4/10/12 - English

Jesus, Son of Man, we cry out to you who had no place to lay your head (Lk 9:58), for all the people who have had to flee their homes in Syria. Please protect and provide for those who have been pushed to the margins of society, forced to abandon their homes because of continued shelling in Syrian cities. We pray especially for all the Palestinian refugees, who have now fled their place of residence a second or third time. Please provide a safe place of refuge for them in the countries surrounding Syria. Lord, in your mercy...

Jesus, Lord of the Harvest, we thank you for the perennial ripening of the olives, for the beauty and productivity of trees that have dotted this land for centuries. Now, as the time to harvest approaches, we remember the roughly 100,000 Palestinian families who depend on the olive industry for their livelihoods, especially those who have been disallowed to return to their own land to tend their trees. We pray for a restoration of their rights, not only to access the trees at harvest time but also to maintain them throughout the year. Expose the injustice imposed on those who are denied “visitor permits” to access their own land. Bless these farmers with abundance despite the unjust policies under which they suffer. Lord, in your mercy...

Jesus, to you who defends the orphan and widow, who breaks the chains of the oppressed, we pray now that your followers would do the same. We pray for the many international groups who will be visiting Sabeel in the coming months and for the presentations they will hear. May each speaker tell a true and powerful narrative of the situation here; may each visitor leave inspired to pray and work for a more just and peaceful world. Holy Spirit, empower these men and women to become advocates abroad, to preach about restorative justice and the real reconciliation that is possible because of you. Lord, in your mercy...

Jesus, to you who loves all people regardless of race or creed, we pray for two upcoming conferences: for the “Together Against Racism” Conference on October 4^th in Bethlehem and for the Oct 11^th conference on “The School Curriculum and Its Contribution Towards Living Together,” also in Bethlehem. Please make these conferences effective in their aims toward peace and tolerance. Lord, in your mercy...

In unity with other believers from the World Council of Churches, we pray for the needs of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Lord, in your mercy...