Thursday 30^th December 2021

Kumi Now on Thursday 28^th December, heard from Bishop Emeritus Munib Younan. Bishop Younan spoke on the topic of Christians in the Holy Land. This is the last week of the Kumi Now year and we will now take a break to assess the future of Kumi Now.

• Lord, we thank you for those who have made the commitment to stand for justice, inclusivity, and nonviolence through the Kumi Now initiative. We pray that their commitment will continue as we begin the year again and look forward to the new revised Kumi Now. 
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Archbishop Emeritus of South Africa, Desmond Tutu, passed away on Sunday 26^th December. Archbishop Tutu was an outspoken activist against apartheid in South Africa and, in his later years, turned his attention to the Holy Land and the similarities he saw between Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and the treatment of black South Africans under apartheid.

• Lord, we are grateful for the life of Archbishop Tutu. We are thankful for his faith, commitment to challenging injustice wherever he saw it, and his humour. We pray that his family will find peace in these difficult times. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. 
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel would like to wish all our staff, volunteers, and friends a very happy New Year and every blessing for 2022.

• As 2021 draws to a close and the New Year begins, we take time to remember the events of this past year. The difficulties, the tragedies, and the hardships are fresh in our minds, especially as we think of Lebanon, Afghanistan, Syria, and Palestine. But Lord, please remind us of your daily mercies, your grace, and your promise of peace; though we have trouble in this world, remind us to continually take heart, for you have overcome the world. 
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Hisham Abu Hawash, a Palestinian prisoner in an Israeli military prison, has been on hunger strike for over 4 months. In the past days, Abu Hawash’s health condition has deteriorated significantly. Abu Hawash, 40 and the father of five children (Hadi, Mohammed, Izz al-Din, Waqas and Saba), has spent 8 years in total in Israeli occupation prisons. Of that time, 52 months — over half of his time behind bars — has been spent jailed without charge or trial under administrative detention orders.

• Lord, we pray that the spirit of Hisham and all Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike remains strong specially as their health continues to deteriorate. We remember the family of Hisham and their suffering.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Palestinian town of Burqa, near Nablus, has been under constant attack by Israeli settlers and Israeli occupation forces. The town is almost completely blocked from the rest of the area by mounds of earth which block the roads to allow settler-only access to the illegal Israeli settlements and outposts which surround the area. Burqa has been under increasing attacks since around 15,000 Israelis gathered at the settlement of Homesh to commemorate the life of Yehuda Dimentman, who was reportedly killed by Palestinian gunmen.

• O God, we pray for the people of Burqa and all Palestinian towns and cities under threat from the Israeli occupation. We pray that the international community will follow words with actions against the Israeli authorities to put an end to settlement building. We also pray for the family of Yehuda Dimentman, may they find peace at this difficult time. 
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. 
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Thursday 23^rd December 2021

The Kumi Now initiative focused this week on the Syrian Golan. Syrians still living in the Golan live under the threat of Israeli military activity as well as the promotion of tourism from illegal settlements in the area. Next Tuesday, Kumi Now will focus its attention on Christians in the Holy Land.

• Lord, we pray for the Syrians who have suffered so much in recent years. We pray that the Syrians in the Golan and in other regions may be granted peace and justice.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Coronavirus is once again surging around the world with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Travel bans, lock downs, and uncertainties are back in focus over this time of family and gathering.

• Healing Lord, as we once again move forward with uncertainty, we pray for all those affected by Covid-19. We pray for those working in hospitals, who fear being overwhelmed once again, for the scientists who work tirelessly to understand this new variant, and for the politicians and leaders who must decide, if and when, further restrictions are required to save lives.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Palestinian political prisoners are continuing to hunger strike. The hunger strikes are against torture, ill treatment, and medical neglect of Palestinian political prisoners at the hands of the Israeli authorities, as well as Israel’s widespread use of administrative detention, which is only permitted under international law in extremely limited circumstances.

• Lord, we continue to pray for the Palestinian prisoners. May your words on the Mount of Beatitudes “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied” bring comfort to our Palestinian political prisoners.
  Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On December 15^th and 16^th, Dar al Kalima University held their 23^rd International Conference on the topic of “Art and Citizenship”.

