Each month we pray for two of our mission partners. Sunnyside’s prayer focus for December in this Advent season locally is Sunnyside Rural Trust, and internationally Embrace the Middle East, whose website we commend to you to visit, where they bring both stark and good news from their partners on the frontline who need our support and prayers – it is worth spending some prayerful time there:  www.embraceme.org

Sunnyside Rural Trust

Sunnyside Rural Trust is a thriving local charity and social enterprise offering training and work experience for more than 170 vulnerable people with learning disabilities in a range of rural activities. They focus on a full ‘plot-to-plate’ cycle from sowing seeds and nurturing young plants to selling plants in their shop and serving items made from their homegrown produce in their cafés.
They have asked us to pray:

• for all staff, volunteers and participants as they come to terms with the sad loss of one of the trainees; let’s pray that they will all know some comfort and pray for the planning of the musical trail to be held in remembrance;
• for all those involved in planning the new workshop and updating of current facilities; work is planned for 2026;
• for strengthening relationships between our Church and the Trust.

Embrace the Middle East

A Christmas Message from Gaza (through Embrace ME)

My name is Mousa and I work with children with disabilities at the Princess Basma satellite unit in Gaza City. This year has been so very hard for us.

Our children in Gaza have seen and heard things no child should ever have to. Some are too frightened to speak. Others have lost the ability to play. At our centre, as a team of therapists, doctors and social workers, we focus on the emotional wellbeing of our children and their families as well as their injuries and physical wellbeing.

Each day, we welcome them into our space which we have tried to fill with colour, toys, music and hope. Through play therapy, we help them find their voice again. We laugh together, tell stories, and sometimes we cry. Slowly, hope begins to return.

Because of your support, we have the resources, training, and care children need to heal. In this small way, we see God’s peace shared in the most practical way.

Your gift to Embrace the Middle East this Christmas helps make change possible in Gaza and across the Middle East. Your kindness reminds us that we are not alone, and that the message of Christmas, peace on earth, goodwill toward all is still alive today. Blessings to you in Jesus’ name.

Please pray:

God of justice and peace:

• We bring before you the children of the land we call holy. Those whose laughter is silenced by fear, whose dreams are interrupted by night raids, hand-ties and weapons, and whose childhood is taken in the shadow of conflict. You know each name, each face, each story. 
• Hold them close when they are far from home, comfort them when they are alone or afraid, and shield their hearts from despair. 
• God of hope, we pray that justice will roll down like waters in the West Bank, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, so that all who call the land of the Holy One home can live without fear. 

Amen.