As a priest led prayers for a few dozen worshipers inside St. Joseph Chaldean Church here on Sunday, Iraqi police officers stood guard outside. They blocked the street to traffic and frisked those who entered for explosive belts.
At churches in Baghdad this week, Christians are being asked for identification to determine if they have names that security force members recognize as Christian. Some churches around the northern city of Mosul are digging in, surrounding their buildings with giant earthen berms to prevent car bombers from getting too close.
For Christians in Iraq, this will be a year of canceled holiday celebrations and of Christmas Masses spent under the protective watch of police officers and soldiers because of a spate of threats by extremist groups to bomb churches on Christmas Day.
“I’m very sad that we are not able to have our rituals for Christmas this year and not have a sermon, but we do not want any Christians to be harmed,” said Edward Poles, a Christian priest at Sa’a Church in Mosul, which was bombed last week, though no one was killed.
Lord God of Hosts, protect your people in Iraq from harm, and send your Comforter to them in this season when we celebrate the gracious incarnation and birth of your Son to live among us as Emmanuel. Strengthen your people and let them shine as a faithful light that will draw the peoples of the world to you.
In Jesus’ holy name,
Amen.
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Off-topic sarcasm: Where is the outrage from TEC Executive Council? They should convene ASAP and issue a Very Important Statement. Oh, sorry, not the right kind of people for TEC to get outraged over and issue strongly worded statements.
On-topic: We do pray for those that lay down their lives for the Gospel. May this help to spread Your Word throughout Iraq.