• Lord, we are thankful for all those who took part in this conference, in person, through satellite conferences, or remotely. We are grateful for Rev Dr Mitri Raheb and his prayerful leadership of Dar al Kalima University. We pray that you continue to bless this work and strengthen the staff and students of Dar al Kalima as they work and study.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel Jerusalem held their annual Christmas dinner last week with 170 people attending. Sabeel Nazareth have also been holding Christmas events with trips to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

• God, we pray with thankfulness at this holy time for the opportunities to gather together and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bless those who worked to make these events happen despite the challenges of Covid-19.
  Lord. In your mercy…hear our prayers.

This Christmas we turn our eyes to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and we see a suffering town. The pandemic has hit the economy of the town hard with many people relying on international tourism which has now been largely absent for two years. Some families are having to continue to withdraw their children from schools, forced to make hard choices between education, food, or medicine. Others can no longer afford to pay rent and are having to move back in with their parents and grandparents.

• Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world, (John 8:12). As we have lit our Advent candles you reminded us that we will not walk in darkness if we follow your light. When the darkness of poverty, oppression, illness, and bereavement press in hard, lift our eyes to your light of hope.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of China, Hong Kong, and Macau. 
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Thursday, 16^th December 2021

Kumi Now on Tuesday concentrated on the issue of the right of return for Palestinians forcibly evicted from their homes in 1948. On Tuesday, 21^st December, we will hear about the Syrian Golan.

• Lord, we pray for an end to the injustice which has lasted for more than seventy years. We pray that the Palestinian refugees and displaced Palestinians, wherever they may be, to be granted the right of return to rebuild their homes and their heritage.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Friday, 17^th December, Sabeel will hold its annual Ecumenical Christmas Dinner.

• Lord, we give thanks for this joyful event and rejoice that our Palestinian and international brothers and sisters will be drawn together in this celebration as ‘one body in Christ’.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Saturday, 11th December, Sabeel, in coordination with the Pontifical Mission and the Jerusalem Center for Palestine Studies, held a conference in Ramallah,  on the Christian History of Palestine.

• Dear Lord, we pray for all those involved in the conference and those who will continue this important work. May they know the guidance of Gods Spirit in all they do.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel will hold a Zoom session to present the Christmas story from the perspective of Palestinian liberation theology. www.bilda.nu/Christmas-Theological-Uprising

• At this time of anticipation O’ Lord, we pray for the work of Sabeel to produce this session on the Christmas story from a Palestinian liberation theology perspective. Bless the work of Sabeel and all involved in the struggle for justice and peace.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

During this time of Advent and Christmas, we turn our thoughts towards those for whom this time of year is difficult. Especially this year for those who rely on tourism which has been decimated once again by Covid-19 travel restrictions with no end in sight.

• We “know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy” (Psalm 140:12), at this time of Advent and Christmas we pray for those in need; families who find this time of year difficult, for those who have lost loved ones this year, and for those who rely on tourism in Palestine.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The plan to build a new settlement on the site of Qalandia Airport (Atarot) in East Jerusalem has been delayed by the Jerusalem district planning and building committee citing the need for an environment study for their delay. At the same time, the US envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that settlement building had “reached a critical juncture”.

• Lord, we are thankful that the settlement plans for Qalandia Airport have been paused, however, it has not been cancelled. We are grateful that the US envoy to the UN has now spoken out clearly against settlement construction, but this must now be followed with action.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

In recent months there have been a number of attacks, both on Palestinians and Israelis. At this time of peace and hope this violence must stop.

• Lord, we pray for the city of peace, our city Jerusalem. May the powerful decision makers abandon tyranny and exclusivity and surrender to your will of justice and inclusivity. We pray for true peace in the city of Jerusalem, the city loved by all its children.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Thursday 9^th December 2021

Kumi Now, on Tuesday, concentrated on the issue of human rights with Raji Sourani, founder of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). For the next two weeks, Kumi will focus on the Right to Return and the occupied Syrian Golan.

• Dear Lord Jesus, when we are despairing you encourage us and tell us, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’(Mark 5:36). We thank you for the nonviolent advocacy actions of the Kumi Now Initiative which help us to channel into action our sense of despair over the occupation of Palestine. We pray for ongoing worldwide support for the Kumi Now Initiative. We pray that it would help international decision makers to work towards a just and equitable peace in the Holy Land.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Friday, December 3^rd, Sabeel launched a series of booklets of the writings of Rev Dr. Naim Ateek. The Zoom launch was attended by around 100 people who heard from various speakers on their reactions to the booklets and asked questions of Assis Naim. 

