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, April 29, 2010

On Sunday, several dozen settlers marched through the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan demanding the eviction of the area's Palestinian residents. The ensuing police involvement and clashes are yet another burden on a community that faces housing demolitions, evictions and settlement expansion. God of compassion, hear our prayer for all facing homelessness, in Palestine and around the world.

Each week, hundreds of people take part in nonviolent demonstrations against the arbitrary "shoot-to-kill" buffer zone that separates farmers from their fields alongside the Israeli fence around the Gaza Strip. This weekend, two Palestinians and an international activist were shot and wounded there. We pray for all people who put themselves in difficult places in the name of justice and peace.

On July 21st, Sabeel will host their 5th annual young adult conference, an opportunity for young people from around the world to spend 12 days with Palestinian young adults on an alternative pilgrimage. It is our prayer that young adults from many different countries will take this chance to learn and understand and that they will be inspired to share their experiences when they return home.

As this prayer is being written, Israeli police and soldiers are standing on the street in front of Sabeel, stopping Palestinian buses and detaining every young man that passes. Some of the men are released after a 45 minute delay and signing a legal document, some are put in a police van and taken elsewhere, and all must undergo a humiliating and frustrating i.d. check. For these men and all Palestinians who experience daily harassment, we pray for an end to the Israeli occupation.

This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:

Eritrea, Ethiopia


Wave of Prayer for Thursday, April 22, 2010

The Kairos Palestine Moment of Truth document, written by the Palestinian Christian community about the sin of the Israeli occupation, is being widely discussed and debated. There have been critical voices which denigrate the document and its authors. We pray that the cry from the heart of Palestinian suffering will be heard and people will respond with action and advocacy.

Israel continues to forcibly oppress and relocate Bedouin communities in the Negev. Just last week, three homes belonging to Bedouin Israelis were destroyed by Israeli police and many home demolition orders were served in the unrecognized village of El-Araqib in order to clear land for the Jewish National Fund to plant a forest. We pray that Israel will begin to respect the rights of all its citizens.

On Friday, Sabeel will host an event in Jericho for Palestinian Christian clergy and their spouses. The group will discuss opportunities for upcoming events with Muslim sheikhs, as well as paying a visit to the Melkite church in Taybeh. We are thankful that such ecumenical events can take place and pray that bonds among the different churches will remain strong.

Sabeel is currently recruiting and interviewing candidates for several positions in Jerusalem and Nazareth. We pray that this process will find talented individuals to help expand Sabeel's ministry of justice and peace.

This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for:

Djibouti, Somalia