Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 24, 2009
The UN Fact Finding Mission released its report on Gaza last week but the controversy sparked by the report rages on. By documenting violations of international law and demonstrating how Israel's attack on Gaza amounted to "war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity," the report and its authors have come under fire by Israel and the United States as "politically unbalanced." We thank God for the courage of all people who stand against systems of power in the name of justice.
On Thursday evening, Sabeel is hosting a prayer service for Jerusalem as the city faces serious challenges to peace. Many voices from the church and community will offer their petitions for the people of this land. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Life in areas of conflict and occupation takes many tolls on people. Today we pray for the friendships and relationships of those who encounter daily injustices. May we find solace in God and pray that personal relationships would not suffer from insecurity or distrust. May we all recognize, and work to stop, the cycle of pain that tears apart our connections with one another.
We lift up in prayer the ministry of Sabeel's Study Circle program, which facilitates discussions about current events and the exploration of academic articles. This week, Dr. Toine van Teeffelen, a Dutch anthropologist, presented on the topic of Sumud (steadfastness) within Palestinian society. Next week begins a 12-part study of Rev. Naim Ateek's new book, A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation. We are grateful for the many scholars and theologians who have graciously shared with the Jerusalem community their thoughts and reflections.
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Sabeel Wave of Prayer
Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 17, 2009
On Friday, Sabeel's Nazareth and Jerusalem offices will join with members of the board for a day of brainstorming, visioning, and reflecting on future goals and direction. We pray that this will be a fruitful time and look forward to partners around the world contributing to this process over the next months.
Next Monday, clergy from Palestine and Israel will meet at Taybeh in the West Bank, for Sabeel's two-day annual clergy retreat on the theme of "Pastoral Care". We pray that this will be a time of renewal and inspiration. May the clergy be filled with new energy for caring for their communities.
It was reported this week that Israel's Public Security Minister plans to increase the police presence in East Jerusalem and non-Jewish towns within Israel in order to "strengthen Israeli sovereignty" in those areas. We pray that this plan does not become a justification for more unjust police actions against Palestinians.
This weekend marks the end of Ramadan with the feast of Eid el Fitr, Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), and the beginning of a month of Jewish holy days. We give thanks for God's presence with all of the people of the "Holy Land" and pray that all may live together in just peace and friendship. "How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony." (Ps. 133:1)
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html
**Sabeel is organizing a prayer service for peace in Jerusalem that will be held next Thursday, September 24th. Please contact us (prayer[at]sabeel.org) if you are interested in coordinating a similar service in your area.**
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 17, 2009
On Friday, Sabeel's Nazareth and Jerusalem offices will join with members of the board for a day of brainstorming, visioning, and reflecting on future goals and direction. We pray that this will be a fruitful time and look forward to partners around the world contributing to this process over the next months.
Next Monday, clergy from Palestine and Israel will meet at Taybeh in the West Bank, for Sabeel's two-day annual clergy retreat on the theme of "Pastoral Care". We pray that this will be a time of renewal and inspiration. May the clergy be filled with new energy for caring for their communities.
It was reported this week that Israel's Public Security Minister plans to increase the police presence in East Jerusalem and non-Jewish towns within Israel in order to "strengthen Israeli sovereignty" in those areas. We pray that this plan does not become a justification for more unjust police actions against Palestinians.
This weekend marks the end of Ramadan with the feast of Eid el Fitr, Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), and the beginning of a month of Jewish holy days. We give thanks for God's presence with all of the people of the "Holy Land" and pray that all may live together in just peace and friendship. "How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony." (Ps. 133:1)
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html
**Sabeel is organizing a prayer service for peace in Jerusalem that will be held next Thursday, September 24th. Please contact us (prayer[at]sabeel.org) if you are interested in coordinating a similar service in your area.**
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sabeel Wave of Prayer
Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 10, 2009
Earlier this week, Israel approved the construction of 450 new settlement housing units in defiance of international pressure to freeze all settlement expansion. We pray for strong action from the international community.
This week, Greek Orthodox Bishop Atallah Hanna addressed Sabeel's weekly young adult Bible study group on the topic of the transfiguration. Bishop Atallah engaged in conversation with the participants and discussed everyday interfaith encounters. We praise God for church leaders like Bishop Atallah who take interest in the spiritual formation of young people and in speaking candidly about realities facing Christians in Palestine.
On Thursday, eight Israeli human rights and peace organizations from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are joining together in a public demonstration against settlement activity in East Jerusalem. We pray that the gathering at Jaffa Gate will draw helpful attention to the injustices being committed in Jerusalem by the Israeli government.
Nightly raids by the Israeli military continue in the West Bank town of Bil'in, one center of the Palestinian nonviolent resistance movement. In recent months, the military has undertaken regular early morning incursions and has targeted leaders of the nonviolent resistance organized against the route of the Separation Wall that cuts the villagers off from their fields. We pray that leaders and participants in the nonviolent resistance to the Occupation will find strength and resilience to continue in their struggle.
