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