• Lord, we give thanks for Rev Ateek and his ongoing commitment to liberation, justice, and peace. We pray that many will be encouraged, challenged, inspired, and informed by these writings.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Thursday, December 2^nd, Friends of Sabeel Australia held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elected new members to the management committee.

• We give thanks for the many years of service to Sabeel Australia by Ray Baraclough (since 2003), Dave Smith (since 2015), and Jim Minchin who continues to lead weekly prayers at St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne as part of the Sabeel Wave of Prayer. For all who pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we give you thanks.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Faith leaders, governmental officials, and community members gathered in Ramallah on December 2nd for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) Women’s Desk’s second annual national conference entitled “The Path to Gender Justice from a National and Religious Perspective”. This event occurred as part of the #16DaysofActivisim campaign.

• Lord, we pray for the work and witness of ELCJHL, and their commitment to Gender Justice. May these conferences serve as a starting point for change, justice, and peace for all.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel, in partnership with the Pontifical Mission is to hold a conference on ‘Christianity in Palestine since Pentecost.’ Twelve scholars, both Muslim and Christian, have written research papers on the Christian presence in Palestine since the first century. The conference, marking the launch of an initiative to explore Christian Palestinian history, will be held on December 11^th in Ramallah.

• Lord, we pray for the success of this conference as a catalyst for new explorations of Christian Palestinian history. We are thankful for the Pontifical Mission and all who are committed to exploring this important issue.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Wednesday, December 8^th, Sabeel held a workshop with 12 guides and tourism experts in Bethlehem to develop itineraries developed by Sabeel in 2021.  Sabeel hopes to promote these itineraries to future incoming tour groups and local tourism.

• At a time when tourists are not able to enter Palestine due to travel restrictions, we pray O God, at a time when many struggle for lack of tourist income, we pray O God, for those who have the faith to look forward to the arrival of tourists once again, we pray O God.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On the evening of Wednesday, 1^st December, Two Israelis were attacked, and their car was set ablaze by a crowd of Palestinians after they entered downtown Ramallah. The Israelis were rescued by Palestinian police and taken to the nearby Israeli occupation base at Beit El. 

• Lord of all humanity, we pray for everyone to act nonviolently towards oppression and injustice. We pray that all human life be respected, and that in this special time of peace and anticipation, we can all see humanity in one another; Christian, Muslim, Jew, Palestinian, or Israeli.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Myanmar and Thailand.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Thursday December 2^nd, 2021

Last week, Kumi Now Online focused on the topic of Kairos Palestine, hearing from Nora Carmi. On Tuesday, 7^th December, Kumi Now will hear from a speaker on the topic of Human Rights.

• Lord, we raise our voices together with the voice of Kairos Palestine. We pray for an end to the occupation of Palestine and that international lawmakers and governments around the world will actively condemn Israel for their plans to annex more Palestinian land.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On the evening of Saturday, 4th December, Palestinian Christians will celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree in Manger Square, Bethlehem. Due to no tree lighting ceremony being possible in 2020, Bethlehem Municipality has promised that this will be a spectacular event, even with the absence of many tourists due to travel restrictions.

• Dear Lord, we are grateful that even in times of strife and darkness you come to bring light into the world. Grant that the celebrations will pass without incident and that those attending will be able to enjoy the event in a safe manner.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

With the new ‘Omicron’ Covid-19 variant spreading around the world, Israel took the decision to close the country to all international travelers who are not residents or citizens. Taking effect from midnight on Sunday 28^th December, this closure is planned to last for two weeks.

• Lord, we pray for the hotels and the many others who rely on the tourist industry, may they and their families be supported through this difficult time when no one knows when tourists may return. Give the authorities in Palestine and Israel the foresight to see that support is needed and the ability to grant that support.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Israeli authorities, on Wednesday 24^th November, granted initial permission for a new settlement to be constructed on the former Qalandyia Airport site in East Jersualem. The settlement, if constructed, would see 9,000 homes for illegel Israeli settlers and would separate the West Bank  and the East Jerusalem area of Kufr Aqab from the remainder of East Jerusalem.

• God of the oppressed, the world continues to watch on as settlement construction continues to limit and surround the lives of many Palestinians. We pray that actions, not just words, will come from those in positions of power around the world, and that this, and other developments will be stopped.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

An 18-year-old Palestinian was beaten by five young men in Jerusalem on Tuesday, 23^rd November. Bashar Masalha and his friend Nathan Sara were attacked by a group of five Israeli young men, armed with a knuckle duster, as they walked home from college. They stated that they were attacked and cursed as they were walking and speaking Arabic. Attacks like these are becoming more common in Jerusalem with young Palestinians being encouraged to avoid the area of West Jerusalem.

