6/12/12 - English

After much praying and hoping, today we offer up profound gratitude that Palestine was granted its request at the United Nations bid. Lord, we thank you for this historic event. May it truly be a step towards peace for all, and may Israel recognize that its own welfare is tied up also in Palestine’s welfare. Thank you, for the many nations that stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their request, and we pray for continued and even stronger solidarity from the international community. Lord, in your mercy...

Father, you are the giver of good gifts who knows what your children need. We ask boldly now that you would not allow the building of the recently announced 3,000 new settlement housing units approved for the E1 area of East Jerusalem. Your children need respite from this pro-longed conflict, so we ask that Israel would not be allowed to build illegally on this Palestinian land, essentially cutting off Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and nullifying the option of a two-state solution. Give us rest; give us enduring peace. Lord, in your mercy...

With Christmas approaching, we remember the Advent of Christ – the astounding moment when God condescends to dwell with us humans and ushers in God's Kingdom of peace, joy, love, and justice. Lord Jesus, we thank you for the gift of your presence already transforming the world. Yet we also pray for places all over the world that are currently immersed in conflict. We especially lift up the people of Syria, Egypt, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria as they battle through internal political turmoil, regime changes, civilian casualties, and violence from religious extremists. Please speed the arrival of peace and justice to those in need. Lord, in your mercy...

Lord of the Harvest, you send us out as workers, and now we ask your blessing on the many things going on at Sabeel this month. Thank you for another successfully published Cornerstone edition. We ask that it, along with Thursday’s Interfaith Conference, would build new bridges for uniting people across religions. Lord, we also pray for good attendance and rich shared fellowship at both Sabeel’s Ecumenical Christmas Dinner and Kairos Palestine’s three-year anniversary celebration this Friday. Lord, in your mercy...

Finally we pray alongside the World Council of Churches for the needs of people in the countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Lord, in your mercy...