04/12//2014 - English

Lord, we are thankful that hundreds of Jewish Israelis protested against the Nation-State Bill that if passed, would declare Israel the nation-state of the Jewish people, subordinate democracy to a Jewish character, and institutionalize discrimination of Palestinian citizens of Israel.  God of justice, we pray that instead there will be a law that grants true equality to all of its citizens.  Lord in your mercy… Lord, we are thankful for the gift of plentiful rain for this area of the world that suffers from water shortages; however, we worry for the thousands of displaced people in Gaza, many who are living in the ruins of their homes or in temporary, moveable homes.  The recent flood waters in Gaza are worsened by infrastructure damage due to Israel’s massive military offensive this past summer.  God, shelter and protect the people of Gaza. Lord in your mercy… 
 
Lord, we pray for the Kairos Conference in Bethlehem titled, “Life with Dignity,” that it may be a reflective and motivating time for its local and international participants.  We also pray for the Sabeel staff and volunteers as they prepare for the annual ecumenical Sabeel Christmas dinner later this month that will give clergy from different churches an opportunity to celebrate ecumenically with the community.  Lord in your mercy…
 
We pray alongside the World Council of Churches for the countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone.  Lord in your mercy…
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The Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon have doubled in population due to the ongoing conflict in Syria.  This is a second Nakba for some of the 5,000 Palestinian refugees of Syria at these camps who were forced out of or fled their homes in historic Palestine in 1948.  These refugees have suffered long enough. God, we pray that they find permanent homes through a just resolution based on international law. Lord in your mercy…