SABEEL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2009

The Message of the Manger

This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!'
Luke 2:12-14

In the Christmas story, the sign for finding the Christ-child was this: He would be wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. There are three important messages that emanate from the manger:

1.God in Christ has become accessible. Jesus Christ was born in a manger making God approachable, reachable, and available to all people. This is the great sign of God's love.

2.The manger stands for a different kind of a Messiah. The seemingly contradictory sign that the Christ is lying in a manger does not bode well for the birth of a great leader who was supposed to come from the line and lineage of his great ancestor David. The manger is the way of meekness and humility, the way of sacrificial love, the way of nonviolence.

3.The Christ of the manger brings peace through justice and not through violence. Luke takes the titles that people attributed to Caesar - liberator, savior, lord, and god - and gives them to Jesus Christ. The contrast between the two figures, in the eyes of the world, was huge. For the early Christian community, and for us, Jesus Christ is the authentic Savior and Lord. Caesar brought peace through military means that were tremendously costly in terms of human life and property, and such peace is always shaky. Christ can bring peace through justice and love that, when applied and practiced, is more stable and permanent. This is what Christ teaches and that is why, from Christ to this day, we dare to defy the Caesars.

Reading the Christmas story through Palestinian eyes, and in light of our daily experience, is revealing. We live in the shadow of empire, of which the modern state of Israel is part. It is easy for Palestinians to contrast their oppressive situation under the Israeli occupation with people of Jesus' day who lived under the brutal occupation of the Romans with its daily oppression and humiliation.

Empire always talks about peace but its peace is false and temporary. Its peace is imposed and, therefore, an extension of its oppressive military power. It can never last because it is built on injustice. Israel's peace rhetoric is a mirage that quickly disappears and people are hit with the glaring reality of injustice, violence, and humiliation. Such peace cannot be trusted.

Christ's peace is built on justice and is acquired through nonviolence and love. It can be trusted. Therefore, the unjust and illegal Israeli occupation must come to an end. Doing justice to the Palestinians ensures the achievement of peace through justice. At this Christmas season we need to re-commit ourselves to the liberation that Christ brings; and to continue to walk the way of peace through justice and nonviolence.

Sabeel wishes all its friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
May the message of the manger inspire our activities throughout the coming year!

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Each week at 12:00 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. Our hope is that in our 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 continuing on around the world we pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.

Wave of Prayer, Thursday, December 17, 2009


December 27 marks the one year anniversary of the start of Israel’s massive campaign against Gaza that resulted in over 1400 deaths and the destruction of much of Gaza’s infrastructure. Today, Gaza remains under siege. It is our prayer that this inhumane captivity will be brought to an end. May we see increased nonviolent resistance to this oppression.


Last Friday, settlers set fire to the mosque in Yasuf, near Nablus. This, and other attacks, demonstrate the strong backlash among settlers to Israel’s discussions of enforcing a settlement freeze. We pray that all the people of Israel realize that a halt to settlement construction is a step forward toward a just peace.


We give thanks for this past weekend’s launch of the Kairos, “Moment of Truth”, document in Bethlehem in which Palestinian Christians called on Christians around the globe to join them in working to end the Israeli occupation. Respondents from worldwide churches, as well as Jews and Muslims, expressed their support for the document. May this timely document move people of all faiths to work for justice and peace in Palestine and Israel and in their own countries as well.


For more information on the Kairos document, visit: www.kairospalestine.ps


Sabeel is hosting its annual Christmas dinner in Jerusalem this Sunday. The event will bring various Christian communities together to celebrate Christ’s message of love. We pray that this will be a blessed time of fellowship and recommitment to our witness for a just peace.


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

Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo

CMEP Fourth Week of Advent: Forefeast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ

A record of the genealogy of
Jesus Christ the son of David,
the son of Abraham: Abraham
was the father of Isaac, Isaac
the father of Jacob, Jacob the
father of Judah and his brothers,
Judah the father of Perez and
Zerah, whose mother was
Tamar, Perez the father of
Hezron, Hezron the father of
Ram, Ram the father of
Amminadab, Amminadab the
father of Nahshon, Nahshon the
father of Salmon,Salmon the
father of Boaz, whose mother
was Rahab, Boaz the father of
Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse, and
Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of
Solomon, whose mother had
been Uriah's wife, Solomon the
father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam
the father of Abijah, Abijah the
father of Asa, Asa the father of
Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the
father of Jehoram, Jehoram the
father of Uzziah, Uzziah the
father of Jotham, Jotham the
father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father
of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father
of Manasseh, Manasseh the
father of Amon, Amon the father
of Josiah, and Josiah the father
of Jeconiah and his brothers at
the time of the exile to Babylon.
After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of
Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of
Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the
father of Abiud, Abiud the father
of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of
Azor, Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim, Akim
the father of Eliud, Eliud the
father of Eleazar, Eleazar the
father of Matthan, Matthan the
father of Jacob, and Jacob the
father of Joseph, the husband of
Mary, of whom was born Jesus,
who is called Christ.
-Matthew 1:1-16 (NIV)

In this scripture reading describing Christ’s birth, Matthew first gives Christ’s genealogy. This listing of names reminds us of the importance of connections, especially the deep connections we have with both the Jewish people and the Christians who live in the Holy Land today.

Abraham was the father of the Hebrews, and David was Israel’s greatest king. Christ was descended from them through his mother Mary. Today Christians in the Holy Land live among the Jewish people in Israel and in the West Bank under the Israeli occupation. These verses remind us of the original connection between our two faiths and the importance of maintaining that bond from both religious and practical standpoints. Our Christian heritage includes Jewish people, and the fate of Christianity in the Holy Land greatly depends on their government. Our prayer for peace should include healing the frayed connection between our two peoples.

We must also pray for the strength and patience of the Christians in the Holy Land today who represent our connection to the land where Christ was born and are the living witness of our faith there. Because of the difficulties caused by living under occupation, many Christians are leaving. We pray for peace so that they may stay in their homes and jobs and continue to be the living stones in the land of Christ’s birth.

-Marilyn Rouvelas, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Prayer
Holy God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your Church: the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior’s coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. Prepare our hearts and remove the sin that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope that his presence will bestow. May we rediscover Your image within our hearts and live in its peace for all days. Unto to You be all honor and glory now and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

-Greek Orthodox Prayer of Preparation for the Nativity

For Meditation
Am I praying for healing in the hearts of all the people in this conflict? Does that prayer include asking that all parties will be able to forgive as Christ asked us to do? Do I understand and respect the common, positive religious connections the Abrahamic religions share?

