Sabeel Wave of Prayer: Violence in Jerusalem and Israeli legislation
Weekly prayers from Sabeel in #Jerusalem
Wave of Prayer: This prayer ministry enables local and international friends of Sabeel to pray over regional concerns on a weekly basis. Sent to Sabeel’s network of supporters, the prayer is used in services around the world and during Sabeel’s Thursday Communion service; as each community in its respective time zone lifts these concerns in prayer at noon every Thursday, this “wave of prayer” washes over the world.
Lord, a Palestinian bus driver who works for an Israeli bus company was found dead and hanged in his bus earlier this week. There is strong suspicion and anger in the Palestinian community that this was a result of a terror attack by Jewish extremists and not suicide. On Tuesday, several people died and several were injured in a seemingly retaliatory attack on a West Jerusalem synagogue by two Palestinians. God of mercy, we pray that the cycle of revenge and extremist violence will end; bring your calm and healing to your people in Jerusalem. Lord in your mercy…
Lord, we pray that the Jewish Nation-State Bill will not be presented to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation in the Knesset. This bill, if passed, would declare Israel the nation-state of the Jewish people and would subordinate democracy to a Jewish character. God of justice, we are deeply concerned that discriminatory practices against Palestinian citizens of Israel, already treated as second-class citizens, would then have the force of constitutional law. Lord in your mercy…
Lord, nearly 700 Israeli public figures, including academics, former ambassadors, and IDF officers, have called upon the Danish parliament to recognize the State of Palestine during its upcoming vote on this issue. We pray that Denmark will act upon this courageous call and that other European countries will follow suit, including France and Spain, both with similar votes in the near future. Lord in your mercy…
Lord, we are grateful that 106 retired Israeli security personnel, including army generals, have signed a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging him to push for peace with the Palestinians, saying that Israel has the strength and means to achieve a two-state solution that “does not entail a security risk.” Lord in your mercy…
Lord, we pray for our “Living Together” interfaith program this week with the YWCA about the challenges that Muslims and Christians face together in Jerusalem. We also pray for Sabeel Nazareth’s lecture by Patriarch Michel Sabbah and next week’s Kairos conference in Bethlehem. Lord in your mercy…
We pray alongside the World Council of Churches for the countries of Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea. Lord in your mercy…