Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Spanish Wave of Prayer, 24th - 27th of February 2025
French Wave of Prayer, 24th - 27th of February 2025
Monday, February 24, 2025
Arabic Wave of Prayer, 24th - 27th of February 2025
English wave of prayers Feb 24th - 27th
- The Gospel reading for next week, according to the Common Lectionary, is Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a]. Sabeel holds a weekly online service each Thursday to reflect on and jointly prepare for the reading.
God of the suffering, we wait in the valley, where pain lingers, fear grows, and hope feels distant. Yet the ones who should lead us remain on the mountain, speaking of laws, prophecies, and distant glories. Stir their hearts, O Lord. Call them down from their high places, to walk among us, to see our wounds, to touch our struggles, and to share our burdens.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Sabeel is hosting its first delegation from Ireland and the United Kingdom this month. The delegation will meet with creatives, artists and activists.
God of Justice and Peace, we give thanks for the delegation from Ireland and the United Kingdom as they journey to Palestine. Bless their time with open hearts, deep listening, and a spirit of true solidarity. We put our faith in your promise of justice, trusting that you will deliver the oppressed and bring freedom to the captives. Until that day of liberation, strengthen and protect the staff of Sabeel and all who work tirelessly as agents of your love.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- The end of the week will mark the beginning of Ramadan for Muslims this year. Ramadan is an important month in Islam which is observed with fasting, daily communal prayers, and recitation of the Quran, amongst other practices.
Divine Creator, as our Muslim brothers and sisters enter this sacred month of fasting and prayer, we ask for your blessings upon them. We especially remember the people of Gaza, who lack their basic needs. May this Ramadan be a season of healing, and may your justice break forth like the dawn.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- As the ceasefire nears the end of the first phase, prospects of a permanent ceasefire are more fragile than ever. Israel has violated the ceasefire over 350 times. This includes the killing of over 133 Palestinians including children, continued military incursions and demolitions, and blocking of aid to Gaza. The largest violation occurred just a few days ago, when Israel decided to delay the release of over 620 Palestinians after Israel accused Hamas of releasing Israeli captives in “humiliating ceremonies.”
God of Peace, we long for this ceasefire to hold and for true peace to take root. Soften the hearts of those in power, that they may choose justice over oppression. Holy Spirit, strengthen those who work for peace, and protect the innocent who suffer under violence.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Last week, Israeli forces arrested at least 30 Palestinians in the West Bank. Among them was a 15-year-old boy named Karim Jarrar from Jenin, who became known for delivering water, food, and other essentials on his bicycle to patients and families trapped inside Jenin Governmental Hospital during Israel’s raid in August 2024.
God of the Oppressed, like the psalmist, our eyes are dim with grief (Psalm 88:9). We lack the words to describe the evils that unfold daily and can only cry out, how long, O Lord? We lift up Karim Jarrar, we grieve for him and for the over 30 Palestinians kidnapped last week, for all who are stolen from their families and imprisoned without cause. Lord, you see the innocent who suffer. You hear the cries of the captives. Strengthen Karim and all those unjustly detained. Let their spirits remain unbroken, and may their courage remind the world of the cruelty they endure. Stir us to act, to speak, to resist this evil. May the chains of oppression be broken, and may justice and liberation come swiftly.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new military operation in the West Bank, following a series of explosions that struck buses in Israel the previous day and after weeks of mass destruction and displacement in Tulkarem, Jenin, and refugee camps in the West Bank. Israel is now deploying tanks to the occupied West Bank for first time in more than 20 years.
God of Justice, we decry the heavy oppression taking place in the West Bank and our hearts cry out in fear of the increasing violence. Amid our grief and despair, our only comfort is knowing that no empire built on oppression will stand forever. Holy Spirit, strengthen those who remain steadfast, and transform our anger into sustained, nonviolent resistance. Let the day soon come when the oppressors fall, the exiled return, and the land is restored to those to whom it belongs.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for France, Germany, and Monaco
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Sunday, February 23, 2025
German Wave of Prayer, 24th - 27th of February 2025
Monday, February 17, 2025
French Wave of Prayer, 17th - 19th of February 2025
Swedish Wave of Prayer, 17th - 19th of February 2025
Arabic Wave of Prayer, 17th - 19th of February 2025
German Wave of Prayer, 17th - 19th of February 2025
English wave of prayers Feb 17th - 19th
- The gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday, to be reflected on at Sabeel’s online Thursday service at 6 PM Palestine time, is Luke 6:27-38.
