- April 9th marks the anniversary of the Deir Yassin massacre. On this day in 1948, Zionist militias attacked the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin, killing 107 people and forcing survivors to flee. This horrific violence contributed to the displacement of around 750,000 Palestinians known as the Nakba – Catastrophe. Today, the legacy of Deir Yassin endures in ongoing dispossession, from massacres in Gaza to land seizures and settler pogroms in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Holy God, we remember the lives taken 77 years ago. We hold in our hearts all who carry the weight of this generational grief. As the legacy of the Nakba endures in ongoing forced dispossession today, we cry out for justice. Holy Spirit, move within us, so that our remembrance will stir a holy resolve to rise up to empire and oppression. Strengthen our efforts to build a future grounded in dignity, liberation, and peace for all.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- In
the past two weeks, 280,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced
amid ongoing massacres, including the targeted killing of 15 health
workers from the Palestinian Red Cross Society by Israeli soldiers.
Among those killed was a paramedic named Radwan, whose final words,
captured in a video, were, “Forgive me, Mother…this is the path I chose
to help people.” Radwan and his colleagues were buried by Israeli
forces, seemingly to cover up the massacre. Israel has also imposed
no-go zones and displacement orders, restricting access to two-thirds of
Gaza.
God of the oppressed, we grieve for the displaced and the killed. We are angered by a world that watches with numb eyes as the powerful wage war. In our righteous anger, guide us to reject the path of violence and choose the way of nonviolent resistance. Holy God, draw near to the innocent people of Gaza in their darkest hour, and strengthen our resolve to hold the leaders of this nightmare accountable.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
- Mairead
Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, is inviting the global community to
accompany her in her 40-day fast in solidarity with the children of
Gaza. In a brief video, Mairead explains her reasons for fasting. If you are able to join Mairead’s fast for one day or more, you can sign up here.
God of compassion, we lift up all those who, inspired by Mairead Maguire, will join her in this fast in solidarity with the children of Gaza. May their bodies and acts of solidarity bear witness to the hunger for peace and justice that fills the hearts of many. Strengthen their resolve, sustain them in their sacrifice, and deepen their connection to the suffering of those they stand with.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- On March 24, Walid Ahmad, a Palestinian child who was 17 years old, died while under Israeli detention. A healthy teenager when he was taken and held without charge or trial, his post-mortem exam showed that he was starved to death while being denied medical care for dehydration, traumatic injuries, and infectious diseases that he got while imprisoned.
Holy one, you know the name and face of Walid Ahmad and all children and captives caged unjustly. You have said, “Do not despise one of these little ones, for their angels always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10) Spirit of Life, disturb the world’s silence and do not let hearts grow numb. As we mourn, we pray for his family’s healing and for every child still living under occupation. We pray for the day that every child is free and cherished.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Last week, Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Bishop Munib Younan, and other Palestinian Christian community leaders, including Sabeel’s Sawsan Bitar, released “A Jerusalem Voice for Justice,” a statement reaffirming their Christian faith and urging global solidarity amid deepening violence in Palestine. The statement addresses Palestinians, the international community, and religious supporters of annexation alike, condemning the war in Gaza and the mass displacement in the West Bank. As Easter approaches, they remind us: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” The statement can be accessed here.
God of hope, we thank you for the voices behind this call for justice. As we approach Easter, may we be rooted in the church of the Resurrection, finding our hope in the promise of new life and transformation. In these last weeks of Lent, inspire us to act in solidarity with the oppressed, to seek peace, and to work for justice. May the hope of the resurrection fill us with strength to shine your light in a world in need of healing.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
- Omar Haramy, representing Sabeel, was recently awarded the Berrigan-McAlister award by Depaul University. The Berrigan-McAlister Award honors those whose acts of Christian nonviolence resist injustice, transform conflict, foster reconciliation, and seek justice and peace for all. The award celebration will take place on May 12, and people can attend either virtually or in-person by registering with this link.
God of peace and courage, as we thank you for the recognition of Omar and Sabeel’s work, we lift up all who walk the hard road of nonviolence, especially the unnamed, the unseen, and the ones who pay a price in silence. We remember those who gave their lives for peace, whose names the world may never know, but whose absence is deeply felt by those who loved them. Give strength to the living, comfort to the grieving, and let justice grow from the seeds they have planted.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for The Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