Advent Reflections are reprinted with permission from Churches for Middle East Peace

Third Sunday of Advent: Something to Be Joyful For

Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be
evident to all. The Lord is
near. Do not be anxious
about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to
God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all
understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

The news I hear always seems to be bad …job losses, increasing hunger, more settlements in Palestine, flooding. I could fill this entire page with the weight of sorrows and lists of reasons that do not justify rejoicing.

Many times I turn to a prayer of Julian of Norwich, which in part is “All shall be well and shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.” This brings me comfort and becomes an active reminder that I am a servant of Christ.

It is through the sincere acknowledgement of the sorrow and pain I see in our world that I more fully recognize the truly great gifts God gives. The love I have for my neighbors both close and far, the ministry that God has given to do good, do no harm and to deepen our relationship with God, and the awareness of God’s love present and active in our lives…these are reasons to rejoice in the Lord.

In the letter to the Philippians, and in many places in Scripture, we are told to rejoice, but not in just anything, rejoice in the Lord. As we count the days until Christmas some people may feel the pressures of holiday expectations, but at the core of these days is the anticipation of salvation. Like a race car preparing for the start of a race the engine roars as we look for a sign that God is with us always and we are ready to go, to act on God’s call. These are reasons to rejoice in the Lord.

And regardless of the success or failure of our efforts, we can act with the calm and gentleness of the Spirit and rejoice for Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. These are reasons to rejoice in the Lord.

-Rev. Doris E. Warrell, Deacon, Dumbarton United Methodist Church

Prayer
When I am tired of doing what
God has called me to do,
When my efforts seem in
vain,
When I feel I am the only one
trying,
I will have a glad heart and
rejoice in the Lord.
For You, oh God,
have called me by name,
given me the gift of thought
and action, and
have blessed me with a
community, the Church, that
is the body of Christ.
Indeed, You are great and
wonderful, and I will rejoice!
Amen.

For Meditation
How do you cultivate the peace of God so that it “guards your hearts and
your minds in Jesus Christ?” Daily reading of Scripture? Writing a gratitude
journal? Using prayer beads? Fasting? How can this practice be deepened
so that when the sorrows of the world, especially those coming from the
Israeli/Palestinian conflict are felt, you can rejoice through the peace of God?
Does it need to be done more regularly? Is something new or additional needed?

Advent Reflections are reprinted with permission from Churches for Middle East Peace.

Second Week of Advent: Prepare the Way

In the fifteenth year of the
reign of Tiberius Caesar—
when Pontius Pilate was
governor of Judea, Herod
tetrarch of Galilee, his brother
Philip tetrarch of Iturea and
Traconitis, and Lysanias
tetrarch of Abilene— during
the high priesthood of Annas
and Caiaphas, the word of
God came to John son of
Zechariah in the desert. He
went into all the country
around the Jordan, preaching
a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins. As is
written in the book of the
words of Isaiah the prophet:
"A voice of one calling in
the desert, 'Prepare the way
for the Lord, make straight
paths for him. Every valley
shall be filled in, every
mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall
become straight, the rough
ways smooth. And all
mankind will see God's
salvation."
-Luke 3:1-6 (NIV)

Only when John, the son of Zechariah, filled with the Word of God, began to preach the Word of God was he noticed, and heard by some. He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The people in the desert heard him; Jesus heard him. The powerful, the leaders of Empire, high priests of the Temple did not heed the Word being proclaimed. One of the leaders did hear and killed the messenger.

The same Word of God calling for repentance is being proclaimed by the poor and oppressed of our world. The imprisoned, ignored and oppressed people of Gaza, of Darfur, are speaking in the desert of powerlessness and hopelessness. The leaders of empire continue to assert their power, or to ignore and support other leaders in their ignorance and arrogance.

Advent is a time when believers in the Jesus announced by John are reminded that the Word of God is calling them to proclaim the same baptism of repentance. Clergy and laity alike will indeed be noticed when Empire is criticized, nonviolence proclaimed, and military solutions to conflict challenged. The hope of repentance by our leaders will grow in response to our own repentance.

We prepare the way of the Lord and make straight his paths when we take the time and make the effort to seek the truth of conflicts rather than repeat the sound bites of media entertainers.

We fill in the valleys and level the mountains when we call our Congress people to accountability for their ideology-driven decisions and support them in their justice and peace initiatives.

The crooked roads shall become straight and rough ways smooth when we serve and speak for the powerless, the immigrant, the jobless, the homeless, the abandoned and impoverished women and children of our own country, and our world.

Then we will be heard, noticed and criticized for being too political, less patriotic, unrealistic in the ways of the world and just plain naïve.

Then all men and women including ourselves, will see God’s salvation; then we will celebrate Advent.

-John Sullivan, MM, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Prayer
Oh God,
My voice is yours,
Give me the courage to use it.
Oh God,
My will is yours.
Help me to bend it to your call.
And be with me when I fail to do either.
Amen.

For Meditation
What are the circumstances that cause you to silence your own voice when you have the opportunities to speak to people in power? Remember a time when you did speak, and name what gave you the will to not only to want to speak, but actually do it.

Advent Reflections are reprinted with permission from Churches for Middle East Peace.

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, December 10, 2009


The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum of the World Council of Churches will hold its meetings in Bethlehem this weekend. In conjunction, on Friday Palestinian Christians will launch a document entitled "Moment of Truth" prepared by theologians and laypeople. The document clearly articulates the local Palestinians', the international community's, and the churches' responsibilities to act in cooperation to end the unjust Israeli occupation.

This Tuesday, European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss a proposal to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state and of Israel. We are thankful for the EU's recognition that the current situation in Jerusalem must change. We pray that a lasting peace built on justice will come to this city.

On Saturday, Sabeel young adults will visit the pediatric ward of Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mt. of Olives to spend time with children from throughout Palestine who are fighting cancer and undergoing dialysis. This holiday season, we offer special thanks for the people and organizations that cross borders and deal with complex permit restrictions in order to offer comfort and healing to the sick.

Last week, Muslim Jerusalemites held special Friday prayers in Sheikh Jarrah to demonstrate their solidarity with the people of Sheikh Jarrah who are being forced from their homes by Israeli courts, the Jerusalem municipality, and Jewish settlers. Following prayers, Israeli peace activists held a march in front of the settlements. We pray that momentum for nonviolent resistance to the occupation will continue to grow, both in Palestine and Israel and around the world.


