Thursday, May 13, 2010

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, May 13, 2010




Today the Christians in Jerusalem will join the worldwide Christian family in celebrating the Ascension of Christ. On Saturday, Nakba Day, Christians will join their Palestinian brothers and sisters in mourning the loss of their land, their country and so many members of their families. Throughout the week, marches, rallies, and other non-violent demonstrations for peace and justice will be taking place in Palestine and Israel. May our prayers for justice be heard by the ascended Christ and may we all find fresh hope and encouragement in the struggle for freedom.



The Sabeel young adults will spend two days in Galilee this weekend, volunteering in Tiberias and commemorating Nakba Day in solidarity with Palestinians from the village of Al-Bassa, which was forcibly depopulated in 1948 and remains in ruins to this day. We pray that the participants will enjoy the community building and solidarity of being together from north and south, and that their activities will bind them together and offer mutual support.



The coordinators for Friends of Sabeel will gather for two days to discuss and strategize new ways to develop the ministry of Sabeel and its partners and further advocate for a lasting and just peace in this land. May God bless this meeting as we refresh and renew the bonds and spirit of our mission.



Sabeel is blessed with many people who volunteer their time and energy to help. Last Monday, one of Sabeel's long-time friends and committee members passed away in Nazareth. We give thanks for all our volunteers and supporters, and especially for Abla, and pray for her family and friends at this sad time.



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

Kenya, Tanzania

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

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, May 6, 2010




This week, the board of Sabeel will hold their semi-annual General Assembly. We pray for wisdom for these decision-makers as they strategize and plan exciting new ways to expand Sabeel's work towards a just peace.



On Friday, Christian clergy from the Galilee will gather at the Sabeel office in Nazareth. The ecumenical group will have a Bible study and will discuss opportunities for conversations with other religious communities within Israel. May this meeting and the events that stem from it promote tolerance between various faith groups.



Israeli soldiers destroyed a mosque in the Gaza Strip and settlers torched a mosque near Nablus on Tuesday. We pray for the many people who face these and other provocations and yet steadfastly refuse to violently retaliate. May they be comforted in these times of trial.



Even before proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority have begun, the forecast for the negotiations is bleak. Projected to begin in the middle of the month, these talks are the first to take place since Israels attack on Gaza last January. In spite of this, we pray that these talks will move us one step closer to a just peace for all people in Israel and Palestine.



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

Sudan, Uganda