Sabeel Wave of Prayer: Susiya, TV, Gaza

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, we pray for the Palestinians living in the village of Khirbet Susiya who continue to be threatened with expulsion from their lands and the demolition of their homes. The Israeli court had previously ordered for the demolition to be postponed until the end of Ramadan. Now that the Ramadan festivities are over, Susiya is in grave danger once again. Both EU diplomats and the US State Department have urged Israel to cease pursuing this destructive policy. God of justice, we pray that this demolition would be stopped and that the continued annexation of Palestinian land would come to an end. Lord, in your mercy…

This week Israeli authorities ordered a six month closure of Palestine 48, a new Arabic TV station that focuses on issues pertaining to Palestinian identity and culture, which planned to host investigative documentaries. Lord, we pray that the right to freedom of speech would be protected and that Israel would stop censoring Palestinian voices and narratives. Lord in your mercy…

Lord, we thank you for the many creative ways that Palestinians are striving to make their communities better. We thank you for Abu Abdullah who inspired the entire community of Al-Zaytoun, Gaza to paint their walls bright colours and decorate their neighbourhood with positive messages. We also thank you for the work of Ramzi Aburedwan, who has fostered the arts in Palestine through founding the Al Kamandjâti music school. Lord, in your mercy….

Lord we praise you for the work that Sabeel Nazareth is doing to address the racism of business owners who refuse to hire Israeli Arabs. We pray that you would continue to bless the work of Sabeel and others advocating on this issue. We also pray for Sabeel’s upcoming annual clergy trip. Gracious God, we thank you for our friends around the world, particularly Friends of Sabeel North America, which has their board meeting this weekend. Lord, in your mercy…

We pray alongside the world council of churches for the countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Lord, in your mercy….