Sabeel Wave of Prayer: Week of Feb. 10, 2025
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