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Jerusalem and the Holy Land Sunday

Observed on the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Jerusalem and the Holy Land Sunday (Sunday, May 17 in 2026) is a call to action for Anglicans and Lutherans in Canada to stand in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land. Through worship, learning and giving, congregations are invited to support God’s healing mission, especially the critical health care services offered in the region.

To stay connected with the Diocese of Jerusalem throughout the year, consider becoming a Companion of Jerusalem.

To support local observance of Jerusalem and the Holy Land Sunday, worship resources are available for all three years of the Revised Common Lectionary. Materials include contextual reflections and sermon notes on the readings of the day.

Best suited for: parish leaders, clergy, worship planners, theological educators and congregants seeking to deepen their engagement with the church in Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

 

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.