26/11/09 - English

Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. Throughout the month, Sabeel will be hosting ecumenical events for Palestinian Christians around the theme “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9b). Although we come from many Christian traditions, we pray that we can find unity in our shared commitment to live according to the message brought by Christ’s birth.        

On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed two people, wounded four and leveled several buildings. The strikes were apparently in response to projectiles fired into the Negev Desert by unidentified Gazan militants. It is our prayer and our hope that justice and peace will bring an end to the cycle of violence that continues in Gaza.

Next week, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a longtime partner of Sabeel, will mark 60 years of presence in Palestine and Israel. We thank God for MCC’s valuable collaboration and partnership with Sabeel and with dozens of other local organizations working in the areas of peacebuilding, education, relief, development and advocacy.

Eid al Adha, the largest feast in the Islamic calendar, begins on Friday. As Muslims around the world celebrate Abraham’s obedience to God, we pray that they will enjoy a blessed feast in the company of family and friends. We also pray that Muslims traveling to Jerusalem to pray in the coming week will be granted access to the al Aqsa Mosque.

This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger

19/11/09 - English

Sabeel-Nazareth is celebrating the 16^th anniversary of Sabeel’s work in the Galilee by hosting a fundraising concert on Saturday, November 21. We thank God for Sabeel-Nazareth’s unique work as Arab-Israeli Christians witnessing for justice and peace. May Sabeel’s work in the Galilee, and throughout Israel, inspire many to work for understanding, respect of the other, and equality.   

On Friday, Palestinian clergy will meet in Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem, to help in planning for Sabeel’s clergy conference that will be held in February. This group of various church leaders will also brainstorm with Sabeel about strategies for interfaith encounters in the West Bank. We pray that this day will be fruitful with many ideas and much engagement.

In the past week in Jerusalem’s Old City, tensions between groups of young men have expanded to strain relations between portions of the Christian and Muslim Palestinian communities. We pray that peace will be restored and that this will serve as a reminder of the importance of healthy relations between neighbors of different faiths. We also pray that the incitement of internal disunity will not be used to prevent progress toward a just peace.

Palestinian officials are considering asking the United Nations Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state that is entirely independent from Israel. The new strategy stems from frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations. We pray that whatever decision the Security Council reaches will be based on international law and will bring justice and peace to Palestine and Israel.

This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea

12/11/09 - Français

Le 9 novembre marque le 20ème anniversaire de la chute du mur de Berlin. Depuis cet évènement historique, divers murs nouveaux ont été érigés de par le monde, dont le mur de séparation construit par Israël en Cisjordanie. Prions pour que ce mur injuste et indiscutablement illégal soit démantelé. Puissions-nous arriver à reconnaître que tous les murs de peur finissent par faire obstacle à la justice et à la paix.

Vendredi et samedi, Sabîl un programme de communauté à l’intention des Chrétiens de Jérusalem et de Galilée. Ces deux journées seront centrées sur le thème de “Retrouver nos racines”. Poésie, musique et amitié le vendredi seront suivies par une journée de prière et de réflexion le samedi. Au cours de la seconde intifada, les communautés arabes israéliennes de Arrabi, Davr Hanna et Sakhneen ont eu plusieurs morts aux mains de la police et de l’armée israéliennes. En allant visiter et écouter les familles éprouvées, prions pour que ces communautés sachent que leurs souffrances et leurs luttes continuelles n’ont pas été oubliées.

Au cours de ces semaines qui nous conduisent vers Noël, on va trouver de plus en plus de touristes en visite sur les sites d’Israël et de Palestine. Prions pour qu’en découvrant des lieux importants de l’histoire, ils aient les yeux ouverts sur les réalités actuelles du peuple de cette terre. Puissent-ils avoir la curiosité et perspicacité nécessaire pour poser les questions difficiles et voir vraiment  la réalité autour d’eux.

Le 15 novembre marque le Jour de l’Indépendance Palestinienne. Malheureusement, après les 21 années qui se sont écoulées depuis la déclaration de l’état, la véritable indépendance n’est pas encore une réalité. Remercions tous les gens et toutes les organisations qui travaillent à l’obtention d’une paix juste qui permettra à la Palestine de connaître une réelle indépendance. Prions pour le changement et la liberté dans cette terre. 

12/11/09 - English

November 9 marked the 20^th anniversary since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since that historic event, various new walls have been erected around the world, including the Separation Wall built by Israel in the West Bank. We pray that this unjust and unquestionably illegal wall will be dismantled. May we come to recognize that all walls of fear ultimately stand in the way of justice and peace.