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

Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal

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, December 3, 2009


Young adults from across Holland have joined together to form the new Young Friends of Sabeel-Netherlands. The group seeks to connect young people interested in justice issues in Palestine and Israel by publishing a monthly newsletter. We give thanks for this initiative and pray for continued engagement of Dutch Christians and churches.

In recent months, the Israeli Ministry of the Interior has drastically tightened restrictions for internationals wishing to volunteer or work in Palestine and Israel. Many organizations (including Sabeel) feel the effects of this policy through higher staff turnover and additional resources spent dealing with the added bureaucracy. We give thanks for all who offer their time and talents in service and pray for an end to the hostility shown to them. God, in your grace, transform our world.

On Tuesday morning, a group of Israeli settlers, accompanied by armed military and police forces, occupied the home of Rifka al-Kurd in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. The settlers reportedly produced a court order giving them consent for the takeover. In compliance with another court order that prohibited their presence in the house, the al-Kurd family was not at home when the settlers arrived. May this injustice not go unnoticed.

Conflicts within Israel seem to be escalating. Tensions between the ultra-orthodox and secular Jews, standoffs between the military and settlers, and a soaring crime rate indicate a very frustrated and fractured society. We pray that voices of moderation and justice can prevail and that Israel will recognize "the things that make for peace."


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

Liberia, Sierra Leone

First Sunday of Advent: The Peace of Jerusalem

The days are coming,'
declares the LORD, 'when I
will fulfill the gracious
promise I made to the
house of Israel and to the
house of Judah.
In those days and at that
time I will make a righteous
Branch sprout from David's
line; he will do what is just
and right in the land.
In those days Judah will
be saved and Jerusalem will
live in safety. This is the
name by which it will be
called:
The LORD Our
Righteousness.'
-Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NIV)

At the risk of his life, Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would be overrun by the Babylonians. Yet God did not leave the people without hope. Jeremiah foresaw the coming of a ruler in the line of David – a “righteous Branch” – who would bring peace to a rebuilt and glorious Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s prophesy helped form the developing belief in the coming of the Messiah.

Christians believe that this Messiah is Jesus. The promise of a renewed Jerusalem becomes the hope of a perfected people of God, described as “the Holy City, the new Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven from God.” (Revelations 21:2). And God’s chosen community is expanded to encompass “a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelations 7:9).

But what, then, is in store for temporal Jerusalem? Is it also promised peace?

The great work of the Messiah is to remove the barriers between humankind and God and among people. It is a work of reconciliation and of the righting of relationships which we call justice.

In Jerusalem, Israel, and the Palestinian territories today, we find three faith communities – Jews, Muslims and Christians – and two nationalities – Israelis and Palestinians. Tragically, they are not at peace and they are not in right relationship with each other.

The Messiah is at work to bring these diverse, divided and often hostile peoples together – in peace, justice and security. When we allow ourselves to be instruments in God’s hands to advance this work of reconciliation and justice, we are participating in the fulfillment of “the gracious promise” of God to Israel, Judah, the Palestinian people and all the peoples of the earth.

-Martin Shupack, Church World Service


Prayer
Show me the way God,
for at times the path is full of
barriers and challenges.
Show me the way Jesus,
for this was also your road
that you prepare me to travel.
Show me the way Spirit,
because with a true heart I
want to call all people
Children of God.
Amen.

For Meditation
What are the fruits of right relationships? Where can they be found? What do
people do to have such wonderful rewards? Seeing and knowing this how
can we individually and together incorporate one more action, attitude or
learning into our lives that will bear such fruit?

Advent Reflections are reprinted with permission from Churches for Middle East Peace:

Advent is a time of waiting, not sitting back waiting, but a time of anticipating and preparing for what is coming. This season we are all like Mary, waiting for the fulfillment of hope, the coming of God incarnate. And like Mary and Joseph we are sitting idly by, we have things to do.

We hope that these selections of Scripture, reflections by members of CMEP's Board of Directors and staff, prayers and questions for meditation will help you not only center on the promise and hope of Christ's birth, but also on our shared work and hope for peace in the Middle East. With the connection between our faith and this part of God's creation so intertwined it is important that we acknowledge and celebrate our call to this work for peace that is rooted in our faith.

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, November 26, 2009


Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. Throughout the month, Sabeel will be hosting ecumenical events for Palestinian Christians around the theme "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world" (John 1:9b). Although we come from many Christian traditions, we pray that we can find unity in our shared commitment to live according to the message brought by Christ's birth.

On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed two people, wounded four and leveled several buildings. The strikes were apparently in response to projectiles fired into the Negev Desert by unidentified Gazan militants. It is our prayer and our hope that justice and peace will bring an end to the cycle of violence that continues in Gaza.

Next week, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a longtime partner of Sabeel, will mark 60 years of presence in Palestine and Israel. We thank God for MCC's valuable collaboration and partnership with Sabeel and with dozens of other local organizations working in the areas of peacebuilding, education, relief, development and advocacy.

Eid al Adha, the largest feast in the Islamic calendar, begins on Friday. As Muslims around the world celebrate Abraham's obedience to God, we pray that they will enjoy a blessed feast in the company of family and friends. We also pray that Muslims traveling to Jerusalem to pray in the coming week will be granted access to the al Aqsa Mosque.


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

Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger

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, November 19, 2009


Sabeel-Nazareth is celebrating the 16th anniversary of Sabeel's work in the Galilee by hosting a fundraising concert on Saturday, November 21. We thank God for Sabeel-Nazareth's unique work as Arab-Israeli Christians witnessing for justice and peace. May Sabeel's work in the Galilee, and throughout Israel, inspire many to work for understanding, respect of the other, and equality.

On Friday, Palestinian clergy will meet in Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem, to help in planning for Sabeel's clergy conference that will be held in February. This group of various church leaders will also brainstorm with Sabeel about strategies for interfaith encounters in the West Bank. We pray that this day will be fruitful with many ideas and much engagement.

In the past week in Jerusalem's Old City, tensions between groups of young men have expanded to strain relations between portions of the Christian and Muslim Palestinian communities. We pray that peace will be restored and that this will serve as a reminder of the importance of healthy relations between neighbors of different faiths. We also pray that the incitement of internal disunity will not be used to prevent progress toward a just peace.

