Sabeel New Year Prayers

The Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem writes: On the 1st of January, the Gregorian calendar marked the arrival of the new year. It is customary to celebrate the new year by having parties and festivities, singing songs of joy, and creating "New Year Resolutions". For Palestinians, 2023 has been the deadliest year of our modern history; nearly 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, 450 Palestinians in the West Bank, and thousands more injured. These numbers are expected to rise with every minute that passes. 2023 has been a year of death, displacement, famine, sickness, and trauma, adding another bloody chapter to Palestinian history.

• Resurrected Christ, you know how terrible the year 2023 has been in Palestine-Israel. You have felt white phosphorus burn your skin and the immense grief of the wretched of the earth. As we enter the new year, help us rise from the ashes since "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). Help us be more faithful servants for the year of 2024.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

It is now 87 days of massacres and death. Over 21,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 54,000 injured in Gaza which the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, has described the situation as "hell on earth". Many more lives are likely to die due to being trapped under the rubble, infected with diseases, starvation, and more. Gaza is now The world's most dangerous place to be a child according to UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder.

• God of life, every soul that has been killed in Gaza you have breathed into their nostrils the breath of life. As the situation is described as "hell on earth" may we be witnesses to your heavenly kingdom through our actions. Lord, equip us with your love to be agents of liberation, justice, and peace. May every soul that has perished and every tear shed bear witness to the evil of oppression and create in us a fierce fire to overcome evil with healing justice.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

In the early hours of the morning on the 27th of December, at least six Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli drone strike during a raid on the Nur Shams refugee camp. The six victims were reportedly young men between the ages of 16 and 29, who were standing and watching while the raid took place. After the attack, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) claimed that the Israeli military blocked ambulances from reaching the injured in the attack.

• God of the oppressed, promise those who mourn and who are oppressed that they will be comforted and redeemed. As we mourn the deaths and constant suffering Palestinians in the West Bank are facing, help us stand with assurance that your Holy Spirit will lead us to liberation, from chaos to order, from injustice to justice, and from invisibility to wholeness. May we enact your will on earth by ending systems of oppression here in Palestine and all over the world.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

On the 24th of December, Christmas Eve, Israeli forces targeted the historic Deir Mimas Monastery in Lebanon, a revered site dating back to 1404 A.D. On the 26th of December, an anti-tank missile was fired at Israeli soldiers who were stationed next to a church compound in Iqrit, a Christian Palestinian village in northern Israel. This resulted in the injury of an 80-year-old civilian, caused damage to the Church, and injured several Israeli soldiers. The antitank missiles were reportedly fired from Hezbollah.

• Holy God, churches and other sanctuaries do not only witness to your love, but carry histories, cultures and meanings which surpass our understanding. We pray for all people injured by any aggression against Churches, Mosques, monasteries, and any other sanctuaries. We also lift up the precious lives who are sheltering in the remaining churches and mosques in Gaza. Lord, protect the living and dead stones of this land.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

On the 28th of December, masked men numbering around 30 stormed the Armenian Quarter in the old city of Jerusalem. These men attacked the Armenian community and clergy by throwing rocks and other objects. Unfortunately, the Israeli police was late to intervene. This attack is one of several against the Armenian community in the last two months. These attacks are believed by the local Armenian community to be connected to the cancellation of the deal to acquire a plot of land in the Armenian neighborhood by Jewish investors.

• God of power, we thank you for the brave individuals of the Armenian community and the "Save the ArQ (Armenian Quarter) movement" which seeks to defend and preserve Armenian presence in Jerusalem. We hold on to our faith that all corruption whether through land deals or violent attacks will be held accountable through your justice. We pray that the recent statement by the Save the ArQ movement will be heard like trumpets all across the world.

Lord in your mercy... hear our prayer

Israeli media has reported last week that Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for plans to implement "voluntary migration" of the Palestinians in Gaza to other countries. Netanyahu made the comment during a closed-door parliamentary session for his ruling Likud Party lawmakers. Danny Danon of the Likud Party said during the session that there are countries that raised this issue in return for payments.

• God of Mary and Martha, we are witnessing unspeakable evil and great fear of what is to come. The nightmare of 1948 is forever haunting us. Lord, help us resist and struggle the righteous fight for our people, for the oppressed, bearing true witness to our God, true witness to our native land.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

• We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayer for the region of the wider Middle East.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayers

LINKS

The Sabeel Thursday online Service takes place on 4 January, 2024 (6pm Palestine time).
This a reminder to register for the Sabeel Thursday Service through this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkdOCtqT8oH9Hj6noeoJPop264vDN-kAaA

Here is the recording for last week's service: https://youtu.be/Ontp6uW0uMM

Time: Thursday at 6pm East Jerusalem, Palestine time (UTC+2). That's...
Pacific (Seattle/Vancouver): 8am
Central (Chicago): 10am
Eastern (New York/Toronto): 11am
Atlantic: 1pm
Newfoundland: 11:30pm
Greenwich (London): 4pm
Central Europe (Paris/Stockholm): 5pm
South Africa: 5pm
Manila: 11pm
Sydney: 1am (+1 Day)
Auckland: 3am (+1 Day)

Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center: https://sabeel.org/