On Friday and Saturday, Sabeel will be organizing a community program for Christians of Jerusalem and the Galilee. The two day event will center on the theme of “Reconnecting with our roots.” Poetry, music and fellowship on Friday will be followed by a day of prayer and reflection on Saturday. During the Second Intifada, the Arab-Israeli communities of ‘Arrabi, Dayr Hanna, and Sakhneen experienced several deaths at the hands of Israeli police and military. By visiting and hearing from the affected families, we pray that these communities will know that their pain and continued struggles have not been forgotten.

In these weeks leading up to Christmas, more and more tourists and pilgrims can be found visiting sites in Israel and Palestine. We pray that while experiencing places of historical importance, they will have their eyes opened to the current realities of the people of this land. May they have the curiosity and insight to ask difficult questions and truly see what is around them.

November 15 marks Palestinian Independence Day. Unfortunately, in the 21 years since the state was declared, true independence is still not a reality. We offer thanks for all the people and organizations working to bring about a just peace that will allow Palestine to experience actual independence. We pray for transformation and freedom in this land.

This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for: Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, São Tomé e Príncipe

05/10/09 - Français

Mardi matin, des colons et des gardes armés sont entrés chez Rivka al-Kurd dans le quartier de Sheikh Jarrah de Jérusalem et en ont expulsé par la force la famille avec ce qu’elle possédait. La police israélienne se tenait à côté et n’est pas intervenue pour empêcher le crime. C’est la troisième famille expulsée par des colons à Sheikh Jarrah depuis août. Dieu tout-puissant, dans notre détresse, nous te demandons pitié et justice.

Le Rev. Naim Ateek s’est adressé à un rassemblement de leaders musulmans de Naplouse et de Bethléem dimanche au sujet du sionisme chrétien. Les explications du Rev. Ateek avaient pour but de lever la confusion entre la théologie du sionisme chrétien et les convictions des Chrétiens palestiniens concernant l’État d’Israël. Les Sheikhs et les imams qui y ont participé ont beaucoup apprécié la conférence et ont déjà commencé à programmer des dialogues futurs avec la communauté chrétienne. Remercions pour cela et pour d’autres occasions d’aborder des malentendus et de développer des liens plus étroits entre les différentes communautés.

De bonne heure dimanche matin, un israélien armé a été surpris en train d’essayer d’entrer dans la mosquée al-Aqsa. Les gardes craignent qu’il n’ait eu l’intention de commettre un massacre au cours des prières du matin. Rendons grâce que ce désastre ait été évité et prions pour que Jérusalem ne sombre pas dans la violence de la part d’extrémistes.

Le 5 novembre marque la fin de la Visite de Témoignage de Sabeel. Prions pour que les participants retournent dans leurs communautés en avocats informés et enthousiastes d’une paix juste en Palestine et en Israël. Puissent les paroles et les actes de ces ambassadeurs toucher les esprits et les cœurs de ceux qui peuvent conduire les décideurs à mettre fin à l’injustice et aux souffrances des opprimés

5/11/09 - English

On Tuesday morning, settlers and armed guards entered the Rivka al-Kurd home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem and removed the family and their belongings by force. Israeli police stood by and did not take action to stop the crime. This is the third family to be evicted by settlers in Sheikh Jarrah since August. Almighty God, in our pain we plead for mercy and justice.

           

Rev. Naim Ateek addressed a gathering of Muslim leaders from Nablus and Bethlehem on Sunday on the topic of Christian Zionism. Rev. Ateek’s comments were intended to clear up confusion between the theology of Christian Zionism and the beliefs of Palestinian Christians about the state of Israel. The sheikhs and imams who attended expressed much appreciation for the conference and have already begun planning future dialogues with the local Christian community. We give thanks for this and other opportunities to address misunderstandings and to grow closer ties between different communities.

Early Sunday morning, an armed Israeli man was caught attempting to enter al-Aqsa Mosque. Guards fear he intended to commit a massacre during morning prayers. We give thanks that this disaster was averted and pray that Jerusalem will not descend into violence at the hands of extremists.

November 5 marks the end of Sabeel’s Witness Visit. We pray that the participants will return to their communities as informed and inspired advocates of a just peace in Palestine and Israel. May the words and actions of these ambassadors fall upon the minds and hearts of those who can guide decision-makers into ending injustice and the suffering of the oppressed.

This week we join with the World Council of Churches in praying for: Burundi, Congo, Rwanda