Palestinian officials are considering asking the United Nations Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state that is entirely independent from Israel. The new strategy stems from frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations. We pray that whatever decision the Security Council reaches will be based on international law and will bring justice and peace to Palestine and Israel.


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

Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea

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, November 12, 2009


November 9 marked the 20th anniversary since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since that historic event, various new walls have been erected around the world, including the Separation Wall built by Israel in the West Bank. We pray that this unjust and unquestionably illegal wall will be dismantled. May we come to recognize that all walls of fear ultimately stand in the way of justice and peace.

On Friday and Saturday, Sabeel will be organizing a community program for Christians of Jerusalem and the Galilee. The two day event will center on the theme of "Reconnecting with our roots." Poetry, music and fellowship on Friday will be followed by a day of prayer and reflection on Saturday. During the Second Intifada, the Arab-Israeli communities of 'Arrabi, Dayr Hanna, and Sakhneen experienced several deaths at the hands of Israeli police and military. By visiting and hearing from the affected families, we pray that these communities will know that their pain and continued struggles have not been forgotten.

In these weeks leading up to Christmas, more and more tourists and pilgrims can be found visiting sites in Israel and Palestine. We pray that while experiencing places of historical importance, they will have their eyes opened to the current realities of the people of this land. May they have the curiosity and insight to ask difficult questions and truly see what is around them.

November 15 marks Palestinian Independence Day. Unfortunately, in the 21 years since the state was declared, true independence is still not a reality. We offer thanks for all the people and organizations working to bring about a just peace that will allow Palestine to experience actual independence. We pray for transformation and freedom in this land.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, São Tomé e Príncipe

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

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, November 5, 2009


On Tuesday morning, settlers and armed guards entered the Rivka al-Kurd home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem and removed the family and their belongings by force. Israeli police stood by and did not take action to stop the crime. This is the third family to be evicted by settlers in Sheikh Jarrah since August. Almighty God, in our pain we plead for mercy and justice.

Rev. Naim Ateek addressed a gathering of Muslim leaders from Nablus and Bethlehem on Sunday on the topic of Christian Zionism. Rev. Ateek's comments were intended to clear up confusion between the theology of Christian Zionism and the beliefs of Palestinian Christians about the state of Israel. The sheikhs and imams who attended expressed much appreciation for the conference and have already begun planning future dialogues with the local Christian community. We give thanks for this and other opportunities to address misunderstandings and to grow closer ties between different communities.

Early Sunday morning, an armed Israeli man was caught attempting to enter al-Aqsa Mosque. Guards fear he intended to commit a massacre during morning prayers. We give thanks that this disaster was averted and pray that Jerusalem will not descend into violence at the hands of extremists.

November 5 marks the end of Sabeel's Witness Visit. We pray that the participants will return to their communities as informed and inspired advocates of a just peace in Palestine and Israel. May the words and actions of these ambassadors fall upon the minds and hearts of those who can guide decision-makers into ending injustice and the suffering of the oppressed.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Burundi, Congo, Rwanda
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

Israeli Arab School Teachers Unpaid

Elias Chacour has faced many obstacles over the years in his efforts to create opportunities for Jewish, Christian and Muslim children to grow and learn together equally and peacefully in Israel. In his books, Blood Brothers and We Belong to the Land, Bishop Chacour tells of how he started the project of educating children of the village of Ibillin in kindergartens and summer camps and struggles along the way as the Mar Elias Educational Institutes grew. At one point, the only way that he was able to receive the permits from the Israeli government for a high school building was through the intervention of then Secretary of State, James Baker.

Mar Elias' latest challenge is that a related school in Dabourieh has been denied state funding for teachers' salaries since June. Israel's unique system for funding schools was part of Chacour's impulse for building his first high school in Ibillin, as he writes in We Belong to the Land:

Elementary schools in Israel are provided by the government. However, secondary schools, grades nine through twelve, are all private, belonging to local municipalities, synagogues, rabbis or churches. Financial support comes from private donations and from a complicated "quota system" through the Israeli Ministry of Education. Teachers' salaries can usually be paid from government money if a school qualifies for a good quota rating. The school building, furnishings, textbooks, and any extra supplies must be financed privately. By law, students pay no tuition in a secondary school, although there can be fees for special books and tools.

The whole political and social situation of the Jews vis-a-vis the Palestinians is mirrored in Israel's secondary school system. Jewish youngsters have ready access to secondary schools that often are financed through worldwide Jewish support, a municipality or religious organizations. In contrast, Arab Israeli young people, especially those living in the villages, have limited access to secondary schools because there is little outside support.

Certainly no Jewish towns with nine thousand inhabitants would be without secondary schools for long, but no outcry is heard in Israel when Arab Israeli villages have none. In general, Arab villages do not receive the kind of help from the Israeli government that Jewish towns and villages receive, so their municipal resources to provide secondary schools are limited. Furthermore, a Jewish town would be granted a building permit for a secondary school immediately; and Arab village is denied a permit. (pp 130-31).

The United Methodist liason, Janet Lahr Lewis, has sent out this request concerning the teacher salaries which the Israeli government cut off this past June:

Friday, October 30, 2009



Dear Friends,



Please read the letter below to the Ministry of Education and fax a copy of it to them immediately. A recent Volunteer in Mission team heard about this on a recent visit to Mar Elias Educational Institutions, one of our Advance project. They were upset enough to want to go and protest. I felt that a protest by 13 people would not even be noticed by the government offices so I suggested starting a protest campaign that might have more affect.



After several calls to Bp Chacour to get all the details I composed this letter, had it approved by the team and the bishop, and made it available to the director of the school so that the many international groups who visit could also sign it and send to the Ministry of Education. These fax campaigns usually have more success than others.



As of this writing no funds have been received. The officials continue to lie to the bishop saying “You will have the money tomorrow.” Meanwhile families go without, teachers continue to teach without pay and the amount due has increased to over 9 million shekels (around 3 million dollars!)



I urge you to sign the following letter and fax it immediately to the office of the Minister of Education. The one thing Israeli officials must try to avoid is negative publicity. Knowing that this information has now gone out to the world may prompt them to action.



Thank you for your support.

Janet Lahr Lewis

UM Liaison in Israel and Palestine
Mr. Gideon Sa’ar, Minister of Education

Ministry of Education

34, Shivtei Yisrael Street

Jerusalem 91911

Fax: 972 2 560 2223

Dear Mr. Sa’ar,



Recently it has come to our attention by way of supporters of Mar Elias Educational Institutions that a grave injustice is being committed with regards to the suspension of student subsidies used to pay teachers’ salaries at one of the educational facilities inside Israel.