Christ the Liberator, you call us to the way of nonviolence—a love so radical that it refuses to hate even in the face of injustice. Teach us to see our enemies as fellow image-bearers of God, to resist the temptation of vengeance, and to reject the lie that violence can bring peace. We confess that we are all sinners, in need of your grace. Help us not to confuse love with passivity or justice with revenge. Strengthen us to hold one another accountable, especially those in power, without losing sight of our shared humanity. May our resistance to oppression be shaped by truth and compassion, so that in seeking justice, we do not become what we oppose.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
- Israeli police arrested bookstore owner Mahmoud Muna and his nephew Ahmad Muna of The Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem, a cultural hub that has promoted Palestinian literature and culture for 40 years. The raid involved searching the store and seizing books alleged to incite violence, including a children’s coloring book. The arrests have been criticized as part of broader efforts to suppress Palestinian cultural expression. The detained men were placed under house arrest and banned from returning to the store for 15 days.
God of Freedom, we lift up Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna, whose only crime is preserving the stories and culture of their people. Illuminate to the world that this repression is not just an isolated injustice, but part of a larger pattern of erasing Palestinian culture and identity in Jerusalem. Strengthen Mahmoud and Ahmad, and let their courage inspire others. We pray that the stories silenced by force will be amplified by the resilience of those who care for justice and liberation.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers
- Last Saturday, Hamas released 3 Israeli hostages for 369 Palestinians as part of the ceasefire agreement. Earlier in the week, the fragile ceasefire was on the verge of breaking when Hamas threatened to delay the release of Israeli hostages due to Israeli violations of the ceasefire which included attacks that killed 110 Palestinians since its start. In addition, released Palestinian prisoners, many who were detained without charge or indictment, reported policies of immense torture and neglect while in Israeli prisons.
God who dwells among the oppressed, our hearts cannot fully grasp the suffering of those held hostage and tortured. We remember all the Israeli hostages and the Palestinians released in exchange who endured isolation, torture, and neglect. Lord, as Hebrews 13:1-3 calls us, let us “remember those who are in prison, as though [we] were in prison with them” and “those who are being tortured, as though [we ourselves] were being tortured.” Stir us to love one another as siblings in struggle, refusing to turn away from their pain. We pray for the freedom of all unjustly detained, for an end to occupation, and for liberation from violence and oppression.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- The year 2024 was the deadliest one for journalists and media workers in over three decades according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Of the 124 journalists killed, 70% were Palestinians killed by Israel while reporting on the war in Gaza. In addition to the journalists killed, many have also been arrested and detained in Gaza and the West Bank. As of February 14, 2025, 45 of these journalists are still under arrest.
God of Truth, we mourn the 124 journalists killed in 2024. We remember those still imprisoned in Gaza and the West Bank, and we cry out for the 45 who remain detained. You call us to bear witness to truth and justice. We ask you to strengthen the will and faith of those who risk their lives to speak truth to power and to protect all who courageously expose injustice and oppression. Stir us to continue their work by amplifying their voices and standing in solidarity with those who seek justice. May their sacrifices not be in vain, but instead awaken the world to truth and righteousness.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Devastating Israeli assaults continue in the northern West Bank which have already displaced 26,000 Palestinians from their homes in Jenin and Tulkarem in the past few weeks. Last week alone, the Israeli military killed two young women—Sondos Jamal Muhammad Shalabi and Rahaf Fouad Abdulla al-Ashqar—during a raid in Nur Shams refugee camp. Sondos was 23 years old and pregnant, but medical teams were unable to save her fetus because the Israeli military prevented them from transferring her and her injured husband to a hospital. 21-year-old Rahaf was also killed by Israeli forces in her home.
God of Justice and Mercy, we lift our voices in lament for the people of Jenin and Tulkarem, for the 26,000 displaced, for the families shattered, for Sondos, for Rahaf, and for the unborn child never given a chance to live. O Christ our Redeemer, you walked among the oppressed and you stood with the persecuted. In our immense grief, our only comfort is knowing you are close to the refugee, to the wounded, the imprisoned, and the forgotten. We ask you to defend the afflicted and deliver the poor from the hands of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4) We pray that the cries of Palestine will echo through the world, stirring hearts to action and bringing justice to the oppressed.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Friends of Sabeel North America recently launched a public campaign to block Mike Huckabee’s Confirmation as US Ambassador to Israel. As US Ambassador, Mike Huckabee, an extremist Christian Zionist, would only cause further division and violence to the region. The campaign highlights Huckabee’s history of inflammatory statements, support for ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, and advocacy for military aggression in Gaza. To take action and contact Senators, people can visit FOSNA’s website.
God of Love, we cry out against theologies that justify violence and oppression. Break the chains of hatred masked as faith, and dismantle ideologies that bless injustice. As you guide Friends of Sabeel North America in their efforts to promote peace and dignity, we also ask you to awaken hearts numbed by apathy. Stir in us a holy unrest that refuses to accept oppression as destiny and protect the people of Palestine and Israel from further harm. Holy Spirit, fill us with a love that seeks justice, a faith that demands peace, and a hope that overcomes fear.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Arabic Wave of Prayer, 10th - 13th of February 2025
Monday, February 10, 2025
French Wave of Prayer, 10th - 13th of February 2025
English wave of prayer February 10th - 13th
- Every Thursday at 6 PM Jerusalem time, Sabeel gathers our friends from around the world for our weekly online service. Led by Rev. Naim Ateek, the service includes the Wave of Prayer, readings of the upcoming week, and a time of group reflections. The gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday, to be reflected on at Sabeel’s Thursday service, is Luke 6:17-26.
