4th October 2026

Yesterday, Israeli forces shelled the village of Abidin in western Daraa, southern Syria and later opened fire on residential areas during a separate ground incursion. Israeli occupation forces also entered an area west of Sayda al Hanout village in southern Quneitra province.   Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharaa raised the issue at the 81st UN General Assembly, saying Israel carried out about 500 air strikes and artillery attacks, more than 1,200 incursions and roughly 300 arrests and detentions since late 2024.​​​​​​​ 

Loving God, God of mercy, pour out your peace upon the Middle East .  Today we particularly ask you to protect our neighbours in Syria. Bring comfort to all who mourn and peace to all who live in fear, and healing to all who are injured. May the international community become channels of your peace.  May the work tirelessly, guided by your Spirit, to stop Israeli incursions into Syria, that all may live free from fear, conflict and pain. Guide the Israeli authorities to cease violence and oppression and work towards healing broken relationships with their neighbours.  We recall the words of the Psalmist, "how good and pleasant it is when people live together in unity."  Amen.

In Ogoniland, in Nigeria’s oil-exploited Niger delta, decades of oil spills have destroyed the mangrove forests, which act as carbon sinks and destroyed the livelihoods of communities around the delta. One local woman, Agbani decided to do something about it and started planting trees. In 2003, she established the Lokiaka Community Development Centre, to support female Ogoni farmers in caring for the environment and helping to restore the mangroves, devastated by more than five decades of oil pollution. “We want to space the mangroves right,” says one woman, “This is our forest.” A 2 metre long stick marks where the next seedling is to be planted. It is a simple tool but each mark is a small act of reconstruction. Clearing the ground is demanding work. Men from surrounding communities prepare it for the women to plant the native mangrove saplings. The mangrove ecosystem in the Niger delta region is the largest in Africa and the third-largest globally, covering about 1m hectares. These forests provide a home for fish, shrimps and molluscs and act as nurseries for other aquatic life. They help protect coastlines, store carbon and support communities whose food and incomes depend on the wetlands. 

God of Love, all heaven adores you,

God of Love, may earth rejoice;

all creation sings before you

and exalts you with one voice.

God, you laid the earth's foundation,

and you spread the heavens above,

God, you breathe through all creation:

God of Love, eternal Love.

God of Love; your love enfolds us,

and the world in one embrace:

with unfailing grasp you hold us,

every child of every race.

And when human hearts are breaking

under sorrow's iron rod,

then we find that self-same aching

deep within your heart, O God.

God of Love; and though with blindness

sin afflicts all human life,

your eternal loving kindness

guides us through our earthly strife.

Sin and death and hell shall never

o'er us final triumph gain;

God of Love, your love for ever

o'er the universe will reign.

Cyril Vincent Taylor (1907-1991)