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 25, 2010
Jerusalem remains very tense as Israel continues to belligerently threaten settlement expansion. In the past week, the West Bank has seen four killings by the Israeli military and attacks on Israeli soldiers. In Gaza, Israeli bombings and Palestinian rocket fire have dominated the week's news. God of mercy, in this time of darkness, we pray for guidance and wisdom in order not to destroy the remaining glimmer of hope for equality and peace.
In this Easter season, pilgrims from around the world come to Jerusalem to mark the death and celebrate the resurrection of Christ. We pray that the people visiting this land will remember the powerful message of love and nonviolence demonstrated by Jesus. We also pray that Christians from the West Bank and Gaza will be able to worship in Jerusalem without hindrance.
This week, Sabeel is leading members of the local Christian community on a Contemporary Way of the Cross pilgrimage through Jerusalem's Old City. While walking the Via Dolorosa and remembering Christ's suffering, the group will reflect on the current suffering of people in this land. We pray that, in Jesus' response to oppression and death, we will also find ways to nonviolently respond to injustice with courage and love.
The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI, a ministry of the World Council of Churches) welcomes its 35th team on Saturday. We give thanks for the important work done by EAPPI, through accompaniment in areas of conflict here and through advocacy in their home countries. We pray for steadfastness for team 35 as they begin their term and for blessings for team 34 as they return home to share what they experienced. Thanks be to God for the work of all people who work for justice.
This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:
China, Hong Kong, Macao
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