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, January 21, 2010
In the wake of the devastation in Haiti, we pray for comfort and strength for the injured, the missing, rescuers, and survivors of this tragedy. As aid pours in from around the world (Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel included), we remember that rebuilding cannot happen overnight and that the effects of this catastrophe will be felt for decades. May we commit to the long process of healing involved in conflicts and disasters worldwide.
On Monday morning, illegal Israeli excavations under the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan collapsed and created a 12 meter deep hole in a street. Israeli archaeological digs have resulted in several cave-ins in the area. Other excavations have resulted in cracks in the foundation of Al-Aqsa Mosque, threatening its collapse. We pray that Israel will put the lives of real people before the study of history.
Israel's policy of kidnapping without charge continues unabated. On Monday, alone, seventeen Palestinians were taken from their homes in the West Bank by Israeli military forces. Typically, those captured are released several days or weeks later without going before a judge or learning why they were detained. God of justice, we offer to you our prayers for those unjustly targeted by Israeli forces.
Next week, Rev. Naim Ateek will address a group of Israeli tour guides on Palestinian Liberation Theology. We pray that the guides will be open to hear what he has to say and will share their learning with those whom they will lead.
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
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