Lord, today we begin with thanks
for the refreshment of rain this week here in Jerusalem and surrounding areas
this week, and ask that you in your faithfulness would send more rain soon to
replenish the dry land and fill our reservoirs. In the light of delayed rains
this season, please protect farmers from crop damage. God, as we think of
environmental concerns, we also pray for everyone immersed in clean-up efforts
following Hurricane Sandy. May neighbor help neighbor in time of need, would
you provide quick relief as well as long-term provisions to those affected
across all areas touched by the storm. Lord, in your mercy...
God we pray this week for the
Coptic Church, and thank you for Sunday’s selection in Egypt of the 118th
patriarch, Bishop Tawadros of the Diocese of
Beheira. Please bless him with wisdom
and an anointing of your Spirit in order that he might be a strong and humble
leader for the church, walking in the way of love and directing the church into
a future of peace and harmony. Lord, in your mercy...
God, heavy on our hearts are the
many home demolitions in Area C, especially last week’s demolition of Beit
Arabiya in the West Bank town of Anata, which has now been demolished for the
sixth time. We thank you for the communal efforts of neighbors, internationals,
and ICAHD to rebuild this home and peace center each time it is demolished.
Thank for this vibrant work of resistance to injustice. May Beit Arabiya and
the many other Palestinian homes with demolition orders be rebuilt, and may the
families affected persist in courage and hope. Lord, in your mercy...
We lift up also this week’s
Sabeel Programs. Please bless the work of Sabeel Nazareth, that they might
strengthen the young people with the children’s meeting and youth meeting, and
that women’s book study would continue to bear fruit as they meet weekly. We
praise you for the two completed Witness Visits and thank you especially for
the hard work and strong leadership of Omar Haramy, Tina Whitehead, Rev.
Richard Toll, and Rev. Anne Clayton in making them a success. We lift up the
work and the rich experiences that still lie ahead for the Netherlands Witness
Visit and pray a blessing over Meta Floor in her leadership role. And though
the trips end, may all those who have come and seen go home to work towards a
just peace in Palestine-Israel. Lord, in your mercy...
Finally, we pray alongside the
World Council of Churches for the needs of all our sisters and brothers in the
countries of Burundi, Congo, and Rwanda. Lord, in your mercy....
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