Lifting Up the Ongoing Witness of Sabeel, Jerusalem
The message of Sabeel is needed now more than ever. As such, we at FOSNA want to center and elevate some of the ongoing work of our dear friends and loved ones in Palestine and throughout the world. Please join the international Sabeel community in prayer, for important upcoming events, and in rising up to take action for justice.
Sabeel Wave of Prayer
The Sabeel Wave of Prayer enables local and international Friends of Sabeel to pray over the concerns of the region on a weekly basis. The prayers are used in services around the world and during Sabeel's weekly Thursday Communion Service. In light of the ongoing devastation, we wanted to lift up this week's prayers with you.
Since the 7th of October, the situation in Gaza has been deteriorating. The cumulative number of Palestinians killed in Gaza now exceeds 8000, amongst them more than 3000 children. This number, unfortunately, is expected to rise with every hour that passes. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is ongoing. Over 1 million people have been internally displaced, and the healthcare system is collapsing due to Israel’s restriction of essential resources from entering Gaza. Hospitals, schools, and humanitarian facilities have been hit by missiles. No space is safe in Gaza and the citizens of Israel continue to suffer as a result of the violent situation.
• Crucified God, you are known as the “Man of Sorrows.” No statement says all that can be said, no prayer can fully express the current depth of pain and suffering. We hold on to the belief that you are co-suffering with those in Gaza, and you feel their pain on your skin. With every fiber of our being, we come before you pleading for an urgent ceasefire to allow life-saving aid to reach Gaza. How much longer, O Lord, must this suffering continue?
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
Israel has conducted a mass arrest campaign across the West Bank since the 7th of October. At least 1100 Palestinians in the West Bank have been arrested so far. Several sources highlight the severe mistreatment and dire conditions under which detainees are being held. Two Palestinian prisoners have died since their arrest due to unknown circumstances. Israel attributes their deaths to health issues, while Palestinian sources claim it is because of torture.
• Heavenly Father, as mass arrests take place across the West Bank and cruel treatment of Palestinians continues in the name of justice, we remember that you are sovereign. Grant all Palestinian political prisoners who have been wrongly convicted and are enduring mistreatment the knowledge of your love despite their circumstances. May the crimes of systems, governments, and individuals be illuminated by your light.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
On October 25th, four family members of Al Jazeera’s Gaza Bureau Chief, Wael Dahdouh, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza. Dahdouh lost his wife, his daughter, his grandson and his 15-year-old son. Dahdouh received the news from live television. This devastating story highlights the abhorrent circumstances journalists, medical workers, and many other professionals face in Gaza. Since the 7th of October, 22 Palestinian journalists in Gaza have been killed.
• God of truth, your son, the prophets, and the saints, spoke truth to power at a great cost. Corrupt powers always attempt to silence the oppressed and distort the truth for their benefit. We are grateful for the journalists who are providing a voice to the voiceless and we honor their sacrifices. Lord, strengthen all those in Gaza who are working for goodness, acting as your hands and feet during these dark times.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
Since the 7th of October, the response of the Western Church has disappointed the Palestinian people. Some Churches have provided theological justification for the bloodshed while others remain silent. Only a few have spoken out on the side of justice and mercy. In response, Palestinian Christians issued an open letter calling Western Churches to repent and, “Learn to do right; seek justice; defend the oppressed.”
• God of love, we believe that justice is love made public. The Global Church must do more to be a witness of Christ, to be salt of the earth, a shining light in the darkness. Any theology which promotes oppression should be challenged. Likewise, any lukewarm stance must be reformed and repented of. We thank you Lord, for the Churches who are standing for what is right, witnessing to your heart for the oppressed.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
November 2nd marks the 106th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. This declaration, expressed British support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine without considering the rights of the native population. It is widely recognized as a significant factor that set the stage for the forced displacement of Palestinians. Foreign interference, spanning from that time until today, has consistently hindered the pursuit of justice and peace for everyone in the Palestine-Israel.
• God who advocates for the oppressed, generations of Palestinians have witnessed how the West facilitates their oppression. This is being observed today as the West is assisting in the continuation of suffering of all in Palestine-Israel, particularly the people of Gaza. Lord, we come before you to advocate for those who are in the margins and judge the powers which perpetuate inequality and oppression.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
Next week, Kumi Now will focus on Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination. In recent times, there has been an alarming increase in hate crimes targeting Muslims, accompanied by efforts within Western media to unjustly associate all Muslims with violence. This Islamophobia is used in propaganda efforts, perpetuating violent, and racist depictions of Palestinians.
• God of inclusivity, as we witness a rise of Islamophobia, especially in the media, we pray for the courage to challenge all hate crimes, unjust associations, and racist colonial depictions against and of Muslims. Lord, may we be witnesses to your love for all people by lifting a prophetic voice and resisting nonviolently against Islamophobia through our actions.
Lord, in your mercy... hear our prayer.
