Call to Prayer and Fasting

The human race is a single being
Created from one jewel
If one member is struck
All must feel the blow
Only someone who cares for the pain of others
Can truly be called human

In this verse, written by 13th century Iranian poet Saadi, we are reminded of our common humanity as people of God.

With the United States spending $14 million/hour (close to $350 million/day) for the war in Iraq alone, and given the continuing threat of war against Iran, Mennonite Central Committee calls on all people of faith to fast and pray for peace. Because we are concerned about the destructive, traumatizing and dehumanizing affects of this war on the population of the region, we invite concerned people to join together across faith traditions to pray and to fast from sun-up to sun-down every Friday, beginning the first week of April and continuing through the last week of October.