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, August 28, 2008

We pray for all of those who are suffering as a result of Tropical Storm Fay, which hit the Caribbean and Florida this past week. We pray for those whose homes have been destroyed, those who have lost family and loved ones, and for all of those who are working to respond to this natural disaster.

We thank God for the success of attempts to break the blockade of Gaza. Two boats, the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty, crewed by international, Israeli, and Palestinian human rights activists, landed in Gaza on Saturday evening. We are grateful for the courage exhibited by the participants in this nonviolent action against the siege of Gaza, and pray for ongoing efforts to end collective punishment and bring peace and justice to the people Gaza.

We pray for the launch of Sabeel board member Jean Zaru's new book, Occupied With Nonviolence, which will take place Friday, August 29 at the Friends International Center in Ramallah. We thank God for Jean's persistent determination to speak the truth to power, whether it means speaking out against human rights violations or patriarchal structures.

We pray for the planning of Sabeel's Seventh International Conference, which will take place from November 12-19 in Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. We pray for the ongoing preparations for the conference, entitled "The Nakba: Memory, Reality, and Beyond," that we may educate and motivate the local and international community to act for justice and peace.