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, August 26, 2010
On Tuesday, two Israeli civil rights groups published a report outlining the ongoing classroom shortage in Palestinian public schools around East Jerusalem. According to the report, a court order from 2001 demanded that the Jerusalem municipality construct 644 new classrooms by the year 2011. Nine years later, less than forty percent of the desired total has been completed. In addition, since the time of the court order, an estimated 1000 new classrooms are necessary to accommodate the growing child population. As we enter back-to-school season around the world, may we pray for those who wish to learn but, for lack of a space in which to do it, cannot.
Beginning this year, a pilot program will begin in 170 schools throughout Israel to establish mandatory Arabic study for all students in Israeli schools after the fifth grade with the intention of expanding the program throughout the country. We hope that this initiative will continue and allow young Israelis, Arabs and Jews, to engage and understand one other as equals.
Today marks the opening of the 3rd Annual Sabeel Women's Conference, "A Moment of Truth: Challenges Facing Women Today." For the next three days, Muslim and Christian Women from all over Palestine and Israel will listen to panels and lecturers, discuss various regional problems and conflicts, and pray together as Palestinian women. May the spirit of this conference guide women in Palestine and around the world to work for positive transformation in their communities.
This Saturday, Rev. Dr. Olaf Fykse Tveit, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches will be visiting Jerusalem. During his stay, Rev. Tveit will be meeting with the heads of the churches and the Kairos Committee. We pray that this visit will encourage the World Council of Churches to continue in their support of justice and peace in Palestine and Israel.
This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 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, August 19, 2010
Three weeks have passed since the flood rains began in Pakistan but much of the country continues to be plagued with flooding in what the UN Secretary General is calling the worst natural disaster he has ever seen. More than 1500 people have died and up to 3.5 million children are at risk from deadly waterborne diseases. We pray for relief, and hope that as Christians around the world awaken to this crisis, they will respond with action.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a plan to build 23 new mobile classrooms in West Bank settlements, contradicting his own standing order for a freeze on all settlement construction outside of East Jerusalem. God of peace, grant us the vision to transcend our own narrow needs and see the truth.
This week Sabeel will send a delegate to Alberta, Canada, to be one of ten international resource speakers for a week-long high school camp designed to bring together young adults from different backgrounds and explore issues of peace. Speakers will be coming from Nigeria, Uganda, Columbia, Palestine and Israel. May the gathering inspire the young participants to stand against injustice and live the way of peace.
Pressure to restart direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israel has been mounting in past weeks. But at a time when the world is looking for diplomacy, we pray for action and integrity. We pray for unity among Palestinians, and that any future negotiations are approached with a clear mind and sound heart.
This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches in praying for:
The Pacific islands: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa and the French Overseas Territories of New Caledonia (Kanaky) and French Polynesia (Tahiti)
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, August 19, 2010
Three weeks have passed since the flood rains began in Pakistan but much of the country continues to be plagued with flooding in what the UN Secretary General is calling the worst natural disaster he has ever seen. More than 1500 people have died and up to 3.5 million children are at risk from deadly waterborne diseases. We pray for relief, and hope that as Christians around the world awaken to this crisis, they will respond with action.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a plan to build 23 new mobile classrooms in West Bank settlements, contradicting his own standing order for a freeze on all settlement construction outside of East Jerusalem. God of peace, grant us the vision to transcend our own narrow needs and see the truth.
This week Sabeel will send a delegate to Alberta, Canada, to be one of ten international resource speakers for a week-long high school camp designed to bring together young adults from different backgrounds and explore issues of peace. Speakers will be coming from Nigeria, Uganda, Columbia, Palestine and Israel. May the gathering inspire the young participants to stand against injustice and live the way of peace.
Pressure to restart direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israel has been mounting in past weeks. But at a time when the world is looking for diplomacy, we pray for action and integrity. We pray for unity among Palestinians, and that any future negotiations are approached with a clear mind and sound heart.
This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches in praying for:
The Pacific islands: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa and the French Overseas Territories of New Caledonia (Kanaky) and French Polynesia (Tahiti)
Wednesday, August 11, 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, August 12, 2010
This week, Muslims from around the world will begin the month-long fasting period of Ramadan. Here in Jerusalem, Palestinian Muslims will be providing free meals for the poor and other visitors each night so that they may break the fast together under the stars by the Aqsa mosque. Traditionally, excessive closures and detentions have made this a difficult month for Palestinian Muslims, so we pray this year that the spirit of Ramadan will prevail and even Israel will respect this holy time.
Gaza's sole power station was shutdown on Saturday due to lack of fuel. On Sunday, Gaza's hospitals announced a state of emergency, citing dire consequences for patients if the power is not turned back on, in particular for those on life support and dialysis. On Monday morning, one of the station's generators was turned on with enough fuel to run for a day and a half. We hope the leaders in Gaza and the PA and in Israel can resolve this problem and we pray for those Gazans living in the dark.
