18/10/12 - English

Lord, may all the Church continue to remember those who are in prison as if we were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if we ourselves were suffering (Heb 13:3). 

Today, we remember before you 15-year-old Palestinian Raed Al Amouri from Jerusalem, tried by the Israeli Military Court last week. We lift up the overwhelming number of children and young men that are arrested, tried, and sentenced according to unjust methods. We also remember before you 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani schoolgirl who had campaigned for women’s rights to education and was gravely injured by Taliban gunmen. God, we cry out that you would accompany all such young people who face unjust and terrifying circumstances. Lord, in your mercy...

We pray in solidarity with Sufian Taha, previous owner of a home in Beit Hanina, East Jerusalem that was demolished this week. Lord, be with him in his grief and exasperation – and with the many who have experienced similar demolitions. Please provide for their needs and give them the courage and strength to work towards a government that would be fair to all. We bring before you the many newly approved settlement housing units soon to be constructed, asking that Israel would recognize these decisions as illegal and inherently devastating to the peace process. Lord, in your mercy...

Lord, we lift up the coming elections, both at home and abroad: First, for fair local municipal elections in Palestine and for the installation of Municipal Councils that will work diligently to bring about improvement of the conditions in the towns and villages and in the lives of the people under their jurisdiction. Second, for presidential elections in the United States, especially that both US candidates would recognize the urgent importance of developing better foreign policies towards peace for all. Lord, in your mercy...

We pray for this week’s Sabeel programs, namely that the Open Forum program to be led by Bishop William Shomali and the UK Witness Visit between the 20^th and 28^th of October will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God. Lord, in your mercy...

Finally, we remember the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal – especially for those who have been internally displaced, and for our stateless brothers and sisters, the Rohingya people. Lord, in your mercy....