Archbishop Elias Chacour, whose life-long goal has been to provide a good education for children regardless of race or religion, in an atmosphere of peace, respect, and love for one another, has built one of the most successful educational institutions in Israel. These facilities are held up by the international community as an example of how peace and reconciliation is possible in the Middle East. Because of the success of Mar Elias Educational Institutions’ academic and social achievements, the archbishop was approached by a number of people from the village or Dabourieh, including the local authorities, the parents of many students, and a large number of teachers, to help them improve the quality of education for their children.



The archbishop agreed to open a new high school, but not before complying with the government’s requirement of applying for a permit from the Ministry of Education. Applications were submitted repeatedly to which there was no reply whatsoever from the Ministry office. In the meantime, a list of new students was sent to the Ministry of Education. One month before the school was scheduled to open they received the subsidies for the students in order to pay the salaries of the teachers. This action of the payment of subsidies by the Ministry of Education was a concrete step connoting their approval to open the school. Since the Ministry of Education continued to pay all the subsidies for the students of Dabourieh it was then registered as a branch of Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI) with the expectation and understanding that the school in Dabourieh would eventually operate independently.



The second year the school was in operation the Ministry of Education continued to pay the subsidies until June, 2009. Suddenly without any prior notice, the Ministry office froze all the payments for all of Mar Elias Educational Institutions, a situation which continues to this day. The Ministry of Education office thence ordered that MEEI disassociate itself from the school in Dabourieh. The Ministry office also ordered MEEI to stop registering students from Dabourieh as a condition for the Ministry office to reinstate the payment of subsidies for the other Mar Elias institutions. MEEI immediately complied and yet, to this date, the Ministry of Education office has continued, against the advice of its own legal department to illegally withhold funds due to MEEI which currently amount to an excess of 9 million shekels.



This non-payment of subsidies by the Ministry of Education has resulted in over 200 teachers and their families being forced to suffer without income since that date in June, 2009.



As internationals we find this intentional withholding of funds and non-action on the part of the Ministry of Education to be a serious and blatant misuse of power, causing undue suffering of hundreds of people who hold Israeli citizenship. For a country that prides itself on being a democracy, this type of action is considered to be not only discriminatory, but a violation of the internationally recognized Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26 which states: “ (1)Everyone has the right to an education. (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance, and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups…” MEEI has proven to be and is internationally famous for being a successful example of this statement.



Therefore, we strongly request that the Ministry of Education immediately comply with the law and provide all overdue payments of the student subsidies to MEEI and reinstate the regular payments of such, so that the teachers can receive the salaries which they so rightly deserve and to ensure that their families will no longer be forced to suffer from this injustice.



Respectfully submitted,







(Signature)___________________________________________________________________________





(Country)____________________________________________________________________________

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 29, 2009

Christian and Muslim thinkers and leaders will gather in Beit Sahour on Sunday and Monday in a workshop on Christian Zionism, a topic which causes much concern for Palestinians. Pray that this encounter will break down walls of suspicion and further build bridges of understanding.

"Our house is on fire!" is the challenging title for a day conference organized by Friends of Sabeel--Netherlands to engage the Protestant Church in the Netherlands in theological reflection on its understanding of its dual commitment to Israel and the Christian communities of the Holy Land. We pray for the keynote speaker, professor Yohanna Katanacho (a Palestinian Christian from Nazareth), all presenters and participants, that their reflections will help the church stand firm for justice and the rights of the oppressed.

The Sabeel eight day Witness Visit starts on Thursday with worship, communion, and lunch at St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. We pray for all those involved, for safe travels, deep interactions and meaningful responses.

We pray that peace may be restored on the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) where violence has broken out several times in recent weeks. Israeli extremist groups and authorities continue to visit the restricted area and this has resulted in demonstrations by worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque. These and other provocations, like home demolitions and house evictions, maintain a constant tension in Jerusalem and the West Bank.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles

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

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 22, 2009

Olive picking season is underway - and there is an unseasonable heat wave here. Sabeel has organized picking in Jeeb, Kufr Qassim and Birzeit. The Joint Advocacy Initiative of the YWCA and YMCA, as well as many other groups, are also hosting olive picking visitors. We pray for the health and safety of all local and international volunteers and that Palestinian farmers and their families, suffering from ongoing settler violence and the uprooting of their olive trees, may have a peaceful harvest.

The Sabeel Witness Visit will start Thursday 29 Oct. We pray for all those making preparations, we pray that the visit will flow smoothly and we pray for all the speakers, that their voices will be heard and their experiences valued. And we pray for those participants arriving in these days: for energy, for flexibility, for openness and intellectual curiosity.

We pray for the participants, including from Sabeel and Wi'am, who will participate in an Operation 1325 (named for the UN resolution) conference in Cyprus next week addressing the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women, and the contributions women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building.

Palestinian films have recently won awards; Palestinian poets and writers have been celebrated; Palestinian theatre groups are traveling around the world to share productions. Jerusalem is this year's Arab Capital of Culture. Let us give thanks and pray for all those who, in the midst of injustice and cruel occupation, can still be imaginative and inspire the human spirit to rise above brutishness and flourish in the beauty of creativity.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

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 15, 2009

On Monday, Israel demolished several Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. These are the first demolitions in weeks. More than 24,000 Palestinian houses have been destroyed by Israel since 1967. We pray for the newly homeless families sleeping in tents in Jerusalem this week. Do not let us remain silent in the face of such injustice-may we raise our voices and act to end this practice.

In September, 15 Palestinians were killed and over 230 were kidnapped or arrested by Israeli forces. We pray that these figures will be recognized as individual tragedies and not merely as numbers in a long conflict. May we have the compassion to recognize some of the pain and loss in each of these stories.

Olive harvest has begun in Palestine. Many communities are unable to reach their trees due to the Separation Wall or proximity to settlements or military intervention. We pray for all the people who will take part in this important harvest in spite of the obstacles. We pray for Sabeel's young adults who will be helping at-risk communities to harvest their olives in the coming weeks.

