English August 27 -2020

 

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

27^th August 2020

 

On Tuesday, 25^th August, the Kumi Now Online Initiative heard from the Dar al-Kalima University College of the Arts about art as a form of resistance in Palestine. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land opened the Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem in 2006.

 

•    Dear Lord, we thank you for the vision of the Lutheran Church to offer further education in the arts for the young people of Bethlehem. We pray that the university teachers will continue to inspire the next generation of creative leaders in Palestine. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

 

On Tuesday, the 18th of August the Gaza Strip’s sole power plant halted operations due to an Israeli ban on fuel, along with most other goods, entering the enclave which is under Israeli blockade and bombardment. The Israeli action came as part of the punitive measures enforced over the launch of incendiary balloons and rockets from Gaza. Hospitals, businesses, and homes in Gaza will have to rely on generators and solar power to make up for the power cuts.

 

•    Lord, we pray for the people of Gaza as they try to survive under the crippling Israeli blockade. We pray that the Israeli authorities will have mercy at this time of pandemic crisis and allow the restoration of fuel supplies to Gaza, before a humanitarian crisis breaks out. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

 

After a five-month closure following the outbreak of Covid-19, schools in Palestine will re-open in September. Marwan Awartani, the Palestinian Minister for Education, stated that all students would need to respect social distancing and follow health protocols.

 

•    Lord, we pray for the teachers and students in Palestine and many other countries who will start back at school after months of lockdown. We pray that they will be able to resume their studies with confidence and enthusiasm. We pray too for the parents concerned for the health and safety of their children. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

 

Sheikh Raed Salah, the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel has been transferred from Al Jalama Prison to a solitary confinement cell in Ashkelon. Sheikh Salah handed himself in to the Israeli prison authorities to complete his 28-month sentence over claims of incitement. The charge followed his criticisms of the Israeli authorities for setting up metal detectors at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

 

•    Dear Lord, we pray for Sheikh Salah and other Palestinians who have the courage to speak out over the actions of the Israeli occupation authorities, even at the cost of their own liberty. ‘Speak truth to one another; render in your gates judgements that are true and make for peace.’ (Zech 8:16). We pray that the Israeli authorities will listen to all the people of the land and not charge and imprison anyone who speaks out over legitimate grievances. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

 

Mahmoud Nawajaa, the Palestinian Co-ordinator of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, (BDS), was released without charge on Monday, the 17th of August. He had been arrested at his home in Ramallah on the 30th of July and charged with belonging to an illegal party and providing services to it.

 

·         Thank you, Lord for the release of Mahmoud Nawajaa. We pray for the Palestinians who seek to oppose the occupation by nonviolent means and for the support of people around the world for Palestinians living under apartheid conditions in Israel. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

 

On Wednesday, the 19th of August a video went viral in Palestine. The video showed how Israeli soldiers had abused and beaten young Palestinian workers while they were on their way to work in Israel. Montaser Al-Fakhoury, 21, from Hebron spoke to a reporter from the Palestine News Network about how the soldiers had beaten him and other workers and had stolen money and cigarettes from them.

 

•    Lord Jesus, we pray that the abuse suffered by these Palestinian workers and many others who have to endure the daily humiliation of passing through Israeli checkpoints will cease. We pray that the Israeli authorities will censure and stop the abuse from their soldiers. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

 

Sabeel-Kairos UK will be holding an Online Conference on Saturday, the 19th of September from 10am -12 noon. The AGM for members will follow on from 12:15-1pm. The speakers are Rev. Dr Munther Isaac from Kairos Palestine and Omar Haramy from Sabeel Jerusalem. The themes are ‘You cannot serve God and the occupation’ and ‘Antisemitism, Israel and Palestine’. The conference will be led in worship by Amos Trust founder, Garth Hewitt. The registration for the conference is now up on the Sabeel website.

 

•    Lord, we are thankful that Sabeel/ Kairos is still able to host a conference in this year of pandemic, even if it has to be held remotely. We pray that many people around the world will listen to the talks and participate in the question and answer sessions. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

 

•    We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.