Thursday, September 30, 2010

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 30, 2010


Tensions continue in Jerusalem after an armed settler killed a Palestinian man in Silwan, IDF troops fired tear gas into a family home killing a 14 month old baby, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that Palestinian homes in Sheikh Jarrah were really Jewish owned, and the settlement freeze came to an end. You, O Christ, know the challenges of this ancient city, hear our prayers for peace with justice for all in Jerusalem.



We give thanks for the latest boat attempting to break the siege of Gaza, organized by Jewish activist for justice and peace. Alongside the South African University of Johannesburg students who are seeking to boycott Ben Gurion University for its complicity with the Israeli government and military forces, these actions remind us of the need for continued engagement in highlighting Israel's failure to live by international laws and norms of behavior. Lord, keep us strong and active and give us energy and encouragement in following your paths and walking in your ways.



As we begin to finalize the practical arrangements for the Eighth International Sabeel Conference in Bethlehem in February 2011, we pray for wisdom in finalizing the speakers and activities to interest, attract and inspire our friends around the world to join us.



In many towns and villages, festivals are being organized to help keep alive the history and life of the local community. This weekend we celebrate the life enhancing and humanity restoring resilience of the Palestinian people when, in an act of non-violent resistance to the occupation, local and international participants will come from far and near to celebrate the Taybeh Oktoberfest. Thanks be to God for friends and neighbors, for food and drink, for laughter and love to sustain us and encourage us.



With the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches, we pray for:

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia



(http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html)


Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 23, 2010

September 21 was the International Day of Peace, coinciding with the opening of the General Assembly of the United Nations. We pray for peace where there is conflict and we pray for a fruitful gathering of the General Assembly.

On Tuesday 28 September, many Christians from all over the world will come to mark Succoth and take part in the Christian Zionist walk in Jerusalem to express their support for Israel. We pray that people will have open minds and hearts, to be open to transformation, and to seek a just peace for all in this land.

This coming week, the World Council of Churches will host its United Nations Advocacy Week. This year the focus will be on Nigeria and Palestine/Israel. Sabeel will be represented in the participants. Let us pray that this advocacy week will help broaden the understanding of the situation in Nigeria and in Palestine and Israel. We pray people will be inspired to even greater peace-building and peacemaking efforts.

The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) withdrew its support from a trip of Israeli mayors to Holland after it learned that settler council heads were among the group's participants. Let us thank God for every time people speak out truth to power and pray that this experience will encourage others to find the courage to stand up for justice.

With the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches, we pray for:

Belarus, Moldavia, Russia and Ukraine

(http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html)

Thursday, September 16, 2010

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 16, 2010

On September 21 Sabeel is organizing its first religious Christian-Muslim encounter in Nazareth. Under the theme "Sharing Life," around 50-60 Christian and Muslim leaders will gather to discuss areas of common concern in an open and frank exchange. We pray that the participants will have a good experience seeking common ground.

The second round of direct peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis are being held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the negotiations with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attending. We pray for an outcome which is just and equitable and which can lead to peace for all.

September 2010 is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. We pray for the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem, with its pediatric oncology unit addressing the needs of Palestinian children. We pray also for access for patients from the West Bank and Gaza, and for all who look after the children's physical and social needs while they receive treatment.

In one month the latest Sabeel Witness Visit will get underway. We pray that people will continue to be open to learn about the Palestinian and Israeli people and the current political situation. We pray also for theological discernment and committed engagement for peacebuilding.

With the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches, we pray for:

Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania

(http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html)



Wave of Prayer for Thursday, September 9, 2010

This week participants of the monthly Open Forum, a project of the Sabeel Community Program, will discuss topics brought up during the recent Sabeel Women's Conference in Bethlehem in order to give those who were not present at the conference the chance to reflect and activate new ideas within the community. Let us pray for equality, respect, and perseverance among all members of our society.

This Sunday, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel published a report outlining the "direct impact of Jewish settlement in Palestinian neighborhoods on the human rights of the original local residents" in East Jerusalem. The report determines that Israeli authorities including the police, the Housing Ministry, and the Jerusalem Municipality have contributed to steady violations of basic human rights and a serious disruption of the Palestinian way of life in the city. We pray that this report will inspire new advocates to speak out for justice.

Recently there has been an increase in cases of domestic violence in both Israel and the West Bank. Tensions and conflict within the community and the family are painful indicators of the state of our society today, and as we call on local leaders to make peace in their communities, we pray for strength and love.

This week Israelis and Palestinians will be observing two major religious holidays: the Muslim Eid al Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. May this time of feasting and celebration bring a measure of peace to the friends and families of this land.

This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches in praying for:


Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia

Thursday, September 02, 2010

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 2, 2010

This week witnesses the beginnings of US engineered peace talks. We pray that these will not just be talks which allow the settlements to expand further and more Palestinian land to be expropriated, but that they will be short, fair and just and will bring an end to 43 years of occupation, oppression, displacement and misery.

We pray for respect between peoples and religions. In the week when Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of the ultra Orthodox SHAS party, said the Palestinians should "perish", we pray that all right thinking people will condemn such words and turn our energies to seeking justice for all, which can also lead us on the path to peace and reconciliation.

As schools return from the summer break, Israeli pupils will have rewritten history books* which remove references to the Nakba (catastrophe of loss and dislocation) the Palestinian people suffered when Israel came into being. We pray for opportunities for all children, Israeli, Palestinian, American, everywhere, to learn about history and civic engagement free from political and religious propaganda.

Ramadan continues in the summer heat. We pray for our brothers and sisters who fast from food and water in these days. We pray also for those who seek to worship in Jerusalem and who find their way blocked and themselves intimidated and harassed by soldiers and police trying to prevent them coming to give thanks to God in one of their holiest places, the Haram al Sharif in Jerusalem. May God be merciful to all.


This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches in praying for:

Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia



* www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/educating-toward-indoctrination-1.311187