Sabeel Wave of Prayer
Jubilant crowds gathered in the Palestinian towns on Saturday evening to watch the highly-anticipated announcement of the winner of the Arab Idol singing contest in Beirut, that has had millions of viewers fixed to their TV screens since November. Celebrations broke out in Palestine, as native of the town of Bethlehem, Yacoub Shahin, was announced as the winner Shahin is the second Palestinian to claim the title since the contest premiered in 2011.
- Lord, we begin this week with a light heart and thanksgiving for the unforeseen fame of Palestinian Yacoub Shahinin the popular reality TV show, Arab Idol. We pray that you continue to bless him and use his voice to raise awareness for justice for the Palestinian people. Lord, in your mercy…
Mohammed al-Qeeq, the Palestinian activist and journalist, has declared an open hunger strike after being issued an administrative detention order by the Israeli occupation authorities on February 6th2016. Israeli occupation forces rearrested al-Qeeq on the evening of 15 January 2017 north of Ramallah. In 2016, al-Qeeq, 35 years old, engaged in a 94-day hunger strike against his administrative detention – imprisonment without charge or trial. Al Qeeq won his release in May 2016. Also, Jamal Abu Leil and Raed Mteir, from Qalandia refugee camp north of Jerusalem, started a hunger strike to protest their own administrative detention on February 16th.
- Lord, we pray for Palestinians who are courageously choosing to resist injustice in various non-violent ways, like hunger strikes. We pray especially for the Palestinians who have been detained without charge or trial. Lord please sustain them and all fellow hunger-strikers. Lord, in your mercy…
Preparations continue for the Sabeel 10th International Conference to be held next week in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jerusalem, Nazareth, occupied Syrian Golan heights and the Sea of Galilee. This week, participants are preparing for their travels from many countries.
- Our prayers for safety and wellbeing are with the international and local travellers and pilgrims to Bethlehem for Sabeel’s 10th International Conference. We continue to pray for the participants, speakers, organizers, staff and volunteers as everyone prepares in the last days before the conference. Lord in your mercy…
On Friday Israeli forces suppressed a crowded march in the Old City of Hebron, as local Palestinian residents and international activists demanded the reopening of closed streets and the removal of the illegal Israeli settlers from the city.The march was launched in line with the 23rd anniversary of the Ibrahimi mosque massacre, when Jewish-American settler Baruch Goldstein entered the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron and shot dead 29 Palestinian Muslims during worship.
- Lord, we cry out at the injustices experienced by those living in Hebron, particularly the economic and social violence caused by the sustained closing of Shuhada Street. We pray for healing of the land, and for peace to those who must currently live with so much fear and persecution.Lord, in your mercy…
Hundreds of members of Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority have fled the Sinai Peninsula to Ismailiya city, 115km northeast of the capital Cairo, following a series of targeted killings by a local terrorist armed group.The assailant extremists have shot and killed at least seven Christians in separate attacks in Sinai’s El Arish city in February.At least 90 families have reached the Ismailiya governorate, according to an official of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
- Lord, we pray that Egypt remains the safe haven that sheltered the Holy Family when they fled from Herod. We hold the Church of Egypt in our prayers, especially the faithful who are persecuted in your name. We also pray for your mercy and understanding as we fail to love our enemy. Lord in your mercy…
- We join the World Council of Churches in praying for the countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Lord in your mercy…