May 25, 2026
May 24 was Pentecost day according to the Western Calendar. Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, empowering them to speak in many languages and boldly proclaim the message of Jesus. It marks the birth of the Church. For Pentecost, FOSNA National Organizer Reverend Addie Domske reflected on the message of Pentecost as one of steadfast hope rooted in radical imagination for a liberated world. Services are hosted online every Thursday at 6PM Palestine by the father of Palestinian liberation theology and Sabeel co-founder Naim Ateek and the link can be found here. (tinyurl.com/sabeelworship)
Holy God, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit which fills our souls with courage to be public witnesses of your love in this world. Remind us that you transform places of death into places of life, that you call on us to leave our locked rooms of fear and speak courageously for the oppressed. Teach us what it means to be a Pentecostal church that we may do your will on earth.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Last week, the Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 boats was intercepted in international waters, and hundreds of activists were transferred onto military boats and detained. While in detainment, activists reported even worse conditions than previous flotilla missions, experiencing beatings, sexual violence, and torture. Flotilla activists have used their detainment to demand world attention on Gaza, where Israel has since expanded controlled territory in Gaza from 53% to 65%, while Israeli forces are expanding into Eastern Gaza’s primary agricultural zone, cutting off the main source of food and livelihood. Humanitarian access remains severely constrained with only a 4% increase in overall aid volume in April.
Holy God, we lift up all peace activists who risk their lives to put attention on the suffering of people. We pray that the testimonies of the activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla illuminate to the world the conditions that prisoners go through daily in Israeli prisons. Lord, bring an end to the illegal siege on Gaza and may justice be granted for the Palestinian people.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Last week, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and the Netherlands, in a joint statement condemned the violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank that has reached its highest levels, declared the settlements illegal, and reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution. European countries, the Netherlands and Germany in particular, have some of the highest investments into the Israeli economy to the tune of billions of dollars each year.
God of the oppressed, we pray for an end to colonial violence in the West Bank and for families who are living under occupation, settler violence, and displacement. Help countries move beyond words and into action to pursue a just peace for all in the land.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
FOSNA’s Friends of Palestinian Detainees project is still ongoing. “Friends of Palestinian Detainees” is a faith-led project which seeks to be in solidarity with the Palestinian people by building a relationship between faith groups and Palestinians who are in or have been released from an Israeli prison. The project has a current campaign for the Release of Female Palestinians in Israeli Prison. Visit FOSNA’s website for more information on how to get involved and take action.
God of hope, we thank you for the creative solidarity of our friends who remind us that in the face of injustice, we must be like the persistent widow who never ceases to demand justice and accountability. We pray for those involved in this project, and for the freedom of the over 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons, including hundreds of children.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
We join the World Council of Churches in their prayers for the people of Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayers
You can download WOP PDF here.