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.

We pray for the upcoming Israeli election that will be held on February 10. We pray that Israelis will elect a leader with a vision for peace and a willingness to pursue justice. Though none of the candidates have yet demonstrated significant interest in the rights of Palestinians, we pray that God will move to consciously work for the welfare of the whole region.

We pray for the approximately 12 girls injured when the floor of their classroom collapsed on Sunday. The UN affiliated school is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. Israeli excavations and tunnels around the al-Aksa mosque threaten the stability of buildings in the area. We pray that no further injuries take place and that this unfortunate incident will draw attention to some of the dangers facing Palestinians in Jerusalem's OldCity. We also pray that the United Nations will step in to prevent further damage to the surrounding communities.

This week representatives of the World Council of Churches and the Christian Council of Norway will be visiting the area. We thank God for continued interest in the region by Christians from around the globe. We pray that these and other delegations will have the courage and wisdom to act as prophetic voices for change.

Beginning this week, a photo exhibit produced by Friends of Sabeel, Canada, will be on display in Washington, D.C. at the Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. The exhibit, called "Our Story: A Photo Exhibit Commemorating 60 Years of Dispossession," marks sixty years since the Palestinian Nakba. We pray that the display will inform many visitors and will encourage people to work towards a just peace.