• Dear Lord, we pray that Bashar will have a swift and full recovery from his physical and emotional injuries. We are thankful for Nathan and his efforts to protect his friend during this unprovoked attack. We pray that those responsible are brought to justice and that everyone has the freedom to walk where they wish, without the threat of violence.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

For Jews around the world, Sunday, 28^th November, marks the start of the 8 days of Hanukkah. 

• Lord of light, we wish our Jewish brothers and sisters a blessed time as they celebrate this time of light in the midst of darkness.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sunday, 28^th November marked the beginning of the blessed season of Advent around the world. The first candle, ‘The Prophet’s Candle’, was lit, symbolizing hope as we look forward into this time of anticipation. 

• Lord we are reminded that this is the land you chose to come to, bringing your hope and tidings of your Kingdom. We pray for the many Churches in our land, that your Spirit will be with us all, as we prepare to welcome you anew this Christmas.
  Lord, in Your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Thursday 25^th November 2021

On Tuesday, Sabeel’s Kumi Now Online session focused on the subject of gender-based violence. The session heard from Areej Diabas, programme manager for the Women’s Study Centre. The Kumi Online session on Tuesday, 30^th November, will focus on the Kairos Palestine Document.

• Lord, we raise our voices together with the voice of Kairos Palestine. We pray for an end to the occupation of Palestine and that international lawmakers and governments around the world will actively condemn Israel for their plans to annex more Palestinian land.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Schools, churches, and scout groups, in Palestine and around the world, have started their preparations for Advent and Christmas. In Palestine these groups are working on a range of ways to celebrate this special season such as bazaars, collections for families in need, or training for carol singing and other celebrations.

• Lord, we thank you for the beginning of Advent this weekend – for valuing humanity enough to become one of us, for taking on flesh and teaching us how to love.  God, we ask for your guidance so that we not only reflect on this time with hope, joy, peace, and love, but also act upon it.
  Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel is delighted to be able to host its very popular Ecumenical Christmas Dinner on the 17^th December this year. This dinner is always a very special occasion where people from many churches and groups come together to enjoy an evening of food and music with a Christmas message by one of the clergy of Jerusalem.

• We pray for the Sabeel Ecumenical Christmas dinner on Friday 17th December. Local clergy from different denominations, international workers, and community members from all walks of life will gather for fellowship, food, and music. We pray that God will be glorified by our celebration.
  Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Catholic youth group ‘Youth of the Homeland of Jesus’ have been holding activities in Bethlehem to mark Christ the King. Hundreds of young Christians have been gathering for worship and lectures in a series of events entitled ‘Jesus on Board’.

• Lord, we are thankful for the leadership of ‘Youth of the Homeland of Jesus’ and the prayerful work of the group as they study and worship together in your name. Bless this, and all youth groups, as they continue to bear witness throughout this special season.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Every day, women gather throughout the Old City to sell fruit and vegetables to those who pass by. These women often grow their own produce and use the money they earn to support their families. Recently, the Jerusalem Municipality has been conducting campaigns throughout the city to confiscate the products sold by these women on the basis that they are trading illegally.

• “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.” (Prov. 31:16) Lord, we pray for these hard-working women who carry their produce to the city each day and sit on the hard ground selling to those who pass by. Bless these women as they work to plant vineyards of support for their families and give pause to those who seek to disrupt their work through confiscation.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

During the night of November 16^th, in the city of Hebron, Israeli occupation forces pulled 13 Palestinian children from their beds in the home of the Dana family and photographed them illegally. Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem said “It seems that for the army, all Palestinians, including boys and girls of elementary school age, are potential criminals – they are allowed to wake them up at any time at night, enter their house, and conduct a line-up.” This process, termed ‘intelligence mapping’ by Israeli forces, is illegal under international law.

• God of compassion, ‘Children are a heritage from the Lord’ says the Psalmist (Ps. 127:3). We pray for all children, that they be allowed to live in peace and safety, free from oppression and threat. We pray, once again, that the international community will take notice, and take action over these injustices committed against even the youngest children.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of East Timor (Timor Leste), Indonesia, and the Philippines.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Thursday 18^th November 2021

On Tuesday 16^th November, Kumi Now heard from Khaled Quzmar of Defence for Children International, Palestine (DCIP) on the subject of children’s rights. On Thursday 25th November the world will recognise the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Kumi Now, on Tuesday 23^rd November, will hear about Gender-Based Violence and how we can all act to end violence towards women.

