Thursday, April 17, 2014

17/4/14 - English

Lord, we lift up all the victims of violence and those who suffer at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces. Several young men in Jerusalem were attacked by settlers this weekend, and the Israeli military continues to indiscriminately shoot people who venture too close to the border in Gaza. Please protect the vulnerable and empower the international community to stand against these grave abuses. Lord in your mercy…

God of justice, we again pray on behalf of the entire Christian community who are preparing to celebrate Easter. With many people denied permits to come to Jerusalem, the Israeli army’s total closure of West Bank checkpoints for Passover earlier this week, and the Christian community protesting the closure of the Old City on Holy Saturday, this time of celebration is one marred by injustice. Your son ushered in a revolution against the powerful, and we pray that the meek would again be made strong to bring about a world based on justice and peace. Lord in your mercy…

Gracious God, we offer our praise to you for the gift of your son, who came to bring good news to the poor, comfort the brokenhearted, and proclaim release for the captives. Though this promise can be hard for us to see or understand in the midst of occupation and oppression, we celebrate your never-ending faithfulness and lift up songs of thanksgiving that the night will come to an end and a new dawn will break. Lord in your mercy…

We ask your blessing on Sabeel’s staff and programs, especially as we prepare to celebrate Easter. Please guide our preparations for the Sabeel Easter Dinner on April 26, enabling this event to be a time of joyful unity in the Christian community. Lord in your mercy…

Lord, we pray along with the World Council of Churches for Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. Lord in your mercy…


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