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, October 2, 2008

We pray for the victims killed in recent bombing attacks in Syria and Baghdad. We also pray for Taiwan as it has suffered four typhoons this year including the typhoon Jangmi this week. We pray for all the victims and their families, that they may be comforted and strengthened during these difficult times.

As Ramadan comes to an end this week, Eid al Fitr begins, and the Jewish High Holidays occur (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), we pray for the good holidays and safety of all people in the region. We pray that Palestinians will have the opportunity to celebrate with their families rather than checkpoint closures, soldier aggression and settler violence, and imposition of curfews.

We pray for the few members of Christian Peacemaker Teams working in Hebron and the village of at-Tuwani in the face of increasing settler violence. We pray for their physical safety and courage to get in the way of injustice and violence.

We pray for this month's Study Circle that will take place at Sabeel on the position of Palestinian refugees in international law. We pray that it will be a time of insightful discussion and learning for all who participate.