Prince of Peace in a Place of TerrorCanon Andrew White - 5 Dec 2012

It is nearly Christmas time. A time when we think about the Prince of Peace. A time when we celebrate Christ’s coming amongst us. Yet it is a time when most just concentrate on festivities and presents. For us though in Baghdad where we live in the midst of war and violence, the Prince of Peace is not just for Christmas He is for every day.


As you enter the church you are faced by the huge church banner in the sanctuary above the altar. It simply reads in both Arabic and English “Prince of Peace”.
We may not have peace but we do have the Prince of Peace and he stays with us every day. When you come into our compound you leave war, violence and tragedy and come into a place of peace.

You see, our people have lost everything but we have not lost the Prince of Peace. He is with us every day. He give us faith, hope, peace and a future. It is not just a theoretical thing it is the thing that brings to us such joy and happiness.

We are not a sad and destitute people, we are indeed the happiest church I have every known because in the midst of the darkness we have great light because the Prince of Peace is with us every day.

This Christmas as we read headlines of war and tragedy in Syria and tensions and hostility from Baghdad to the Gaza strip, please stop and pray that the Prince of Peace might be a present reality across the Middle East.

Father
We thank you that you are the Prince of peace.
That, in spite of the conflict, there is hope in the church of Baghdad.
You are the Prince of peace
Father please bless the church across the Middle East.
You are the Prince of peace
May your comfort come to those who are hurting and distressed.
You are the Prince of peace
Where differences seem irreconcilable and frustrations do not cease.
You are the Prince of peace
To children who have been orphaned, to mothers who are bereaved.
You are the Prince of peace
May we learn from the church of Baghdad, that whatever troubles we may face, your name does not change.
You are the Prince of Peace.

Thank you for the light of your presence.
Amen.

Canon Andrew White

The Reverend Canon Dr Andrew White is the Chaplain of St George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, Iraq.

He has led St George’s Church, in the heart of Baghdad, since 1998 and divides his time between Iraq and the UK.  He is rarely at home in Hampshire and frequently has a packed speaking and preaching itinerary which takes him all over the UK as well as to North America.

Canon Andrew is also the President of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East which exists to support his unique work at St George’s and in reconciliation. When not in Baghdad or travelling, Andrew’s home base is in Hampshire with his wife Caroline and his two sons Jacob and Josiah.

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