Sabeel Wave of Prayer: Week of Sept. 25, 2017

Tuesday, September 26th, 2017, two Israeli security officers and a border policeman were killed in the Settlement of Har Adar outside Jerusalem. In the attack, the Palestinian assailant was also shot dead.

Lord, the zealots continue to challenge the injustice with swords. We are reminded that in the time of trial, You told Peter to put away his sword. May we, your followers, stand firm and face the powers using non-violence. We pray that the unjust Israeli military occupation, that continues to breed hatred and violence, come to an end. Lord in your mercy…

Since the beginning of September 2017, Israeli forces demolished parts of the three different Palestinian Muslim cemeteries in Jerusalem. Israel claims that the demolitions are necessary to make way for building a national park in the area or to expand two existing streets. The Palestinians of Jerusalem are outraged as photos emerge of open graves exposing the remains of their dead.

Lord, neither the living nor the dead have peace under the Israeli occupation. We pray that the unreasonable Israeli occupation will come to an end soon. Lord in your mercy…

Since 2009, over 50 Christian and Muslim holy sites have been vandalized in Israel and the West Bank, but only nine indictments have been filed and only seven convictions handed down. Moreover, only eight of the 53 cases are still under investigation, with the other 45 all closed. The Palestinian community accuses Israel of failing to protect the Churches and Mosques from extremist Jews.

Lord, there is no peace in our land. Our olive trees are uprooted, roads are blocked, homes are demolished, children are arrested and the sites we call holy have become battle grounds. Our hearts are weary from the Israeli military occupation. We pray Lord for your peace to wash over our land. Lord in your mercy…

Israel’s Civil Administration is expected to advance plans, as early as next week, for 2,000 new homes in West Bank settlements.

Lord, empower us to have hope in the midst of hopelessness. Grant us the courage needed to continue to speak truth to power. Enlighten us God with new actions that will open the eyes of the greedy oppressors of our humanity. Have mercy on us lord as our neighbours continue to confiscate our land, demolish our homes, erase our history and build their settlements. Lord in your mercy…

In Bethlehem, the Dar al-Kalima’s new Library and Multimedia Resource Center is completed. The Library and resource centre is another milestone towards educating generations of creative leaders in Palestine.

We are grateful to the Lord and for all friends in the USA, Germany, and in Palestine who helped complete the new Library and Multimedia Resource Center. May Dar al-Kalima continue to be ‘a city on the hill’ that provides light to a brighter future. Lord in your mercy…

We join the World Council of Churches in praying for the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Peru. Lord in your mercy…