Christ, you stood on level ground with the poor and oppressed, declaring blessing upon those who hunger, mourn, and are rejected. Yet today, much like your time, injustice remains in the place of your birth. Just as you were present with your community, help us trust in your presence wherever empire’s violence and oppression take place. Let your power bring healing, your justice bring liberation, until all who suffer are made whole.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Last week, Israel carried out its largest demolition operation in the West Bank since 1967, destroying twenty buildings in the Jenin Refugee Camp within seconds. This assault is part of a broader escalation that has unfolded over the past two weeks. Under the operation dubbed “Operation Iron Wall,” Israeli forces have increased military actions in Jenin, Tulkarem, Tubas, and Tammoun. These measures involve mass arrests, ground raids, and demolitions, aiming to dismantle social infrastructure and disrupt daily life in a manner reminiscent of previous assaults on Gaza.
God of Compassion, for nearly 80 years, our people have endured dispossession and loss. From Gaza to the West Bank, the weight of oppression continues to bear down on our hearts. We grieve the pain of those who have lived through generations of injustice and especially for the people of Jenin, Tulkarem, Tubas, and Tammoun who live with no moment of peace. Amidst our fear and uncertainty, we ask you to make your presence and love known to those suffering. Grant peace to the afflicted, comfort to the grieving, and strength to the oppressed. Embolden the world to put an end to this cycle of violence and injustice.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Last week, as part of the agreements with Hamas and Israel, Muhammad El-Halabi was released. Muhammad served as the Gaza Director for Christian relief and development agency World Vision International (WVI). In 2016, he was accused and imprisoned for 6 years, prior to being sentenced. Muhammad was finally sentenced in 2022 to 11 years in prison, which sentence is now under appeal. Previously, FOSNA and other Friends of Sabeel undertook campaigns seeking his release.
Protector of the Oppressed, we give thanks for the release of Muhammad El-Halabi who endured years of unjust imprisonment. Give him continued strength, healing, and restoration. We pray that truth and justice will prevail in his ongoing appeal. We lift up all those unjustly imprisoned, those separated from their families, and those who suffer in silence. May your light shine upon them, bringing comfort and freedom. Grant us the courage to stand against injustice and to work for a world where your liberatory love reigns.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Sabeel congratulates our friend Issa Amro on his recent nomination for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Issa’s work and nonviolent activism in the West Bank and Hebron are instrumental, and we are thrilled to see his nomination along with Dr. Mazin Qumsieh’s nomination.
God of sumud (steadfastness), we lift up our friend Issa Amro, giving gratitude for his dedication to the cause of human rights. We pray for Issa’s protection and guidance as he walks the path of nonviolence and justice. We ask that his efforts bring about lasting change, hope, and peace to all who are suffering in Hebron and beyond. Holy Spirit, as we witness Issa’s sumud, inspire in all of us the same commitment to liberation.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Friends of Sabeel continue doing important work worldwide. In Melbourne, Friends of Sabeel Australia, Palestinian Christians in Australia (PCiA), and the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network (PIEN) are launching a series of 9 forums discussing Palestinian Christianity. Their first forum will be held on 13th February at 6:30 PM Australia time at State Library – Village Roadshow Theatre. In Germany, Friends of Sabeel Germany is supporting rallies on February 15 in Berlin, Cologne, and Nuremberg that will call for a just peace, an end to arms exports to Israel, and adherence to international law. Since last year, the Friends of Sabeel and the Kairos Palestine Solidarity Network in Germany have been actively involved in the campaign, which started with a petition that received 22,000 signatures.
God of Justice, we lift up the work of Friends of Sabeel around the world, who seek to walk humbly, love mercy, and do justice as you have commanded (Micah 6:8). Through these events and rallies, we ask you to illuminate to the world the Palestinian cry for dignity and freedom. May the voices of those advocating for justice be heard, and may their efforts bring about lasting change. In the meantime, continue to help us act as agents of your peace.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Sabeel is saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Mousa Qous. A friend of Sabeel and a frequent speaker in many of our international delegations, Mousa was a beloved leader and activist of the Afro-Palestinian community in the Old City. His 22-year old daughter, Shaden, was released from administrative detention to be under house arrest on the day of his funeral. Her court hearing was previously scheduled one day after his tragic passing.
God of Mercy, we lift up Mousa Qous and all mourning his loss. We give thanks for his life, his unwavering commitment to his people, and his legacy of resilience and love. May his memory be a guiding light to all who continue the struggle for dignity and justice. As we grieve alongside Mousa’s family, we pray for his daughter Shaden. Holy God, be her strength in the face of injustice. Comfort the Qous family and the entire community.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, and Vatican City.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer