Easter and Pentecost 2026

As we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, we remember Jesus’ words to his disciples, gathered fearfully in Jerusalem after his cruel and devastating death on a cross.

‘Peace be with you…..Receive the Holy Spirit.’

Our Lord commissioned them to continue in his work of changing the world, changing hearts and minds, the ministry into which Jesus calls each one of us.

Thank you for your prayer, in support of our projects sowing seeds of hope in the Land of the Holy One. Let us always remember St Paul’s words of encouragement:

‘The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs to deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.’ (Romans 8.26,27).

A FORM OF PRAYER FOR PENTECOST 2026

Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.

A Reading: Isaiah 61 verse 1-2
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour….
to comfort all who mourn.

Lord Jesus,
as you proclaimed that message in the synagogue at Nazareth so now, in your name, we pray for your people in the Holy Land.
Give them your peace in their hearts, fill them with the fire of your love and strengthen them in the knowledge of your good purposes.
Lord, hear us.

We give thanks for all who are peacemakers in the land where your Light shone in the darkness that cannot overcome it.
Lord, hear us.

Give courage and strength to all who struggle daily to care for their family, and those who strive to aid them.
Lord, hear us.

Protect those living in the face of violence; bring support to the unemployed and those denied access to their work-place and income, through restriction of movement.
Lord, hear us.

Strengthen all Christian leaders as they preach the gospel of peace. In the power of the Spirit unite all believers in proclaiming the way of peace.
Lord, hear us.

Encourage daily all who work for Friends of the Holy Land, inspire and strengthen them in this vital ministry, this source of hope.
Lord, hear us.

Jesus, Saviour of all, condemned by ruling powers you opened wide your arms on a cross outside the walls of Jerusalem to draw all people to yourself;
may your love and mercy guide the hearts and minds of all who seek peace, for that tortured land.
Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Amen. Amen.

The Presidents of Churches Together in England invite you to join them in prayer this Easter:

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Lord of life,

in the joy of Easter morning we give you thanks:

that light has overcome evil,

that love has triumphed over death,

and that in Christ a new creation has begun.

Yet we bring before you a world still marked by suffering, by war and division,

by grief, fear, and injustice.

Hold in your mercy all who suffer,

and make us instruments of your peace.

Risen Christ,

as you passed through death into life, draw us also into that new life:

that we may live not for ourselves,

but in hope, courage, and love -

bearing witness to your resurrection in all we do.

May the joy of Easter strengthen us, the hope of Easter sustain us,

and the life of Easter transform us,

until all things are made new in you.

Amen.

Journey with us in the footsteps of Jesus this Holy week

To inspire you in your spiritual reflections throughout Holy Week, we have brought together a series of videos filmed in the Holy Land to help you to explore the places, as they appear today, that Jesus would have journeyed through on His way to the cross.

Watch our Holy Week videos

As we journey through Lent, each week we have been sharing with you personal stories from our brothers and sisters in Christ and their individual special prayers.

We invite you to walk alongside Christians living in the birthplace of our faith, through their personal prayer requests, voices of courage, faith, and hope.

Week 5

Sister Anna Salwa

In this touching video, Sister Salwa shares how after the passing of her young nephew, her trust in God helped her guide her family through grief thanks to the hope she finds through her faith.

She tells us how God’s presence, in both the small moments and the difficult ones, gives her the strength to continue spreading joy, hope, and peace to those she meets, in times of trial.

May her words uplift your heart and renew your hope. And may you too, find strength and encouragement in her prayers of thanks for you.

My name is Eyad, a man in my mid-sixties, a father of two sons and a daughter Haneen who has three children. I used to work in livestock farming and lived a simple life, until I was diagnosed a year ago with laryngeal cancer, a diagnosis that changed my life in a painful and unexpected way. Recently, I underwent surgery to remove the disease, which resulted in an opening in my neck. I am no longer able to speak, and eating has become extremely difficult for me. Alongside this physical suffering, I carry deep emotional exhaustion and endure a heavy silence that fills my days.

I ask for your prayers for healing, that the Lord may grant me strength and endurance to bear this pain, and that He may fill my heart with peace and comfort, surrounding me with His presence in every moment of weakness.

FHL helped with funding Eyad’s cancer surgery.

Week 4

Nadia

Nadia has a deep passion for preserving the heritage of the Holy Land.

She received financial support from FHL to complete her undergraduate studies. And now hopes to pursue a Master’s degree to strengthen her ability to serve in this critical work.

