Sabeel Wave of Prayer – Week of Dec. 15, 2025
During the last week of advent starting on December 21st, many churches around the world will light the fourth candle of advent, symbolizing love. Christmas for Catholic and Protestant churches will be on December 25th, while the Orthodox Churches will celebrate Christmas on January 7th according to the Julian calendar. The Armenian church will celebrate Christmas on January 19thth.
Lord God, in your deep love and mercy for our broken humanity, you took the form of a human to walk with us and to suffer with us. In doing so, you taught us that the deepest form of love is solidarity. In this season of Christmas where we are reminded of your love, help us to love you and worship your Holy name by extending our solidarity and witness to “the poor; the oppressed; the widow and the orphan.” (Isaiah 10:2)
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Last week, Israeli forces raided the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, seizing items and replacing the UN flag with Israel’s flag. The agency’s commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini condemned the attack as a breach against international law. UNRWA has not used the building since the beginning of the year after Israeli authorities ordered the agency to vacate all of its premises and halt operations inside Israel, following months of harassment that included arson attacks in 2024, hateful demonstrations, and anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Israeli parliament.
Holy God, we lament this news. We pray that international law may be upheld, and those responsible for violating it will be held accountable. May justice and peace soon come to the Holy Land.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
As many university students around the world go on winter break, it is important to remember the continued efforts to sustain education in Gaza amidst two years of systematic elimination of Palestinian education, including the complete destruction of 165 schools, universities, and other educational institutions and killing of thousands of students and teachers. The Islamic University of Gaza, the largest university in Gaza, recently re-opened and resumed in-person classes. During the last two years, many students also graduated via remote learning, going through great difficulties finding electricity and internet to complete their studies.
Divine Creator, help us follow the example of the people of Gaza in their determination to hope and their love for life. We pray for the students of Gaza as they resume learning and for a lasting and just peace in the Holy Land.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
A delegation of 1,000 evangelical pastors and influencers recently went on a fully funded trip to Israel, organized by Friends of Zion and the Israeli ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Christian pastors and influencers met with Israeli president Issaac Herzog and other officials, and they received training to promote Israel and strengthen its reputation in their respective communities. Dr. Mike Evans, a Christian Zionist who founded the Friends of Zion Heritage Centre in Jerusalem, is a known confidant of President Donald Trump. In their itinerary, the delegation did not meet with any Palestinian Christians or Palestinian Christians leaders.
Holy God, please forgive us when we participate in the structural sins of racism, hatred, and settler colonialism. We grieve the complicity of false prophets who participate in theologies of empire. Embolden the global church to stand firm in love and inclusivity against exclusive theologies and help us realize that your justice and love for humanity extends to all.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We lift in our prayers this week the 8 imprisoned activists in the UK who have been on a hunger strike protest of over 40 days, at great risk to their health. The activists have been held on remand for over a year without trial for taking direct action against weapons manufacturers committing genocide. This is the largest coordinated prison hunger strike in UK history since the 1981 H-Block strike by Irish republican prisoners. The hunger strikers have received little to no coverage on mainstream media.
Dear lord, we recall how you were imprisoned, crucified, and maimed on the Cross, disregarded and despised by the powers of your time. We know that you are dwelling now with Qesser Zuhrah, Amu Gib, Heba Muraisi, Jon Cink, T Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, Muhammad Umer Khalid, and Lewie Chiaramello in their hunger and thirst for justice. Strengthen them with the sumud of the Holy Spirit as they risk their lives in protest. We pray that the international community may respond in solidarity and action with their demands for accountability and justice.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the people of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. We especially pray for the victims of the recent cyclones and destructive storms that have swept across South and Southeast Asian regions, killing at least 1,350 people.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers