Global Ministries

Lectionary Selection: Psalm 126

Prayers for Lebanon:

Almighty God, creator of all, giver of life, we come to you with hearts that are overwhelmed with many thoughts and feelings.

We stand before you, raising our voices to you, trying to understand all that is happening in our personal lives, communities, country, and world.

Although overwhelmed, yet we come to you with the confidence that you are a loving God. We thank you for loving us unconditionally.

Over the past decade of its existence, Shoulder to Shoulder [of which the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ are founding members] has developed and maintained close relationships with Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian (MASA) organizations and individuals, many of whom we have consulted regularly when making programmatic and policy decisions. We are now proud to announce the formation of a new Consultative Circle to formally reflect the importance of input from those most directly impacted by anti-Muslim bias.

The Link, published on a bi-monthly basis, is Americans for Middle East Understanding's primary education and information tool. More than 175 issues of The Link have followed since the first issue in 1968.

The Link archive constitutes a body of informed commentary, fact and anecdotal evidence that is all the more valuable for writers, researchers and historians because each issue (for the most part) covers only one subject.

In the current issue, Jeff Halper, an American-born anthropologist who has lived in Israel since 1973, former Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions and a co-founder of The People Yes! Network, writes, "What is a Security State? Why, in the 21st century, is the prosperous US, supremely proud of its democratic traditions, turning into a Security State?

This story was told to a staff member of Mediterranean Hope.

I was born in a suburb of Damascus, Syria in 1991, the daughter of J, a builder, and F, teacher.

In 2011, people began to protest against the government. At the beginning we did not understand what was happening but, at a certain point – I don’t remember when - we began to be afraid.

Unjustified shooting in attack that never was:
Israeli security forces fatally shoot Nur Shqeir
(a-Za’ayem Checkpoint)

November 30, 2020
Press release – for immediate publication

On Wednesday, 25 November 2020, at around 3:00 P.M., 36-year-old Nur Shqeir, a Palestinian shuttle driver from Silwan, drove up to a-Za’ayem Checkpoint, which lies east of Jerusalem, on his way to the city. According to the Israel Police, security forces at the checkpoint suspected that Shqeir’s documents did not belong to him, at which point he accelerated and ran into a Border Police officer, injuring him lightly. In response, Border Police officers and security guards at the checkpoint opened fire.

Sabeel invites you to join in four online services during the Month of December (Dec. 8, 15, 22, & 29) at 6pm Jerusalem time (11 am Eastern US time/8 am Pacific US time). The online services are open to the community and friends and will be conducted in both English and Arabic. The services will be a time to join together to discuss how the weekly scripture readings apply to our lives today, and to pray for the specific needs of this region through the Sabeel Wave of Prayer. 

The services are modeled after the Sabeel Thursday noon services that many of our friends have taken in over the past years.

Please use this form to register for the meetings and receive the Zoom link. Registration will work for all 4 meetings.

Israel commits a crime and paints Palestinians as lawbreakers:
The homes of 44 Palestinians, including 22 children, were demolished
yesterday in the West Bank

November 26, 2020
Press release - for immediate publication

As part of Israel’s efforts to take over more land in the West Bank, authorities yesterday destroyed the homes of 44 Palestinians (22 of them minors) and cut off entire communities from the water supply. Some of the homes demolished yesterday were still under construction and not yet occupied.

November 29 was observed by the United Nations as International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. Responding to the Cry for Hope from Palestinian Christians, [Sabeel and] FOSNA called on Christian leaders across the World to commit their congregations to "Preach Palestine" on November 29th.

Lord, our hearts are united with all people everywhere who say “enough” to the ongoing occupation and the violence and oppression that has kept its hold on this land for too long. May this day not just heighten the world’s awareness of the injustice that is part of daily life in Palestine but also give those in positions of leadership the will and courage to act in ways that lead to a just peace. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

In a 23 November letter to Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, World Council of Churches (WCC) interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca urged the protection of religious and cultural monuments the Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh region.

The following statement and Call for practical actions on the UN International Solidarity Day with the Palestinian People has been issued by the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA and the YWCA of Palestine.

In 1977, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly called for the annual consideration of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People based on the UN General Assembly resolution 181.