• We join the World Council of Churches in their prayer for the countries of Canada and the United States.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
Faith, Justice, and the Struggle for Change: A Theological Dialogue
This Friday, November 3rd at 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET, join Sabeel on Zoom for a theological discussion and reflection on the current situation in Palestine.
Speakers include: Rev. Naim Ateek, Cedar Duaybis, Rev. Munther Isaac, Fr. Michael Lapsley, and Rev. Waltrina N. Middleton.
Urgent Action Alert (Kumi Now)
We need to do all we can to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. This week, please direct your attention to your churches, urging them to call for an immediate ceasefire. You can send a letter, based on the following template, call them, and sign the petition yourself.
Sample letter:
Dear [Church Institution/Body's Name],
I hope this message finds you well. We are writing to humbly request your institution's support to the principles of justice, compassion, and peacemaking in the context of Palestine-Israel.
I am referring to the recent open letter issued by Palestinian Christians, which addresses the ongoing suffering in Palestine-Israel, the silence of the Western Church, and the distorted moral judgment by uncritically supporting Israel.
This letter (https://www.change.org/p/an-open-letter-from-palestinian-christians-to-western-church-leaders-and-theologians), signed by twelve Palestinian Christian organizations, voices concern about the suffering of Palestinian civilians and the ongoing Israeli systematic oppression of Palestinians. It expresses dismay at the silence of many church leaders and theologians in the face of these challenges and condemns the refusal of some Western Christians to condemn the unlawful actions of Israel against the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza.
I believe that your endorsement and distribution of this open letter could make a meaningful contribution to support the efforts to stop the suffering in the Holy Land. By supporting this initiative, you would be joining a global community of Christians who are seeking an equitable resolution to a long-standing history of violence.
We kindly request that your organization consider the following actions:
1. Sign the Open Letter: By adding your institution's name to the list of signatories.
2. Distribute the Letter: Share the letter within your church community, with other church institutions, and through your communication channels. This will help raise awareness and encourage more to sign.
3. Take Action: Facilitate platforms for Palestinian Christian voices to be shared amongst your Church network and congregation.
If you have any questions or need further information regarding the open letter or how to sign it, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
We encourage you to also share the petition and letters on social media. Use the hashtags #KumiNow, #Gaza, #Palestine, and #CeasefireNOW
KUMI NOW Online
October 31: Week 44 - Antisemitism
Full information on the gathering is here.
Our guest will be Prof. Santiago Slabodsky of Hofstra University.
Time: Tuesday, October 31, at 6:00pm East Jerusalem, Palestine time (UTC+2) That's...
Pacific (Seattle/Vancouver): 8am
Central (Chicago): 10am
Eastern (New York/Toronto): 11am
Atlantic: 12pm
Newfoundland: 12:30pm
Greenwich (London): 4pm
Central Europe (Paris/Stockholm): 5pm
South Africa: 6pm
Manila: 12am
Sydney: 3am (+1 Day)
Auckland: 5am (+1 Day)
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/94679502800 (There might be a quick registration form, and please set an alarm for yourself for Tuesday.)
November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. As a nonviolent movement dedicated to achieving peace for all people in Palestine, it is critical that the Kumi Now community understands and fights against all forms of hate, including antisemitism. As we work for justice for Palestine, let us also remember and renew our call for the elimination of antisemitism in all its forms.
(New Action) Contact Your Representatives: Silence and Inaction at a Time of Genocide is Complicity
Keep writing. Keep calling. Don't stop. Stay loud.
Thanks to the mass mobilization around the globe, the world voted overwhelmingly in favor of an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce.” The vote passed with 121-14, despite bullying, intimidation, and propaganda.
In desperation, and now growing global isolation, Israel, supported by the US and most of Europe, has escalated the genocidal war on Palestinians in Gaza, with Israeli occupation forces cutting off all internet and telecommunications connectivity to Gaza and carpet bombing entire neighborhoods even more ferociously and indiscriminately than ever.
We need to escalate global mobilization to stop the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Use this tool to call and write your congressional representatives.
An Appeal from the FOSNA Board of Trustees
We are asking for your financial support as we continue to promote, in these very troubling times, Sabeel Jerusalem’s vision of a theological liberation that empowers local Christians to stand for the oppressed, work for justice, and practice steadfastness in the face of continuing attempts to uproot and annihilate the indigenous people of Palestine.
The work of the Sabeel family is more important that ever as well seek justice and peace in the Holy Land through education, especially among our churches, increased advocacy in Washington, D. C., and affirming our commitment to nonviolent action and engagement.
With your financial support today, you will also receive regular updates from FOSNA with news from Sabeel’s partners on the ground in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 as soon as possible.
Please join us in this critical mission, standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine, by donating today. Either click on the Donate button below or send your check to:
Friends of Sabeel North America, PO Box 3192, Greenwood Village, CO 80155.
Thank you so much,
The FOSNA Board of Trustees.