Praying for Syria

Following the result of Wednesday night's vote in Parliament, the President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference urge us all to pray for peace.

"We join with people of all faiths, as we pray for Syria following last night's decision that the UK will proceed with air strikes on ISIS/Daesh. Every death is tragic and we grieve for those who have been killed and those who will die as an escalation of military action as a result of the continuing conflict.

We pray for peace in the UK, following a difficult decision that has created sharp divisions.

We pray for peace in Syria, and for the communities and families already devastated by aerial bombing and the violence of the past four years.

We pray for peace in the Middle East, that the distrust of governments in the region and beyond that helps to fuel radicalisation can be overcome.

We pray for peace in the world, that peoples and governments do not ignore the cries of the innocent and that preservation of life is at the heart of our actions.

We pray for peace."