Sabeel Wave of Prayer, week of Nov. 16, 2015
Wave of Prayer: This prayer ministry enables local and international friends of Sabeel to pray over regional concerns on a weekly basis. Sent to Sabeel’s network of supporters, the prayer is used in services around the world and during Sabeel’s Thursday Communion service; as each community in its respective time zone lifts these concerns in prayer at noon every Thursday, this “wave of prayer” washes over the world.
Lord, this past week darkness fell on Paris, the City of Light, as over 130 people were senselessly killed in multiple terrorist attacks orchestrated by ISIS. The world seemed to unite in its outrage. “We are all Parisians” was heard around the globe. But there is pain everywhere, Lord—pain in Beirut after 43 were killed last week, pain in Syria, pain in Africa, pain in Afghanistan, pain in Palestine. And the list goes on and on. Lord, give us the will and the courage to be your light in a hurting world and not to rest until compassion, dignity and the sacredness of every human life is honored and practiced.
Lord in your mercy………..
Lord, closer to home, we see violence continuing daily. Since October 1, over 7,000 Palestinians have been injured and 83 killed, the latest casualties being Laith Assad Munasra, age 21 and Ahmad Abu al-Aish, age 28, shot and killed by Israeli forces as a suspect’s home was being demolished in the Qalandya refugee camp in Ramallah early Monday morning. We cry with the Psalmist, “How long?”: how long will this violence go on, how long will people suffer the loss of family, friends and homes? How long will families and neighborhoods suffer under the collective punishment of home demolitions that target the innocent? And yet, as we cry out, we are also reminded of your love and faithfulness. Let that reminder give us hope that someday your peace and justice will be established in this land.
Lord in your mercy………..
Lord, at a time when fear and hatred are on the rise worldwide and so much of this is directed towards the Muslim community, we give thanks for the Sabeel and Al-Liqa Centers who organized a solidarity visit of Christian clergy with Muslim clerics at Al Aqsa Mosque last Thursday. We pray that the status quo at the site will not be threatened or violated by aggressive Israeli settlers and that the Muslim community will have unrestricted freedom to pray and worship at this holy place. We also pray that this show of brotherhood between our two faiths can be a witness to the whole world.
Lord in your mercy………..
Lord, we pray for the Sabeel clergy and spouse retreat which takes place November 24-26 in Haifa. We pay for refreshment and renewal for the clergy and their families as they spend this time together.
Lord in your mercy………..
We pray alongside the World Council of Churches for the countries of Cameroon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea.
Lord in your mercy………..