• God, you love all your children. Look with special care upon those daughters who suffer physically and emotionally simply because they are women. Surround them with your protecting angels this day, that they might know safety. Give them that measure of your Spirit that they might not lose heart but entrust their lives wholly to you. Give us the courage to stand steadfast at their side, never wavering to speak the truth of their plight and to put our own lives to the test on behalf of our beloved sisters.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

After 113 days, 24-year-old Miqdad Qawasmeh ended his hunger strike on November 11^th following an agreement that he will be released from his administrative detention by Israeli occupation forces in February 2022. Miqdad has been held without trial or formal charges since January 2021. 

• God of the suffering, we pray that Miqdad will have a full recovery from the effects caused by his hunger strike. We pray that the Israeli authorities will keep their agreement and release Miqdad. Grant to all those currently under administrative detention the strength to endure, and to the Israeli authorities, the understanding of the wrongs they commit and the grace to end them.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

On Wednesday 9^th November the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, approved by 51 votes to 50, in a preliminary vote, a bill to build a new public hospital in the northern city of Sakhnin. If further approval is given, this hospital would be the first public hospital to be built in a mainly Palestinian city, where healthcare has mainly relied on private hospitals and clinics run by churches and NGOs. 

• Lord of healing, we pray that the Israeli authorities will carry through with the agreement to build a new hospital in Sakhnin and that the other hospitals suggested are also built. We pray that all those in need of hospital care will be free to access it and that your healing presence will descend upon them and the doctors who care for them.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Monday, November 15^th marks the anniversary of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. The declaration was written by Palestinian Poet Mahmoud Darwish and proclaimed by Yasser Arafat on 15^th November 1988. The text speaks of peace and justice, declaring that; “The State of Palestine, in declaring that it is a peace-loving State committed to the principles of peaceful coexistence, shall strive, together with all other States and peoples, for the achievement of a lasting peace based on justice and respect for rights, under which the human potential for constructive activity may flourish, mutual competition may centre on life-sustaining innovation and there is no fear for the future, since the future bears only assurance for those who have acted justly or made amends to justice.”

• God of mercy, even as we long to understand that which is often beyond our comprehension, we lay before you the hearts, minds, and bodies of all those suffering from oppression in Palestine and Israel and the ongoing occupation. Shower upon all the people of the Holy Land the spirit of justice and peace. Give to all people the blessings of well-being, freedom, and harmony, and, above all things, strengthen us to care for all those in need.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

After a long break due to Covid-19, Sabeel is returning to important in-person activities in Palestine. On November 22^nd and 23^rd, Sabeel will hold a clergy retreat for over 40 local clergy, a time for them to come together in peace and fellowship whilst exploring faith and the pathway to a just peace.

• 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…hear our prayer.

Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) are holding an Advent event to encourage clergy and others to ‘Be Alert: Preach Palestine.’ The campaign asks everyone to “lift up Palestinian people such that they would come to experience the joy, justice, and peace of Christ’s liberating reign, as a very real light in the present darkness.” (https://www.fosna.org/preach-palestine-blog)

• Dear Lord, we pray that Christians around the world will respond to the message to ‘Preach Palestine’. Lord of mercy and compassion, we ask you to move the hearts of believers in different lands. We pray for their renewed efforts to alert their congregations and their governments to the suffering of the Palestinians under prolonged occupation. We pray blessing upon FOSNA as they work tirelessly for justice and peace in Palestine and for the success of the ‘Be Alert: Preach Palestine 2021’ campaign.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Six new booklets produced by Rev Dr. Naim Ateek will be launched at a Zoom event on Friday 3^rd December. The booklets cover a range of topics based on lectures, sermons, and messages written by Rev Ateek over many years. (sign up at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsd-ysrjwqGdez8XvN9_C4HWkX-asdretE)

• Lord, we give thanks for Rev Ateek, his faithful and ongoing witness for justice and peace based on your word. Bless these writings as they are released in booklet form for the first time and set a seed in the hearts of those who read them so that they may find words to stir their hearts and motivate their actions.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
  Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Sabeel Wave of Prayer
11.11.21

Last week’s Kumi Now online gathering reflected on how we can confront antisemitism, as well as other forms of racism, to help bring about healing and reconciliation in our communities. The Kumi Now gathering on Tuesday, the 16th of November will focus on the rights of Palestinian children. The Universal Children’s Day is celebrated on Saturday, the 20th of November, but Palestinian children are often denied the rights and opportunities available to children elsewhere in the world and only a short distance away in the settlements and in Israel.