Please join us in praying that God would open the right doors for her to continue her studies and calling. And to expand her impact in protecting this precious heritage.

Bajes

My name is Bajes, a man in my seventies and a father of three children. Despite many long years of hardship, I still carry in my heart a deep longing for a new joy. My son Majd is married, and I eagerly await the birth of my two grandchildren. This hope brings me comfort and light amid my pain. For the past seven years, I have been suffering from lung cancer that has spread to several parts of my body, in addition to high blood pressure and prostate problems. I used to work as a tailor and had a small workshop that provided my livelihood, but illness has forced me to stop working and has weighed heavily on me both physically and emotionally.

I ask for your prayers for healing from these illnesses, and that the Lord may grant me peace, strength, and endurance to continue this journey. I also ask for your prayers for the safety of my daughter-in-law, Razan, that her delivery may be safe, and that my heart may be filled with joy as I hold my two grandchildren in my arms, and that the Lord may restore joy after many years of pain.

FHL helped with funding health insurance for Bajes.

Week 3

Michael

With no tourists and no work visas to cross into Israel most people are unemployed in the West Bank. So, those who are more creative and have skills are seeking to establish small businesses so they can afford the basics of everyday life.

Pray for Michael & his family for strong resilience to remain and faith in the Lord
Pray for peace, provision and perseverance for all Christians in the Holy Land
Share Michael’s story with your church and prayer groups
Stand with us in bringing practical hope to Christian families

Your prayers truly matter. Together, we can strengthen faith, restore livelihoods, and keep hope alive.

Mierna

I am Mierna from Beit Jala. I live with my mother, three sisters and one brother. My father has passed away and my mother works as a cleaner at an institution to support our family.

I pray that God will have mercy on my sister Irene and help her regain her ability to speak and express herself, because her situation is very difficult. Irene has been nonverbal since birth, and she is now 24 years old.

I take her out and accompany her to a school that specializes in speech therapy. I know that these therapies have not been effective, but I take her, so she does not stay at home all the time. She becomes very bored, and going there helps entertain her and lift her spirits.

Lord, you can perform a miracle and enable her to speak. Her situation is difficult, but I place my hope in You. Lord, I pray for my sister Irene.

FHL have helped Mierna through our Job Creation programme. She works at the Lutheran Church in Beit Jala as a cleaner

Week 2

Sandra

In Zababdeh, Mum Sandra was facing a difficult reality. Her husband had lost his job, and her daughter needed specialised education that was not readily available locally. Employment was scarce, and support for children with additional needs was limited.

Sandra has written a prayer in Arabic, with a translation:

O Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank You for always being with us, And for granting us peace and hope.
Lord, bless our family, And make our home a house of love and tranquility.
Bless our center and our ministry, And make us instruments of goodness and love for every
child in need of support.
We pray for the children, Especially those who face learning difficulties; Grant them strength,
patience, and self-confidence. O Lord, open their minds to understanding, Enlighten their hearts
with joy, And make their path full of success and blessing.

We place everything in Your hands,
For You are the Good God,
And to You be the glory forever.

Amen.

Marlene

Marlene lives in Beituniya with her brothers, in a household caught in the grip of a devastating economic crisis.

Despite the harshness of their living conditions, Marlene’s spirit remains rooted in her faith. She prays not just for her own family, but for the institutions and individuals who make it possible for Christian families to remain steadfast in the Holy Land. Marlene and her family have been recipients of our emergency aid fund.

Lenten Intentions

During this season of reflection and almsgiving, we ask you to join Marlene in prayer for:

Marlene and Her Brothers: That they find stable work and the means to secure the basic necessities of a dignified life.
The "Living Stones": For all Christian families in the Holy Land who are struggling to stay in their homes amidst economic collapse.
The Protectors of Dignity: For the institutions and humanitarian organizations that provide the vital support needed to keep families like Marlene’s from falling into total despair.
A Blessing on the Giver: Marlene asks for God’s blessing, health, and success upon all those who extend a hand of charity to those in need.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." — Matthew 25:35

Week 1

Daniel

A short video featuring Daniel, a young Christian from the Holy Land. Thanks to your support Daniel is completing his studies in Nursing at Bethlehem University, with help from Friends of the Holy Land. Hear first hand the challenges he faces and the hope that sustains him.

Mazen

Mazen is a 62-year old father from Ramallah. FHL have helped Mazen with essential medical costs, reducing the burden on his family.

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