October 20 marks the 16th anniversary of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. We are thankful for the generous prayers, support, and solidarity shown by thousands of people around the world as we struggle to make Christ's message of justice and peace relevant in our present day.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

Ethnic Cleansing in the South Hebron Hills

Reprinted with Permission from Christian Peacemaker Teams

REFLECTION
At-Tuwani: Ethnic Cleansing
by Jan Benvie
September 2009

“We must expropriate gently the private property on the state assigned to us. We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border” (Theodor Herzl, one of the founders of Zionism, from 'Righteous Victims'
by Benny Morris, p21-22)

From its inception there have been those within the Zionist movement who supported the expulsion of the indigenous Arab population of Palestine in order to create a Jewish state. This ethnic cleansing has been supported overtly and covertly by successive Israeli governments from the first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, to the present incumbent, Benjamin Netanyahu.

"In many parts of the country new settlement will not be possible without transferring the [Palestinian] Arab fellahin.. . . Jewish power … will also increase our possibilities to carry out the transfer on a large scale.” (Ben Gurion,1937, from 'Righteous Victims' Benny Morris, p143)

These words echo daily in my mind as I live and work in the South Hebron Hills. Here the Palestinian farmers (fellahin) have resiliently defied attempts to 'spirit' or 'transfer' them from their land.

Sometimes the 'transfer' is manifest, as in November 1999, when the
Israeli army forcibly expelled around 700 residents of this area, loading their belongings onto trucks, sealing their cave homes, destroying their cisterns and scattering their flocks. ('Means of Expulsion'
http://www.btselem.org/Download/200507_South_Mount_Hebron_Eng.pdf)
More often the 'transfer' is furtive. Since the establishment of the
settlements in this area in 1981, Palestinians have faced a constant
struggle to remain on their land. The nearby settlements and outposts
control large swathes of land, far in excess of their built up area*.
Almost daily, armed Israeli settlers, soldiers and police collude to expel Palestinian shepherds from their grazing lands.

“This is Israel,” the soldiers frequently say, gesturing to indicate all the land in sight.

Recently a Palestinian shepherd told me, “Today they tell me I can't graze here, tomorrow it will be over there.” pointing to the next valley, nearer his village. “After a while we will be forbidden to leave our homes.”
Before the arrival of the Israeli settlers the Palestinian communities of the South Hebron Hills were self-sufficient. As Herzl and others proposed, settlers have expropriated much of the valuable land. Denied the ability to grow crops or access their grazing land, the Palestinians of the area have been rendered 'penniless', with many dependent on food aid. Some villages have been abandoned because of settler violence, their populations forcibly 'transferred'. Nevertheless, despite economic hardships and Israeli settler and military violence, many villagers remain, a testament to their continuing non-violent resistance.

*See 2008 report 'Access Denied, Israeli measures to deny Palestinians access to land around settlements', by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.
Also 2006 report by Israeli group Peace Now, 'Breaking the Law in the West Bank', which reports that nearly 40% of the land on which Israeli settlements have been built is private Palestinian land.
Further information on how the Israeli state has taken control of
Palestinian land see B'Tselem.

Crossposted at Booman Tribune and Street Prophets

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 8, 2009

Thousands of Christian Zionists are visiting Jerusalem this week for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). Christian Zionists gather every year at this time to express their support for Zionism. We pray that the people attending this year's events will be moved to recognize the need for a theology of justice rather than a theology of exclusivity.

Friends of Sabeel-United Kingdom recently partnered with community organizations, politicians from all parties, and private individuals to establish the Bristol-Gaza-Link Association. The organization will seek "to build humanitarian, cultural, educational and social links" primarily between Bristol and Gaza City. We rejoice that such initiatives are beginning to gain such widespread support and pray that other communities will be inspired to work for justice in any ways they can.

Last week, a Friends of Sabeel-North America conference was held in Washington, D.C., and another will be held this week in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In spite of the increasingly polarized nature of American discourse, we pray that these conferences will inspire more people to seek a just peace in Palestine and Israel. And may the conferences provide necessary tools for peacemakers already committed to pursuing justice.

Gracious God, heal the hearts of those who hate. In places where hate fuels vicious words and destructive actions, give us the courage to love.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

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 1, 2009

On Sunday morning, Israeli riot police used stun grenades and batons to disperse unarmed protesters at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after a suspected extremist Jewish group tried to enter the compound on the eve of Yom Kippur. We pray that religious sites be respected and that religious tolerance be truly honoured by Jew, Muslim and Christian in this land.

The recent meeting of the American president, Barack Obama, with Israeli and Palestinian leaders initially raised hopes about the prospect of peace. Unfortunately, the situation continues to worsen as Israeli policies continue to restrict freedoms, take land and force Palestinians out of Jerusalem. We pray that world leaders demand for Israel to respect international law and hold Israeli leaders accountable for human rights abuses.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fuad Twal, recently stated that due to Israel's policies of "limiting movement and ignoring housing needs, taxation burdens and infringing on residency rights, Palestinian Christians do not know where to turn." In light of this reality, and other concerns in the region, Sabeel speakers are traveling and speaking in many different conferences and meetings this autumn to highlight the experience of all Palestinians. We pray for those traveling and pray that truth defeats distorted messages about the Palestinian situation.

We pray for Friends of Sabeel--UK as they begin their search for a new coordinator to replace Jennifer Oldershaw when she retires in 2010. May the committee be blessed with a multitude of good candidates. We thank God for the many coordinators and volunteers around the world who help spread Sabeel's message of justice and peace. Their hard work and dedication are vital to maintaining connections between people in Palestine/Israel and the rest of the world.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

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 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

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.**

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

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

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 27, 2009

Students in the West Bank and Jerusalem will soon begin the new school year. In spite of the severe shortage of teachers and classrooms, we pray that these students will have a productive and educational year. May their teachers have the creativity to inspire, the compassion to anticipate difficulties, and the wisdom to teach in meaningful ways.


Nine members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Middle East study team are visiting Jerusalem this week as part of their trip to the region. The team was asked by the PC(USA) General Assembly to "prepare a comprehensive study, with recommendations, that is focused on Israel Palestine within the complex context of the Middle East." We pray that their meetings will be beneficial and that the Presbyterian Church (USA) continue to pursue a peace based on justice.


For more information: http://www.pcusa.org/oga/newsstories/israel_palestine_apr17_09b.htm


As "swine flu" continues to spread through the Middle East and millions of Muslims from around the world gather in Mecca during the month of Ramadan, we pray that the Hajj pilgrimage will not rapidly escalate the transmission of the H1N1 virus. We also pray for strength and wisdom for the professionals who are working to eradicate the disease and bring healing to the sick.

