirituality are warmly encouraged to join in.
Please bring:
• friends, colleagues and family members (children are welcome)
• a glow stick or LED candle
• a cushion (Council has asked that the vigil be chair-free, please)
• open hearts.
This is a vigil especially for those more comfortable with prayer or reflection rather than rallying/marching — please leave signage/banners at home. Those who gather will be invited to sign the “Praying for Gaza” banner.
The event is expected to go for 45 to 60 minutes, ending at approximately 7.45pm.
If the weather is wet, an alternative indoor venue will be announced.
If you are from outside Brisbane and would like to organise your own inter-faith “Praying for Gaza” vigil, please contact Michelle McDonald for a sample liturgy via [email protected]