• Lord, so many Palestinian children suffer violence living under the Israeli occupation. Many see their homes and schools demolished, hundreds are arrested each year and endure trials and imprisonment far from their families. We pray for an end to the Israeli occupation and an end to the abuse of the rights of Palestinian children. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa welcomed Catholic worshippers from many different Catholic Churches in the Holy Land to the small shrine at Deir Rafat on Saturday, the 30th of October. He spoke to the worshippers about the synodal journey, ‘First: we want to set out, just like the two disciples of Emmaus. Second: we want to do it together, as Church, as community. That is why I find it beautiful and significant that in all parts of our Churches (Galilee, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus), we are at this moment gathered together’. He urged the worshippers, Palestinians, migrants and asylum seekers from different backgrounds and traditions to come together, to get to know one another and to witness as Christians in the Holy Land.

• ‘Lord Jesus, in the midst of war and hatred, walls, occupation and discrimination, fear and rejection, instruct us how to be instruments of justice and peace, pardon and reconciliation.’ (Father David Neuhaus.SJ). Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

During these past few weeks the 26th UN Climate Change Conference has been taking place in Glasgow in the U.K. We remember the Palestinian organizations working to find ways of protecting their environment. We give thanks for the work done by the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University to protect the al-Makhrour Valley, south of Jerusalem from urban encroachment and biodiversity loss.

• Lord God, you spread out the earth and what comes from it, (Is 42:5), help us to care for your creation and to do all in our power to look after the world we live in, balancing the needs of nature and the people living in the land. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers. 

Miqdad al-Qawasmi, a 24-year-old Palestinian from Hebron, has been on hunger strike for 103 days in protest of his administrative detention order. This order allows the Israeli authorities to detain Palestinians without charge or trial for renewable periods of three to six months. They are denied any right of appeal or any information about the reason for their detention. Along with seven other Palestinian prisoners, Miqdad has been driven to starve himself to draw attention to his desperate plight. Currently 544 Palestinian prisoners are being held on administrative detention.

• Dear Lord, we bring before you the Palestinian prisoners living under administrative detention, especially those on hunger strike. We pray that the Israeli Prison Services will release the hunger strikers and revoke these harsh detention orders. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Philippe Lazzarini, Head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees,(UNRWA), has warned that the cuts imposed by international donors to the agency have brought it close to collapse. The agency is now struggling to deliver its most essential services and Palestinian refugees are being left with a deep sense of abandonment. The U.K. government has cut its relief grant by more than half. At a special conference in Brussels this month, the agency will ask international donors to reconsider.

• Lord, we pray that international governments will contribute towards the core funding of UNRWA. The agency covers the costs of thousands of teachers and health workers who help to invest in the future of Palestinian refugees. Without the work of  UNRWA, the long term stability of the region will be in jeopardy. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Thursday, the 4th of November, Pope Francis met with the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas. The Pope and other Vatican officials were keen to urge the resumption of peace talks with Israel. The Vatican stated, ‘It is absolutely necessary to reactivate direct dialogue’ and suggested that the international community should help with  ‘more vigorous effort’.

• Lord, we long for the end of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. We pray that international governments would help Israel and Palestine to engage in dialogue and work towards a just and sustainable peace. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Abdallah Jildeh, a 23-year-old Gazan, has just become the first Palestinian to be invested at the Institute of the Incarnate Word. He trusts that his priestly vocation is a gift from God and looks forward to serving God and the church in the world.

• Lord, we give thanks for Abdallah’s vocation and we pray for all the people of Gaza who live under very difficult conditions. Lord, we ask with Abdallah for your protection ‘for the many people who have no shelter or home’. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Oceania: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (Mao-hi Nui), Kanaky, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Thursday 4th November 2021

Last week the Kumi Now Online gathering focused on Islamophobia. Next week Kumi Now will highlight the International Day against Fascism and Antisemitism, which takes place on the 9th of November each year. It will also consider how any criticism of Israel’s unjust actions against Palestinians living under occupation is constantly equated with antisemitism. The Israeli authorities cannot be allowed to carry out human rights’ abuses against Palestinians under a cloak of impunity but should be accountable under international law.

