50
years ago, on March 30, 1976, six unarmed Palestinians were killed, and
more than 100 were injured by Israeli police during protests
against Israel’s confiscation of Palestinian land in the Galilee. Since
this date, Palestinians have commemorated Land Day as a day of
remembrance but also resistance.
God
of the dispossessed, we remember all the people of Palestine
and indigenous peoples everywhere, who keep the memory and refuse to
forget the land which is the source of their hope and dignity. Bless
those who endure, who plant, and who resist. Help us to continue to bear
witness to and resist land confiscations and dispossession.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
Israel is expanding its
ground invasion of southern Lebanon. The United Nations says that more
than 1.2 million people have been displaced in Lebanon, and at least
1,238 people have been killed.
Lord
God, you know what it is like to be a refugee displaced and
persecuted by empire. Be with the millions who are displaced in our
region with nowhere to go. In the face of such evil, we pray for your
goodness and righteousness to reign.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
Israel’s parliament has advanced a
bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of terrorism
to its final vote, after the Knesset’s national security committee
approved the measure. The legislation, initiated by the far-right Otzma
Yehudit party, would mark a significant escalation in Israel’s penal
policy. UN experts last month urged Israel to withdraw the bill, saying
it “would violate the right to life and discriminate against
Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
Holy
God, we grieve this deep injustice. Help us to understand that the
death penalty is one of many tools that empire uses to persecute and
destroy, and that the fight for liberation entails the dismantlement of
all structures of violence. Man of Sorrows, help us to be witnesses to
the suffering of the oppressed even though it is hard to see if you are
with us “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
We pray for all prisoners, especially those held for their beliefs and
conscience. Strengthen and comfort their families who long for justice.
Lord, in Your mercy... hear our prayer.
After
being unfairly sentenced to 32 months in prison and a fine equivalent
to $3,836, Shadi Khoury and his family has decided to appeal to the
Supreme Court. Shadi Khoury recently had a court hearing over the
weekend which was postponed to April 16. As a result, he will not turn
himself in until the case convenes and a decision is made. More
information about his case can be found here: https://afsc.org/newsroom/justice-shadi-khoury-and-all-palestinian-children
Loving
Christ, we lift up Shadi Khoury and his family in our prayers as they
undergo the stress and trauma of the colonial system. Help us to be
faithful witnesses and partners to Shadi’s struggle for freedom.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
On
April 24th, FOSNA and other partners will be hosting a conversation
with Christian student activists, seminarians, and Palestinian
liberation theologians. This webinar invites emerging Christian leaders
to discuss tangible ways to engage questions of justice and peacemaking
in Israel/Palestine from within their theological commitments. Together,
we will consider how faith shapes public engagement and how students
can pursue advocacy on their campuses with wisdom, courage, and
humility, asking "what are the demands of discipleship in a time of
profound moral upheaval?" To register, visit the FOSNA website or visit
this link. (https://actionnetwork.org/events/seminariansforpalestine)
God
of Justice, we give thanks to those who live out liberation theology
and follow your call to be peacemakers in our world. We pray for
the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in this upcoming conversation, that those
involved will commit to a discipleship modeled on your love and
justice. Continue to embolden the Palestinian church to continue its
living prophetic tradition of theology and leadership.
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer
We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the people of Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia
Lord in your mercy...hear our prayers
No comments:
Post a Comment