Lord, this week we rejoice with the
people of Gaza, Palestine, and the whole Arab world as we celebrate the
beautiful story and remarkable talent of the most recent “Arab Idol,” Mohammad
Assaf from Gaza’s Khan Younis Refugee Camp. We are so grateful for this simple,
much-needed happiness uniting everyone in feelings of hope and
inspiration. We pray that Assaf would continue to lift the spirits of the
people with his songs and in his new roles of Goodwill Ambassador for the UN
and for the State of Palestine, which were awarded him as a testament to the
figure of hope he has become. As Assaf has been quick to point out, there is
much talent in Gaza and among the Palestinian people; we pray that it would not
be stifled by Israeli occupation and that the Palestinian government would
search out and foster its development. Even as we savor these signs of hope, we
remember that much work must be done towards peace, and we pray that one day
very soon we will be able to celebrate the realization of this dream. Lord, in
your mercy…
God, we also lift up the many
students finishing up the school year and all the secondary students taking the
national Tawjihi exam. In any context, these kinds of exams are stressful, but
checkpoints and the many additional factors of living under occupation
complicate them further. Lord, we pray also for the coming summer months, and
with few opportunities for Palestinian youth and children during this vacation,
we thank you for the organizations and summer camps that provide communities
with alternative activities. We ask that all the Palestinian young people would
be able to enjoy a safe, fun, and productive summer. Lord, in your mercy…
For Sabeel’s ministry, we pray
especially for the global young adult festival, “Moving Mountains, Reshaping
the World,” which will begin this weekend. Lord would you provide safe travels
and easy entrance into the country for all the participants from over 30 countries
around the world. We ask that the festival would be a time for these young
adults to connect in profoundly meaningful ways as they learn about injustice
and work for justice and peace. Lord would you surprise us this coming week
with new lessons learned and new friendships formed. May we sweat with the hard
labor of doing justice, and may we experience the taste of the peace you offer
us through Jesus. Lord, in your mercy…
Finally, we pray alongside the
World Council of Churches for the countries of Argentina, Paraguay, and
Uruguay. Lord, in your mercy…
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