English 30 Dec, 2021

 

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 30^th December 2021

 

Kumi Now on Thursday 28^th December, heard from Bishop Emeritus Munib Younan. Bishop Younan spoke on the topic of Christians in the Holy Land. This is the last week of the Kumi Now year and we will now take a break to assess the future of Kumi Now.

 

·         Lord, we thank you for those who have made the commitment to stand for justice, inclusivity, and nonviolence through the Kumi Now initiative. We pray that their commitment will continue as we begin the year again and look forward to the new revised Kumi Now. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

Archbishop Emeritus of South Africa, Desmond Tutu, passed away on Sunday 26^th December. Archbishop Tutu was an outspoken activist against apartheid in South Africa and, in his later years, turned his attention to the Holy Land and the similarities he saw between Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and the treatment of black South Africans under apartheid.

 

·         Lord, we are grateful for the life of Archbishop Tutu. We are thankful for his faith, commitment to challenging injustice wherever he saw it, and his humour. We pray that his family will find peace in these difficult times. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

Sabeel would like to wish all our staff, volunteers, and friends a very happy New Year and every blessing for 2022.

 

·         As 2021 draws to a close and the New Year begins, we take time to remember the events of this past year. The difficulties, the tragedies, and the hardships are fresh in our minds, especially as we think of Lebanon, Afghanistan, Syria, and Palestine. But Lord, please remind us of your daily mercies, your grace, and your promise of peace; though we have trouble in this world, remind us to continually take heart, for you have overcome the world. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

Hisham Abu Hawash, a Palestinian prisoner in an Israeli military prison, has been on hunger strike for over 4 months. In the past days, Abu Hawash’s health condition has deteriorated significantly. Abu Hawash, 40 and the father of five children (Hadi, Mohammed, Izz al-Din, Waqas and Saba), has spent 8 years in total in Israeli occupation prisons. Of that time, 52 months — over half of his time behind bars — has been spent jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention orders.

 

·         Lord, we pray that the spirit of Hisham and all Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike remains strong specially as their health continues to deteriorate. We remember the family of Hisham and their suffering. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

The Palestinian town of Burqa, near Nablus, has been under constant attack by Israeli settlers and Israeli occupation forces. The town is almost completely blocked from the rest of the area by mounds of earth which block the roads to allow settler-only access to the illegal Israeli settlements and outposts which surround the area. Burqa has been under increasing attacks since around 15,000 Israelis gathered at the settlement of Homesh to commemorate the life of Yehuda Dimentman, who was reportedly killed by Palestinian gunmen.

 

·         O God, we pray for the people of Burqa and all Palestinian towns and cities under threat from the Israeli occupation. We pray that the international community will follow words with actions against the Israeli authorities to put an end to settlement building. We also pray for the family of Yehuda Dimentman, may they find peace at this difficult time. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

·         We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.