August 2nd was the day of remembrance for the Congolese genocide, an ongoing silent genocide led by Rwanda and backed by Western powers which has killed over 12 million people, enriching Western tech companies that rely on Congo’s minerals. As empire ravages the Congo, we also hold sacred space for the famine in Sudan, now as catastrophic as Gaza’s, where over 500,000 have died since the civil war began two years ago—fueled by arms and funding from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other regional powers for economic and political gains. Seventy percent of fatalities are from starvation and disease.
Holy God, we lift up our beloved siblings in Sudan and the Congo who
suffer through horrors hidden and unhidden. We grieve the deep racism
and colonialism of a world that deems their lives invisible and
disposable, and we confess our own complicity in participating
in systems that contribute to their oppression. Holy Spirit, help us
understand that our freedoms are intertwined. In doing so, may we pursue
liberation in ways that uplift the voices of Sudan, the Congo, and all
oppressed peoples.
Lord in our mercy…hear our prayer
Israel’s
far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Al-Aqsa
mosque compound on Sunday, claiming to have prayed at the
site—challenging longstanding rules that prohibit non-Muslim
prayer. The visit coincided with the Jewish fast day of Tisha B'Av. The
compound, overseen by a Jordanian Islamic foundation under a
decades-old status quo, is Islam’s third holiest site and Judaism’s most
sacred. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel’s
policy on the site "has not changed and will not change."
God of mercy and justice, we lift our hearts in prayer for our Muslim brothers and sisters, many of whom are denied access to Al-Aqsa Mosque. We cry out against this injustice and the ongoing violations of religious freedom and human dignity. Let Jerusalem become a city of justice and peace, not domination and exclusion. May Your Spirit move among us, stirring hearts toward accountability, healing, and the shared dignity of all Your children.
Lord, in Your mercy… hear our prayer.
Last week, an Israeli settler shot activist Awdeh Hadalin in the lungs, killing him.
Awdeh was a beloved local activist and educator from Masafer Yatta who helped film Oscar-winning film
No Other Land. Even after his death, the military kidnapped
members of Awdeh’s family and withheld his body on the condition that
his funeral would be limited to just 15 mourners and that his burial was
not allowed inside Umm al-Khair. As a result, more
than 70 women of Umm al-Khair announced a hunger strike to demand the
release of his body and Awdeh’s family members who remain imprisoned at
Ofer military prison.
God of the brokenhearted, we come to you in grief for the killing of Awdeh Hathaleen, whose precious life was stolen due to hatred and racism. As you bring him into your embrace, give healing and safety to his family, and be with the women of Um Al-Khair who continue to embody his example of love and sumud through their hunger strike. Holy Spirit, teach us to we follow the path of Awdeh and the community of Um Al-Khair who refuse to let despair and violence have the final word.
Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer
Last
week, the Christian village of Taybeh experienced renewed attacks.
These attacks took place even after a visit by U.S. ambassador Mike
Huckabee who publically stated that such
terrorism and desecration of holy places cannot be tolerated. Despite
his demand for settler violence to be curbed, settler rampages renewed
across Taybeh and other villages across the West Bank with no
consequences.
God of justice and peace, we lift up the people of Taybeh and all villages under attack, crying out for your protection over their homes, holy places, and livelihoods. We lament the hypocrisy of words without action, and the impunity that allows violence to flourish. Strengthen the hearts of those who endure these assaults, and stir the conscience of leaders to move beyond statements to true justice. May your light shine in the darkness, bringing an end to terror, and may your Spirit sustain all who long for peace, dignity, and safety.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
The
situation in Gaza is beyond heartbreaking, with more reports including
from a whistleblower of the Gaza “Humanitarian” Foundation that confirms
the unfathomable use of brutality
and indiscriminate artillery fire used on unarmed, starving civilians
by both the Israeli military and American contractors. Meanwhile, rather
than treat Gaza’s genocide and manmade famine with the urgency it
deserves, France, the UK, Canada, and other Western
countries are issuing weak statements “threatening Israel” with
recognizing a Palestinian state if they do not stop their onslaught.
God of the oppressed, we cry out for Gaza, where your children endure unthinkable brutality, hunger, and death at the hands of powers who despise mercy. We grieve the cruelty and the indifference that cloak genocide in hollow words, and we repent for a world that delays justice while lives are extinguished. Kindle in us a holy anger that will not be quiet, and strengthen all who relentlessly labor for truth, relief, and freedom in the face of empire. May your judgment break the grip of oppression, and may your mercy bring healing and life where destruction now reigns.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We
are saddened to hear of the passing of Bridget Rees. Before an onset of
Alzheimer’s, Bridget was a longtime member of Sabeel and would
regularly see Rev. Naim Ateek on her annual
visits to the Holy Land. Her funeral was held last week in Oxford,
United Kingdom.
Holy
God, we give thanks for the life and witness of Bridget Rees. We
remember with gratitude her years of commitment to Sabeel and the bonds
she nurtured across distance and time.
We pray for her family, friends, and all who mourn her passing. Welcome
her into your eternal embrace where there is no more pain, only joy and
the fullness of your presence.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Sabeel
Kairos in the UK is hosting an in-person conference on October 17 with
guest speakers Sahar Francis, Palestinian human rights Lawyer, and Rev.
Ashraf Tannous, Pastor of the
Lutheran Church in Beit Sahour. The conference will include talks, a
panel, and also the chance in the afternoon to take part in an act of
public witness. Registration can be found by visiting sabeel-kairos.org.uk.
God of liberation, we thank you for the witness of Sabeel Kairos in the UK. Bless all who gather, that their learning and fellowship may deepen their commitment to stand with the oppressed. May the act of public witness bear prophetic fruit, stirring hearts and minds toward peace grounded in equality. Guide this gathering with the wisdom of your Holy Spirit, that it may be a beacon of hope and a catalyst for transformation.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the people of the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
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