Sabeel Wave of Prayer
24.6.21
The United Nations commemorated World
Refugee Day on Sunday, the 20th of June. The Kumi Now Online gathering focused
on the plight of Palestinian refugees forced to leave their homes in 1948 and
1967 and still waiting with their descendants to return home decades later. In
2019 UNRWA reported that 5.4 million Palestinian refugees were registered with
its offices in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza.
Next week’s Kumi Now will consider
Israel as a nuclear power.
•
Merciful Lord, we cry out to you as the resolution of the
right of return for Palestinian refugees appears as distant as ever. The
international community has failed us Lord, let your spirit ignite us with
confidence that we will return to our homes despite the objection of the
powerful. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer
A call entitled ‘Statement of
Repentance and Hope’ was sent out on Saturday, the 12th of June, to hundreds of
Palestinian Christians by the Christ at the Checkpoint Young Adults Group. The
call urges Christians, including clergy and leaders, for a stronger response to
the injustices committed against Palestinians over the past two months.
•
Lord,
we give thanks that Palestinian Christians continue to speak out with one voice
to give witness against injustice and to speak truth to power. Lord, in your
mercy.. hear our prayer
After
the Jerusalem flag march, a group of young Palestinians went to clean up the
Damascus Gate area. The Israeli police attacked the young people, confiscated
their cleaning materials and beat up several young participants in the
volunteer project.
•
Lord,
we pray for the young Palestinians to remain determined to use nonviolent forms
of resistance, may the violence by Israel, strengthen their determination. We
pray for the Israeli authorities that they might see through their prejudices
and recognize that their might does not break the will of Palestinians to regain
their freedom. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer
On Monday, the 7th of June, the second
‘ Apostles of Palestine’ competition took place at the Terra Sancta School in
Bethlehem. Nisreen Al-Araj, the Director of the contest, stated that the aim of
the initiative was to inspire 13-14 year old pupils from all areas of Palestine
to study the Bible and to help them discern their mission as Christians. The
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem sponsored the contest for over 400 pupils. There
were ten contestants in the finals and three prize-winners.
•
Lord,
we are thankful for the enthusiasm shown by the pupils who took part in this
contest. May your word be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. Our
people need to feel your presence, let your word guide our path to you. Lord,
in your mercy.. hear our prayer
The Palestinian residents of the
village of Beita, south of Nablus, continue to resist the encroachment of
Israeli settlers on their agricultural land on Mount Sbeih. On Friday, the 11th
of June, a Palestinian teenager, Mohammad Hamayel was killed by Israeli forces
who fired live ammunition at the protestors. The livelihoods of seventeen
Palestinian families depend on the olive harvest from the land they are trying
to protect. Four Palestinians have been killed and many others injured since
May, as they try to prevent the theft of their land.
•
Lord,
we pray for the family of Mohammad as they grieve the loss of his young life.
We pray too for an end to the devastation visited on so many Palestinian
families by the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied
Territories. Our trees, crops and land are the desires of the greedy Zionist
project. Give us strength to continue to defy the expansion of illegal Israeli
settlements on our land. Protect our children who refuse to remain neutral as
they see the land of their village being stolen. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer
A
Palestinian woman,
Hala el Shareef was beaten by police, arrested and fined 2000 shekels for waving
a Palestinian flag during the Jerusalem flag march at Damascus Gate.
•
Lord,
the women of Jerusalem continue to defy the armies who occupy Jerusalem and
speak truth to power. As the courage of women of the bible is glorified, we
pray that the church also applauds the courage of Palestinian women who remain
in the streets of Jerusalem despite the powerful who rule it today. Lord, in
your mercy…
Israel’s
new government failed on Wednesday, the 16th of June, in its attempt to extend
a law denying citizenship to Palestinians from the occupied territories who
marry Palestinian citizens of Israel. Idit Silman (from the right-wing Yamina
party) was forced to remove the measure from the Knesset Law Committee’s agenda
when she realized that she did not have enough votes to pass the bill.
•
Lord
Jesus, even as you suffered on the cross, you entrusted your grieving mother
into your disciple’s care. You knew the importance of family nurture. We pray
that these Israeli laws will not be renewed as they would keep many Palestinian
couples and families apart and cause untold suffering. May Love that unites
people remain unbreakable by Israeli politicians. Lord, in your mercy…
Many
Palestinian citizens of Israel, residents of Nazareth, were arrested on suspicion
of rioting, as last month’s assault on Gaza was taking place. A court has
ordered several of the cases of mistreatment to be handed over to the police
internal investigations unit after being shown images of bruises on the bodies
of several of the Palestinians detained at the
Nazareth
police station.
·
Lord,
we fervently pray that the continuous Israeli police violence against
Palestinian detainees be stopped, and all allegations be thoroughly
investigated. May your spirit guide the decision makers to hold all who are
guilty accountable for their crimes. We pray for the recovery, physical and
psychological, of all detainees. May your justice be transformed from a prayer
to action through the people of conscience.
Lord, in your mercy…
·
Lord,
we join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries
of Malawi and Zambia. Lord, in your mercy …
No comments:
Post a Comment