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
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