Heavy on our hearts is the
condemnable anti-Islam film released last week and the horrible acts of
violence that followed. Lord of peace, please lead us into a mutual respect of
all people and all faiths. Bring about a swift end to all the abusive speech
and violent contempt that have been stirred up between religious communities in
numerous countries across the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. We
praise you for those who seek peace amidst these incendiary circumstances –
especially for the less-publicized non-violent responses of many Muslims, and
for the words of inter-religious reconciliation given by Pope Benedict XVI
during his visit to Lebanon last week. Lord, in your mercy...
Sovereign Lord, we bring before
you the forthcoming appeal to the UN General Assembly for the Palestinian
Authority to become an observer non-member state. We pray that the Palestinian
people, having their own identity, culture, and human dignity, would be
recognized as such and allowed to use their own voices to represent themselves
before the UN. Please grant that they would receive the necessary number of
votes, and bless their efforts with a favorable outcome. Lord, in your
mercy....
We pray for the upcoming Friends
of Sabeel in North America Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Praise God
for Immanuel Presbyterian Church who has volunteered to host the event. We pray
for all attendees, speakers and organizers, and for the event to be well
attended. God please use this conference to teach us important truths about
yourself and about the current injustices in Israel and Palestine. Lord, in
your mercy...
We pray also for the Sabeel young
adults who have begun meeting to discuss Father Rafiq Khoury’s new book on
contextual theology. Please encourage them with this fellowship and with a
deeper understanding of how the Gospel is relevant to the specific challenges
and joys of life in the context of Palestine and Israel. Lord, in your mercy...
Finally, we pray alongside the World
Council of Churches for the countries of Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. We
praise you, God, for the long history of Christians in these places who give
their lives to prayer and to the service of the poor and marginalized. Protect
those who face discrimination, and bring about a stable economic and political
system. Lord, in your mercy...
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