English 6 January, 2022

 

Sabeel Wave of Prayer

Thursday 6^th January 2022

 

As the new year begins, Kumi Now is taking a break whilst we consider the best way forward. We would like to thank all of those who were involved in producing the Kumi Now sessions, from those behind the scenes, to the speakers, and our MC’s drawn from friends of Sabeel. We would also like to thank everyone who attended a session, took part in action, or helped to spread the word.

 

·         Lord, we are grateful to all those involved in Kumi Now. We pray for the continued actions of those who attended and for encouragement and prayerful contemplation on those considering where Kumi Now should go next. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

A new book on the Tent of Nations has been published. “The Stories I Never Knew” - Acts of Loving Kindness in the Struggle for Human Rights and Dignity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel was written by William Plitt and tells the story of the Nassar family and their belief in refusing to be enemies.

 

·         Creator God, we pray for the success of this book as it strives to tell the story of the Tent of Nations and the Nassar family. Bless the family as they strive to live in the way Jesus taught by refusing to be enemies. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

On Friday 7^th January, Eastern Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Christmas by the Julian calendar.

 

·         Lord, we pray for your blessing upon the celebrations of the Orthodox Christmas this week.  We also ask for your guidance in the New Year as our Sabeel programs begin anew.  We pray for inspiration and creativity in our activism and ministries. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

An Israeli court has ordered the owners of a printing house in Umm al-Fahm, north of Jenin, to pay a fine of 3,500 Israeli Shekels to an activist from the right-wing Return to the Mountain movement. The printing house had refused to print flyers for right-wing activist Yair Kehati. The community of Umm al-Fahm came together to raise the fine and it will be paid in thousands of agora coins (the smallest legal currency in Israel).

 

·         Lord, we pray for the people of Umm al-Fahm and all around Palestine who are threatened by right-wing organisations. Bless the community for their support of the printing house and their commitment to nonviolent resistance. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

Israeli occupation forces continue to disrupt education in the West Bank. On Wednesday 29^th December, Israeli forces attacked staff and students at a high school in Tuqu’ town, east of Bethlehem. The Ministry of Education said that a number of Israeli soldiers attempted to break into the campus of Tuqu‘ Secondary Boys School, when they were stopped by the school staff. Following a scuffle with the staff preventing them from breaking into the school campus, the soldiers beat the teachers with rifle butts and fired tear gas into the school.

 

·         Lord, we pray for our students and schools especially when they are targeted by the Israeli occupying forces. Dear God, please strengthen us and help us towards fulfilling the right of every child to receive an education. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

On the 20^th of December, Israeli forces demolished the Bedouin village of Al-Araqib for the 14^th time in 2020. The village has been the source of constant demolitions and the latest marks the demolition of the village, or structures in the village 196 times since the year 2010.

 

·         Dear Lord, we pray for the people of Al-Araqib as yet again their shelters are torn down in the middle of winter. We pray for an end to merciless abuse of Palestinians by the Israeli authorities who order the demolition of homes even in this time of pandemic. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

 

·         We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for stateless people around the world. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.