This Saturday, young adults from Sabeel Nazareth will spend the day on Mt. Tabor, the traditional site of the transfiguration, and the surrounding area to reflect on the Gospel and its meaning for their lives today. May God guide them as they reflect and walk the land to strengthen their community and their faith.
In the past two weeks, over ninety Palestinian houses and structures have been demolished in the occupied territories and on Monday Israel's civil administration began razing housing units again in the northern Jordan valley. But through the will and faith of many Israeli, Palestinian, and international activists, some of these homes are being rebuilt in courageous acts of civil disobedience and we thank God for them and others who lovingly serve their neighbor.
This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, August 12, 2010
This week, Muslims from around the world will begin the month-long fasting period of Ramadan. Here in Jerusalem, Palestinian Muslims will be providing free meals for the poor and other visitors each night so that they may break the fast together under the stars by the Aqsa mosque. Traditionally, excessive closures and detentions have made this a difficult month for Palestinian Muslims, so we pray this year that the spirit of Ramadan will prevail and even Israel will respect this holy time.
Gaza's sole power station was shutdown on Saturday due to lack of fuel. On Sunday, Gaza's hospitals announced a state of emergency, citing dire consequences for patients if the power is not turned back on, in particular for those on life support and dialysis. On Monday morning, one of the station's generators was turned on with enough fuel to run for a day and a half. We hope the leaders in Gaza and the PA and in Israel can resolve this problem and we pray for those Gazans living in the dark.
This Saturday, young adults from Sabeel Nazareth will spend the day on Mt. Tabor, the traditional site of the transfiguration, and the surrounding area to reflect on the Gospel and its meaning for their lives today. May God guide them as they reflect and walk the land to strengthen their community and their faith.
In the past two weeks, over ninety Palestinian houses and structures have been demolished in the occupied territories and on Monday Israel's civil administration began razing housing units again in the northern Jordan valley. But through the will and faith of many Israeli, Palestinian, and international activists, some of these homes are being rebuilt in courageous acts of civil disobedience and we thank God for them and others who lovingly serve their neighbor.
This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches in praying for:
Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia
Thursday, August 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, August 5, 2010
The region has been experiencing a heat wave for the past ten days. Temperatures have soared as high as 39 degrees centigrade, and with water shortages in the West Bank life has become intolerable for the residents, especially for those who have been rendered homeless because of evictions and demolitions. We pray for cooler temperatures and mercy in the hearts of the occupiers.
We give thanks to God for the fruitful 5th International Young Adult Conference that brought together 27 international and a dozen local participants from 12 countries to 'come, see and act.' Let us continue to pray that those who experienced transformation during the trip will encourage more young people to understand the theological, moral and legal aspects of the conflict and stand firm for truth.
The Rev. Naim Ateek will be joining over 60 people from all over the USA at the 2010 FOSNA Leadership Retreat that will be held in Portland, Oregon next week. We pray that the participants will find new and creative ways to work for a just peace.
As the world eagerly awaits direct negotiations to be resumed between Israelis and Palestinians in the coming weeks, the facts on the ground in Jerusalem alone reveal their futility. On Monday, the evicted families of Hannoun and Ghawi in the Sheikh Jarrah area marked one full year living in the street. Home demolitions in various parts of the city have continued and settlement construction has not ceased. How long O Lord? Listen to the cry of your children.
This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches
in praying for:
Canada, USA
Wave of Prayer for Thursday, August 5, 2010
The region has been experiencing a heat wave for the past ten days. Temperatures have soared as high as 39 degrees centigrade, and with water shortages in the West Bank life has become intolerable for the residents, especially for those who have been rendered homeless because of evictions and demolitions. We pray for cooler temperatures and mercy in the hearts of the occupiers.
We give thanks to God for the fruitful 5th International Young Adult Conference that brought together 27 international and a dozen local participants from 12 countries to 'come, see and act.' Let us continue to pray that those who experienced transformation during the trip will encourage more young people to understand the theological, moral and legal aspects of the conflict and stand firm for truth.
The Rev. Naim Ateek will be joining over 60 people from all over the USA at the 2010 FOSNA Leadership Retreat that will be held in Portland, Oregon next week. We pray that the participants will find new and creative ways to work for a just peace.
As the world eagerly awaits direct negotiations to be resumed between Israelis and Palestinians in the coming weeks, the facts on the ground in Jerusalem alone reveal their futility. On Monday, the evicted families of Hannoun and Ghawi in the Sheikh Jarrah area marked one full year living in the street. Home demolitions in various parts of the city have continued and settlement construction has not ceased. How long O Lord? Listen to the cry of your children.
This week we join in the Prayer Cycle of the World Council of Churches
in praying for:
Canada, USA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)