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 10, 2009
Earlier this week, Israel approved the construction of 450 new settlement housing units in defiance of international pressure to freeze all settlement expansion. We pray for strong action from the international community.
This week, Greek Orthodox Bishop Atallah Hanna addressed Sabeel's weekly young adult Bible study group on the topic of the transfiguration. Bishop Atallah engaged in conversation with the participants and discussed everyday interfaith encounters. We praise God for church leaders like Bishop Atallah who take interest in the spiritual formation of young people and in speaking candidly about realities facing Christians in Palestine.
On Thursday, eight Israeli human rights and peace organizations from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are joining together in a public demonstration against settlement activity in East Jerusalem. We pray that the gathering at Jaffa Gate will draw helpful attention to the injustices being committed in Jerusalem by the Israeli government.
Nightly raids by the Israeli military continue in the West Bank town of Bil'in, one center of the Palestinian nonviolent resistance movement. In recent months, the military has undertaken regular early morning incursions and has targeted leaders of the nonviolent resistance organized against the route of the Separation Wall that cuts the villagers off from their fields. We pray that leaders and participants in the nonviolent resistance to the Occupation will find strength and resilience to continue in their struggle.
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Sabeel Wave of Prayer
Each Thursday at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a Communion service that is open to the community. It is a time to join together to celebrate the Eucharist, to discuss how the scriptures apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region. Following the 2006 Sabeel International Conference, the Friends of Sabeel coordinators met and discussed the idea of "Waves of Prayer." The premise is that in their respective time zones, individuals and groups around the world will pray together at 12:00 on Thursdays, in solidarity with Sabeel in Jerusalem and with "Friends of Sabeel" worldwide. Starting in Australia, passing through Palestine, and on around the world we will pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 3, 2009
In his final address to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, general secretary Rev. Samuel Kobia called Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories a "sin against God." We are thankful for Kobia's strong public statement about the need for justice in Palestine/Israel. We pray for Kobia's successor, Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit. May he find the resources to meet the many challenges he will face.
On Tuesday morning, Israeli military forces entered Jalazoun Refugee Camp north of Ramallah. Using live ammunition, concussion grenades and tear gas, the military kidnapped several young men, injured three paramedics responding to the attack, and shot and killed Mohammad Riyadh Nayef (a 15 year old boy). We pray for Mohammad's family and the thousands of other Palestinian families affected by military incursions in the West Bank and Gaza each week. May God give them abundant strength, courage, and comfort.
This week in Jerusalem, Fr. Jean Nyembo (who is currently volunteering at Sabeel) will present the Sabeel community with a glimpse at life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nyembo will speak about how he hopes to use his experiences in Palestine to influence his home community and how to apply the lessons from this conflict to the conflict in the Congo. We pray for peace and justice in that land and pray that international solidarity will help bring new hope to the Congolese people.
Last Saturday, Sabeel staff joined with over two hundred Israeli peace activists in a candlelight vigil in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem. People gathered to demonstrate against the eviction of the al-Hanoun and al-Ghawi families. Settlers now occupy the homes with the approval of the government. We thank God for the support shown by so many Israelis and we pray that more Israelis will take action to end injustice in Israel and Palestine.
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 3, 2009
In his final address to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, general secretary Rev. Samuel Kobia called Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories a "sin against God." We are thankful for Kobia's strong public statement about the need for justice in Palestine/Israel. We pray for Kobia's successor, Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit. May he find the resources to meet the many challenges he will face.
On Tuesday morning, Israeli military forces entered Jalazoun Refugee Camp north of Ramallah. Using live ammunition, concussion grenades and tear gas, the military kidnapped several young men, injured three paramedics responding to the attack, and shot and killed Mohammad Riyadh Nayef (a 15 year old boy). We pray for Mohammad's family and the thousands of other Palestinian families affected by military incursions in the West Bank and Gaza each week. May God give them abundant strength, courage, and comfort.
This week in Jerusalem, Fr. Jean Nyembo (who is currently volunteering at Sabeel) will present the Sabeel community with a glimpse at life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nyembo will speak about how he hopes to use his experiences in Palestine to influence his home community and how to apply the lessons from this conflict to the conflict in the Congo. We pray for peace and justice in that land and pray that international solidarity will help bring new hope to the Congolese people.
Last Saturday, Sabeel staff joined with over two hundred Israeli peace activists in a candlelight vigil in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem. People gathered to demonstrate against the eviction of the al-Hanoun and al-Ghawi families. Settlers now occupy the homes with the approval of the government. We thank God for the support shown by so many Israelis and we pray that more Israelis will take action to end injustice in Israel and Palestine.
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)