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, March 18, 2010
Pressure from settlement expansion, encroachment on Al Aqsa Mosque, and Israeli crackdowns on nonviolent protests are bringing Jerusalem close to a breaking point. The tension in the city is higher than it has been in many years. We pray that justice will prevail and peace can be found before tension erupts in violence.
As Christians experience conflict and bloodshed with their Muslim neighbors in Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria, we pray that peace can be restored. May Christians and Muslims around the world draw together and refuse to allow misunderstandings to lead to further violence. Merciful God, bring your children together in their shared humanity.
On Thursday, Sabeel will host a young adult conference in Jericho for over 80 Palestinian student leaders representing 7 universities. The Muslim, Christian, and Samaritan participants from the West Bank will focus on the "Arms Down" disarmament campaign from Religions for Peace. We pray that this experience will encourage collaborative relationships and will equip young leaders in their pursuit of peace.
We give thanks to God for the lives and witnesses of The Reverend Leonard Shaheen, Anglican priest and friend of Sabeel, and Gene Stoltzfus, founding director of Christian Peacemaker Teams. Both men died last week and leave behind legacies that inspire us to remain true to Christ's radical message of justice, peace and love.
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
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