This week, Rev. Naim Ateek is meeting with churches, individuals, and peace groups in Scotland to discuss the contemporary theological and political issues facing Palestinians. We pray that this tour will reach many people and will encourage many communities in their struggles to bring about a just peace in Palestine and Israel.



This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

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 20, 2009

This weekend marks the start of the Islamic month of Ramadan. The month of fasting will begin in the heat of summer and we pray for safety and health for all our Muslim brothers and sisters who will participate. May this month be a joyful time of worship and fellowship.

Israeli border officials have stepped up their pressure on people traveling to Palestine. Recently, Israel unilaterally began issuing some travelers "Palestinian Authority Only" visas at the Allenby crossing from Jordan, thus making it impossible for the visa holders to travel from the West Bank into Israel. We pray for those affected by this violation of international law and hope that pressure on Israel will stop this arbitrary and unjust action.

For more information: http://thefastertimes.com/Palestine/2009/08/06/is-this-what-an-israeli-apartheid-stamp-looks-like/

The rise in violence and crime within Israel has caused a record number of Israelis to apply for gun permits. We pray for an end to corruption, hate crimes, organized crime, and domestic violence in Israel, and in all countries around the world. May we seek peace by establishing just societies instead of carrying more and more weapons.

Last week, Nora Carmi of Sabeel spoke to the United Church of Canada as the Church considered boycotting Israeli goods in order to help end the Israeli Occupation. Although the Church chose not to pursue a boycott, the option was left open for individual churches. We pray that this decision will motivate many people and churches to pursue grassroots actions in their local communities to help bring about justice.

For more information: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/The-United-Church-Of-Canada-1030587.html

This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for the many countries of the Pacific islands: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

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 13, 2009

We pray for Palestinian unity. The Fatah Bethlehem conference last week was an opportunity for all members of Fatah to meet and address the future of the Palestinian people. We pray that the different factions unite around common goals to work together for a just peace.


We pray for relief for Gaza. On Monday, Israel has bombed Gaza tunnels along the border with Egypt. For Palestinians, the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt have become the only conduit for essential supplies, made scarce by Israel's blockade of the territory.

We pray for a resolution of the fundamental problem of the closure of Gaza and we pray for the strength of the people of Gaza as they suffer during this hot summer.


We pray for the Sabeel clergy trip as West Bank clergy, those who could get permits, traveled together to the north to meet with fellow clergy from around Israel to speak about the current situation in Shuf'amr as well as next year's Palestine-Israel clergy conference.


We pray for the United Church of Canada as they discuss the question of how to respond to the Occupation as a denomination and in particular, their consideration of boycott, divestment and sanctions as a church.

We pray for thoughtful dialogue and results that lead towards a peace rooted in justice.

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 6, 2009

Before sunrise on Sunday morning, Israeli forces evicted seventy Palestinians from their homes in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli forces also demolished the al-Kurd family protest tent for the sixth time. The al-Kurds were evicted from their home last November. We pray that Israel will end this campaign against the citizens of East Jerusalem. We thank God for the strong condemnation from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and from churches around the world and encourage them to stand firm and act to end this injustice.

The Israeli Knesset passed a "land reform" law on Monday that allows for privatization of state owned land. This threatens to result in the sale of real state expropriated from the Palestinian Arab population in 1948. Such action would violate the property rights of Palestinian refugees. We pray that this law will be overturned in court and that justice will prevail.

For more information, visit: http://www.adalah.org/eng/pressreleases/pr.php?file=09_08_03

This week, Fatah is holding its first conference in the West Bank in two decades. Approximately 2000 delegates are meeting in Bethlehem to discuss the party's new political platform and to hold elections for leadership positions. In spite of the absence of many representatives from Gaza, we pray that the week's events will strengthen Palestinian unity across political divides and will result in positive progress towards achieving a just peace for all.

Summer is a time of transition at Sabeel. In this season, we must say farewell to some of our international volunteers and greet new people who will be joining our staff. We thank God for the hard work and personal sacrifices offered by our friends. And we are grateful for the unique strengths and experiences offered by each individual who joins us for some time before returning to their homes to share Sabeel message of justice and peace.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Canada and the United States
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

Wave of Prayer for Thursday, July 30, 2009

This month, during the hottest part of the summer, a new water tax will go into effect in Israel and Palestine. Established due to the growing water shortage in the region, the tax will add a significant burden to families already struggling in this weak economy. We pray that people will recognize the need to share this region's limited resources fairly amongst all people.

Currently, four very high-ranking American diplomats are visiting Israel and will engage in talks about settlements. We pray that the United States will have the courage to demand a freeze to settlement growth and a withdrawal to the 1967 borders of Palestine and Israel. May these diplomatic meetings be productive in the establishment of a peace based on justice and law.

A friend of Sabeel recently addressed a gathering of ministers in Jakarta, Indonesia about the work of Sabeel and the current situation in Palestine. The group was very receptive and discussed starting a Friends of Sabeel chapter in Indonesia. We thank God for all friends of Sabeel around the world and for the work they do to educate and advocate for a just peace.

Sabeel's International Young Adult Conference is underway! In the process of learning about "Palestinian Christians and the Challenges of Today," the 38 participants have worshipped in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, visited Hebron, enjoyed meals with refugee families, and met with various Israeli and Palestinian peace groups. May God bless their time together as the group travels to the Galilee to learn about the situation facing Palestinian citizens of Israel. We offer thanks for the many generous donations from individuals and organizations that have made this conference possible.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
the island nations of the Caribbean
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

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, July 23, 2009

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied international pressure to halt settlement construction in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu also expressed opposition to sharing Jerusalem with a future Palestinian state. We pray for a change of heart in Israel's leaders, that they will recognize the need to justly share this land.

The ongoing tension and fighting between Hamas and Fatah diverts from efforts to end the Israeli Occupation of Palestine. We pray that Palestinian leaders will reconcile so that they may demonstrate real leadership in the pursuit of lasting peace.

As Rev. Naim Ateek's book tour in the United States enters its final week, we thank God for the work of the many people who have volunteered their time to help organize and facilitate his many speaking engagements. We pray that these final lectures will motivate people to work for peace and seek reconciliation.

In the coming two weeks, forty young adults from Palestine and around the world will gather in Jerusalem to participate in the fourth annual Sabeel international Young Adult Conference. May their time of pilgrimage and learning inspire them to pursue peace with justice in Palestine and Israel and in all conflicts around the globe.



