Thursday, September 20, 2012

20/9/12 - English

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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