• Lord Jesus, we pray that you would free us from any bitter roots of hatred or racism. Help us to cry out to you when we see the sufferings of others. May we remember that you were prepared to die on a cross for the love you have for us and let us abide in your love.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Wednesday, the 27th of October, twelve priests in the Armenian Brotherhood of St. James announced their condemnation of Patriarch Nourhan Manougian to grant a 99 year lease on the Goveroun Bardez. This strategic land in Jerusalem has been part of the Armenian Quarter since the 14th century. The Patriarchate wants to sell the land to Dany Rubinstein, an Australian property developer based in Dubai, who plans to build a luxury hotel on the site.

• Lord, we thank you for the courage and integrity of the twelve priests who are prepared to question the legality of this property deal. We pray that the Armenian church will reconsider the importance of their presence in the
city of Jerusalem.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Israeli Knesset aborted a bill on Wednesday, the 27th of October, which would have recognised Israel’s responsibility for the 1956 massacre in the Palestinian village of Kafr Qasim. At least 49 Palestinian villagers were shot by Israeli border police as they returned from their work in the fields. They did not know that the Israeli authorities had brought the curfew time forward on the eve of the invasion of Egypt and they walked home unaware that they would be shot.

• Lord, we pray for the relatives of those who were injured or killed, 65years ago, in the massacre of Kafr Qasim. We pray that the Israeli government will come to acknowledge its responsibility for the shedding of innocent Palestinian blood and make a full apology for the massacre of innocent lives.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Tuesday November 2nd, 2021 marked one hundred and four years since the Balfour Declaration was issued and set-in motion the process which led to the displacement and dispossession of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians over the course of ten decades. A century later, the Palestinians continue to be denied their security and basic right of self-determination.

• Lord You are the Almighty, the Prince of Peace and lover of Truth and Justice! Give us hope for tomorrow. We pray for Justice and Truth in our land, that your peace may flow like a river.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Senior Catholic officials in the Holy Land have condemned the decision by the Israeli authorities to ban a three day cultural event in East Jerusalem, as ‘ harsh and unjustifiable’. The event for children was to be hosted by the Maison d’Abraham which is run by Secours Catholique – Caritas France. The Israeli Security Minister prohibited it, claiming it was linked to the Palestinian Authority.

• Lord, we pray for an end to the way the Israeli authorities attempt to stifle all aspects of Palestinian cultural life in East Jerusalem. We pray that the city of Jerusalem will always welcome worshippers of all ethnicities and faiths.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Thursday, the 28th of October, a convoy of Palestinian cars set out on some main roads in Israel heading for Kafr Qara in central Israel. The convoy was protesting the high levels of violent crime being experienced by Palestinian Israeli communities. Parliamentarians from the Joint List, mayors and bereaved relatives took part in the convoy which disrupted the general traffic flow. They were lamenting the lack of commitment shown by the Israeli police force to investigate the frequent homicides suffered by Palestinian Israeli towns.

• Lord, we pray that the Israeli authorities will act to curb the escalation in violence and killings in Palestinian Israeli towns. We pray that they may direct sufficient resources to protect Palestinian communities from unrestrained violence.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Friday, the 29th of October, Sabeel organised a joint trip with the Arab Catholic Scouts in Jerusalem to help the Tent of Nations with the olive harvest. Forty young people participated in the event.

• Lord, we thank you for the young people volunteering their help to the Nassar family at the Tent of Nations. We pray for this Palestinian Christian family who seek to live out their faith and care for their farm, despite Israeli military incursions, settler attacks and a recent fire which affected many of their newly planted and mature trees. We are humbled by their perseverance to build a better future based on respect for all and respect for the land.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

During the last weekend of October many Catholics gather at the shrine of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine for the annual procession. It takes place at Deir Rafat, which lies between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. On this occasion pilgrims focus on praying for peace in their homeland.

• Lord, we pray that you will build our faith, even when all around we see so much suffering. We pray that many more people will open their eyes and see the oppression faced by Palestinians living under the Israeli occupation. Lord, help them to see and to speak out against injustice.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the countries of Canada and the United States of America.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

October 28^th,2021

This week’s Kumi Now online gathering focused on the plight of women and children living through conflict under the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Next week’s Kumi Now on Tuesday, the 2nd of November, will consider the topic of Islamophobia. The Kumi Now community would like to establish the month of November as the month when issues about Islamophobia are thoroughly discussed. It is hoped that further education will lead to overcoming prejudice and will empower Muslims to contribute more confidently to their wider communities.