This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html


Wave of Prayer for Thursday, July 16, 2009

It has been half a year since Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the siege of 1.5 million people continues. We pray that construction supplies, medicine, fuel, and other goods necessary for life will be allowed to flow into Gaza. While attempting to deprive Gazans of their dignity, Israel has lost its own.

Five years ago this month, the International Court of Justice released its Advisory Opinion on the "Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories". This opinion detailed the court's findings that the Wall violated Israel's obligations under international law, that the Wall should be removed, and that Israel ought to lift its travel restrictions on Palestinians. Today, construction of the Wall continues and Israel's restrictions on Palestinians have only intensified. We pray that Israel will stop treating international law with such disdain.

Because of Israel's conduct during January's attack of Gaza, the United Kingdom has revoked five export licenses for military equipment intended for the Israeli navy. Compared to the entirety of Israel's arms agreements, these five licenses are miniscule, but they do represent the establishment of an important precedent. We praise God for this small but meaningful step toward international accountability for Israel's war crimes.

On Friday, Sabeel will bring people from Nazareth and Jerusalem to see the challenges facing Palestinian citizens of Israel who live in Akko and Shefa-'Amr. In these (and other) Arab-majority cities within Israel, the state of Israel practices systematic discrimination through land dispossession and unequal distribution of resources. We pray that the frequently overlooked population of Palestinian citizens of Israel will soon experience justice that "rolls on like a mighty river."


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html


Wave of Prayer for Thursday, July 9, 2009

On Monday, the Israeli High Court of Justice extended the order preventing nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu from leaving Jerusalem, speaking with foreigners, or approaching foreign embassies. Recently, the court has also dropped charges against Israeli settlers videotaped beating Palestinians. Such incidents demonstrate the court's deep flaws and its lack of power to stand up to Israeli political pressure. We pray for the establishment of a court system that respects all people equally.

This week the General Convention of the Episcopal Church is meeting in Anaheim, California. Several pieces of legislation related to Palestine/Israel will be discussed and brought up for votes. We praise God that these issues are being taken up at the denominational level and pray that, whatever the final form of the legislation, it will advocate for justice as the foundation for peace.

Next Monday, groups around the world will be taking actions to raise awareness of the home evictions and house demolitions being conducted by Israel in Palestine. In solidarity with residents of the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan, and the Old City, activists will set up tents (the symbol of displaced Palestinians) outside of Israeli embassies in cities across the globe. We pray that these nonviolent protests will draw helpful attention to Israel's policies of displacement.

We pray for inspiration and creativity for the young adults from Ramallah and Jerusalem who have recently volunteered to help in planning Sabeel's young adult activities for the coming months. These activities bring together young Christians from various denominations to participate in Bible studies, lectures, and volunteer work.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html

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, July 2, 2009

In spite of the Israeli government's claim that home demolitions will be slowed, a new policy of "self-demolitions" has gone into effect. Palestinian residents of the Old City of Jerusalem are being forced to destroy parts of their own homes against their will in order to avoid costly fines and prison. This will have traumatic implications emotionally, financially, and on the stability of these families. May God hear the cries of these families and bring about a swift end to this unjust and illegal policy.

A final round of negotiations between Fatah and Hamas is under way in Cairo this week. It seems increasingly likely that the call for unity of the Palestinian people is being heard and that an agreement will be reached between the opposing sides. We praise God for this hopeful development and pray that this spirit of unity and progress will continue to move Palestine closer to a just peace.

This week, another Free Gaza boat, "The Spirit of Humanity," sailed from Cyprus to Gaza with medical supplies, reconstruction materials, and a crew that included Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. On Tuesday, Israeli ships threatened to open fire on the boat if it did not return to Cyprus. We pray for the safety of the crew, hope that the next attempt to reach Gaza will be successful. We beseech God for an end to the siege on Gaza.

Later this month, Sabeel will host its 4th International Young Adult Conference. Nearly 40 young adults from Palestine and around the world will join together in learning about the theme "Palestinian Christians and the Challenges of Today." We pray that in their two-week trip, the participants will develop strong friendships, have their eyes opened to injustice, and be inspired to advocate and work for justice and peace in this land.


This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for: Bolivia, Chile, Peru

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, June 25, 2009

The election in Iran proves once again the necessity for integrity and honesty in democracy. As clashes continue, we pray that a peaceful resolution can be found before more people are imprisoned or killed.

This week, Sabeel is hosting an Open Forum event for Palestinian Christians from Jerusalem to discuss their vision for the local community. The meeting will emphasize creative ways for individuals to contribute to the health of their society. We pray that this experience will encourage people in their struggles to achieve justice and peace for all.

The end of the school year in Palestine means that many thousands of children are searching for activities to fill their days. We pray that they will find constructive and stimulating outlets this summer. We also pray for the hundreds of adults who are volunteering at summer camps. May this time be a valuable and pleasant experience for all involved.

Next week, Rev. Naim Ateek will begin a five week speaking and advocacy tour of the American west coast. The invitation for this trip, President Obama's firm stance against settlements, and recent victories in the morally responsible investment movement are indications of a growing interest-in the United States and elsewhere-in the Palestinian cause. We pray that Rev. Ateek's time in the United States will inspire more people to seek true peace through justice.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Each week at 12:00 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. Our hope is that in our 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 continuing on around the world we pray for Peace with Justice and focus on specific issues each week.

Wave of Prayer, Thursday, 18th of June, 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech on Sunday seemed intended to slow the path toward justice and peace. We pray that all parties involved in the conflict will take full responsibility for their actions and humbly pursue what all know to be the only just solution—an end to the Israeli occupation.

This month, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is kicking off events to mark 60 years of working alongside millions of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA is using the occasion to host academic and artistic events, launch new advocacy campaigns, and broaden its donor base. We thank God for the work of this vital agency and pray that countries around the world will continue to offer support.

On Saturday, President Jimmy Carter met with Christian leaders in Jerusalem and heard comments from Rev. Naim Ateek on the viability of the future Palestinian state and the importance of democracy for Palestine. We pray that President Carter’s trip to the region will help raise awareness about the current status of settlements and the rebuilding of Gaza. We praise God for all people who—like President Carter—work tirelessly for justice and peace.

Sabeel warmly welcomes 15 additional people to its governing board, called the General Assembly. We are grateful for the energy and new perspectives that these actively engaged people will contribute to Sabeel’s life and ministry.

This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for: Brazil
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle.html