On Friday Israeli settlers confiscated 300 Dunums (133 acres) of Palestinian land in the Jordan Valley, shortly after the meeting of the UN Security Council in which all 15 members including the US agreed that the settlements have been an obstacle to peace for too long and must end.
· We pray that the Security Council will be able to go beyond statements and live up to its responsibility and mandate to remove that obstacle, so that all the people of our region will at long last live in peace. Lord in your mercy…
The 29th of October commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Kufr Qassem massacre in the Galilee when the Israeli military opened fire on Palestinian farmers and their families coming home from olive-picking, not realizing that a curfew had been imposed after they had left the town in the morning. Forty nine people were killed and around sixty injured in that massacre.
· We pray for all the families who lost dear ones on that day and for all the survivors who continue to be haunted by the memory of that massacre. For many of them the suffering and discrimination continue. We pray for all Palestinian Israeli citizens who are constantly struggling for their equal rights in a state that claims to be democratic. Lord in your mercy…
Amidst all the deprivation and on-going violations of human rights, the Palestinians are still able to enjoy life. We are grateful to two young musicians of Palestinian roots who were in Palestine this past week, Karim Said, a pianist, and Mariam Tamari an opera singer who had separate performances in which each of them excelled and helped lift up our spirits.
· We pray for safe travel for those young artists, and we pray that such talents continue to be blessed and be a source of joy to their audiences. Lord in your mercy…
Sabeel will be holding its annual Ecumenical Clergy Retreat next Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th of October. . The retreat, under the title of ” The Other – A Blessing or a Curse “, will take place at the Carmelite Convent of Stella Maris on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, and will also include the spouses of married clergy. A number of distinguished clergy will address this important subject, including Rev. Ateek, the chairman of the Sabeel Board.
· We pray dear Lord for your blessing on this Retreat and for the ecumenical spirit that prevails in the Sabeel programs. Guide the speakers and the participants to be nourished by this fellowship, and help them disseminate the right attitude in their parishes so that the “Other” will be a Blessing. Lord in your mercy…
· We join the World Council of Churches by praying for the countries of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Lord in your mercy…