• Lord Jesus, our righteous Lord, help us ‘to seek goodness, not evil and to establish justice in the gate’, (Amos 5:15). Help us to encourage all members of our diverse communities to step forward and add their contributions to build more peaceful societies.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Gaza’s first woman basketball referee has started to officiate at both men’s and women’s matches. Amira Ismail, 23, actually gained her international license three years ago but was prevented from attending matches by the pandemic and social pressures. She is the only female basketball referee among fifteen referees in Gaza. She also works as a hospital pharmacologist.

• Lord, we give thanks for Amira’s determination to gain her qualification to referee basketball matches in Gaza. We pray that she will inspire many other young women to pursue the sports they love, to grow in confidence and to keep fit and healthy.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Netflix has announced that it has launched a new series of films, entitled ‘Palestinian Stories’. Initially, there will be 32 award-winning films either made by Palestinian directors or films telling Palestinian stories. Many of the films will expose the oppression suffered by Palestinians living under the Israeli occupation.

• Lord, we pray that the international community will challenge the Israeli government over its occupation and its excesses as they are exposed by Palestinian filmmakers.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

The Palestinian film called ‘The Stranger’, ( Al Garib), has been selected as a nominee film for the 2022 Oscars. The director, Ameer Fakker Eldin, who came from the occupied Syrian Golan, won the Edipe Re prize with this film at the recent Venice Film Festival. The film was made in the Golan Heights and follows an unlicensed doctor living in a small village and undergoing a time of personal crisis.

• Lord, we pray for the Syrian people living in the Golan Heights suffering from Israeli annexation and further threats of displacement from Israeli settlement expansion.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Thursday, the 21st of October, UN experts spoke out to express their grave concerns over the fate of five Palestinians currently on hunger strike in Israeli military prisons. The Israeli policy of administrative detention is driving Palestinians to desperate measures to draw attention to their plight. The hunger strikers are all men in their twenties and thirties and they have been refusing food for between 58-99 days. The lives of two men in particular, Kayed Al-Fasfous and Miqdad Al Qawasameh hang in the balance.

• Lord we pray for the lives of the five Palestinian prisoners, that they may be released from administrative detention before they die. We pray that the Israeli government would cease to impose administrative detention orders on more than five hundred Palestinian prisoners, including six Palestinian children.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

On Friday, the 22nd of October, the Israeli Defence Minister, Benny Gantz declared that six leading Palestinian human rights organisations are now deemed ‘terrorist organisations’. He claimed they all had a ‘secret link’ to the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The declaration could empower the Israeli authorities to close their offices, seize their assets and ban supporting their activities. The groups named are Addameer; al-Haq; Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P); the Union of Agricultural Work Committees; Bisan Centre for Research and Development and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have released a joint statement claiming that the announcement from the Israeli government is a ‘brazen attack on human rights’.

• Lord, we pray for all the Palestinians and Israelis working to protect the human rights of Palestinians struggling to survive under the Israeli occupation. We pray that international organisations and governments around the world will challenge the way the Israeli government abuses the human rights of the Palestinian people and that Israel rescind its decision.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

This month Heads of Missions and representatives from the EU, Scandinavia and the U.K. visited Qusra village in the Nablus district to take part in the olive harvest. The British Consulate organised this visit and liaised with two other villages which have been targeted with attacks from illegal Israeli settlers. The international presence is one way to deter the settlers from launching violent attacks at harvest time.

• Lord, we pray for protection for the thousands of Palestinian farmers who rely on the olive harvest to supplement their livelihood. We pray for an end to the violent attacks on these farmers by Israeli settlers.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

Nisreen Abu Kmeil, a 46-year-old Palestinian mother, was finally reunited with her husband and seven children in her home in Gaza on Wednesday, the 20th of October. She was released from prison in Israel after completing a six year sentence for resisting the occupation. However the authorities made her wait a further three days before allowing her to join her family, claiming she owed them unpaid tax on her television.

• Lord, we pray for Nisreen as she settles back home with her family and gets to know her children again, including the 8-month-old son she had to leave when she was arrested six years ago. We pray for the thirty-two other Palestinian women who remain in Israeli prisons for their resistance to the occupation.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the islands of the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayers.