Prayer Diary August January 2019

Transcription

1 Prayer Diary August January 2019

2 Welcome Creative prayer Embrace s Christian partners work in a huge variety of circumstances across the Middle East serving people in their communities with faith and determination that humbles us all. Living in the same places of conflict and hardship, they often face the same challenges as those they serve. One thing that humbles us about our Christian partners is their steadfast faith in the power of prayer. And when we tell them that you uphold them in prayer, they tell us how they feel inspired and renewed by the knowledge that so many people care and remember them to God. Never underestimate how much your prayers matter. To help, our Prayer Diary is issued twice a year and includes one prayer prompt for each week. You can use them in your church services, in prayer groups, or during private prayer at home. The Embrace team will be following the Prayer Diary too as we meet regularly to pray for our partners. If you would like to make sure you receive the Prayer Diary automatically in the future, or would like to request extra copies, please phone us on or info@embraceme.org. You can also visit You are also welcome to reproduce the text in your church newsletter. We d love you to encourage others to pray for the Middle East s Christians and the disadvantaged people they serve. Praying alongside the Middle East s Christians You will need: A pen and some small pieces of paper or sticky notes. A copy of Embrace magazine and/or access to our website at (If you haven t got a magazine, give us a call on and we ll send you one.) There are some huge issues surrounding the Middle East, and it s natural that we re called to pray for an end to war, poverty and injustice. But sometimes it s also helpful to zoom in and think about people as individuals their lives, their experiences, their fears and hopes. Every day, Embrace s Christian partners get to know people, not issues it s this personal connection that makes their work so transformational. As you read the stories in the magazine or online, note down the names of people helped by Embrace, plus a brief description of their situation. For example: Yadira from Egypt, who is learning to read and write. Put these notes around your house or group meeting space and, whenever you see one, think about that person and pray directly for them. You won t be denying help to others God already knows about everyone who is in need! Focusing our thoughts towards individuals can help us cultivate our sense of empathy and compassion and ultimately build our understanding of the bigger picture. Wishing you many blessings, The Embrace Prayer Team 2 3

3 August August The glimpse of a way out Please pray for freedom from addiction on the forgotten edges of Tel Aviv society Volunteers at the Aviv Ministry dropin centre are always happy to see their visitors. For people struggling with drug addiction, prostitution and homelessness, such a nonjudgemental welcome is rare. The centre provides hot meals, clean clothes and a safe place to rest. Last year, 105 addicts even took the brave step of going for rehabilitation. 12 August The psychological costs of war Please pray for our new project to improve the mental health of Syrian refugees It is vital to meet the emergency food and shelter needs of refugees, but we are increasingly seeing people whose mental health requires support too. Our partners at the Karagheusian Medical Centre in Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon, have added counselling and therapy sessions to their existing healthcare work, helping refugees and vulnerable members of the Lebanese community recover from trauma and the ongoing stresses of living in this chronically deprived area. 19 August Doctors without fear Please pray for volunteer medical staff taking their skills to remote communities Sunday 19 is World Humanitarian Day, and we give thanks for those who risk danger to help others. The Christian Medical Fellowship in Egypt sends mobile clinics, staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses, to neglected communities in Cairo s slums and the rural villages of the south. The dedicated teams persevere despite the security concerns of travelling to remote communities and treat more than 3,000 patients a year. 26 August A fair day s work Please pray for young Palestinians getting started in their careers Gaza has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. The Pontifical Mission for Palestine has joined hands with another Embrace partner, Al Ahli Hospital, to create an employment and training scheme for young people. The project offers participants a wage while they train in a variety of jobs from ambulance driver to X-ray technician. Our volunteer teams are looking forward to meeting worshippers at United 18, New Wine s fortnight-long celebration of God s love, one of many events we attend over the course of the year. Please pray for them as they spread the good news about Embrace s work in the Middle East and encourage others to join our mission against poverty and injustice. It is a great source of encouragement for our partners to know they are remembered in the prayers of Embrace s supporters. They rely so much on your continued support. STEPHEN TUNSTALL, PROGRAMMES AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER FOR PALESTINE AND ISRAEL 4 5

4 September September Culture and computers Please pray for students learning the skills for a successful future Egyptian employers increasingly want recruits knowledgeable in computing and media production, but the education system hasn t kept up with these developments. Our partners at EpiscoCare now offer courses at the Arkan Cultural Centre in Alexandria to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They learn skills such as photoediting, animation and online marketing that they wouldn t get elsewhere. 16 September Powerful knowledge Please pray for transformation through health education in Egypt s slums The Salaam Centre in the Cairo slum of Ezbet El Nakhl aims to improve the health, relationships and living conditions of the whole local community. One aspect of their wide-ranging work is to run educational sessions and support groups on health and culture topics such as addiction, blood-borne diseases, domestic abuse and religious tolerance. 30 September A new style of training Please pray for Syrian refugees keen to make an independent living With help from the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD), a pastor who used to run his own hairdressing salon launched a training programme for Syrian refugees to learn to cut and style hair. The course has proved popular and the 37 women taking part are highly motivated and love their work which helps them support their families. LSESD aims to set up more courses in the near future. 9 September The heart of a community Please pray for a sense of community and tolerance in a crowded camp The Dbayeh Camp near Beirut for Palestinian refugees is overcrowded, with few jobs and a tense atmosphere. Yet there s an important focal point bringing people together a library and community centre run by the Joint Christian Committee. Children can do their homework there; teens can build friendships; elderly people can meet for a chat it s a real hub for building community. 23 September Changing deep-rooted perceptions Please pray for Israeli and Palestinian women challenging stereotypes Musalaha Ministry for Reconciliation brings together women from different sides of the political divide and trains them to work for peace in their communities. The women face a lot of soul-searching as they challenge the myths they have been brought up with, but powerful friendships often emerge. The women tell us they are inspired to tell others that the hope of peace is not lost. Every day God gives us the strength we need, because we have people round the world praying for us. AN EMBRACE PARTNER WHO WORK WITH HEARING IMPAIRED FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE Our Christmas gift and card catalogue is landing on doormats this month, aiming to raise money for projects across the Middle East. Packed with a brand new range of Alternative Gifts, and much more there is something for everyone. Please pray for our Trading team who will be spending the next few months working incredibly hard to make sure your gifts and cards arrive in time for Christmas. 6 7

5 A prayer For Harvest FREE Harvest Resource Pack Helping you celebrate Harvest and raise vital funds for refugees in the Middle East. Your free pack includes: All-age worship ideas Prayers Graces, table mats and recipe ideas for your Harvest supper Colouring sheets Hampers of Hope and more! PEANUT BUTTER 1.00 COOKING OIL 2.00 SUG 80p LENTILS 70p Middle Easтrn Recipс Request your free pack Visit: embraceme.org/harvest Call: TE BISCUITS 50p RICE 90p PASTA 90p POWDERED MILK 1.50 H PER OF HOPE Hampers of Hope Label sheet FINAL AW.indd 1 12/04/ : Harvest Recipe Book 8pp A5 FINAL AW.indd 1 12/04/ :43 God of compassion; God of nurturing, You gave us enough. Enough to feed each of your precious children In the deserts and in the ice In the forests and in the mountains. Your vibrant Earth could sustain us If only the haves held out their hands to the have nots and said: My sisters and my brothers, this harvest is yours too, And we have enough! God of justice, we could not blame you if you d had enough. Enough of humankind s selfishness, Enough of the hoarding and the corruption; Of seeing good food discarded for imperfection While children fall silent with hunger. We could not blame you if said enough is enough And started again with a new creation. But we trust in your promise; the covenant sealed with a rainbow. Help our gratitude to grow like the trees and crops So that we can put your divine will to work on Earth, Sustaining and caring, protecting and nourishing, So that all life can share in your harvest; So that all of us can have enough. 8 9

6 October October All together now Please pray for children learning to celebrate each other s differences The Al-Kafaàt Foundation in Lebanon is famous for enabling thousands of disabled children and adults to learn, train for work and take an active role in society. Al-Kafaàt s mainstream school at Hadath welcomes children with and without disabilities, teaching them together, seeing friendships develop between children who would normally not even meet, and ensuring that everyone s individual needs are met. 14 October Retreating to advance Please pray for Egyptian women healing from trauma and working for liberation Countless women and girls suffer abuse and oppression in Egypt s male-dominated society. Through residential retreats, the Anafora Centre offers healing, enabling young women to recognise their own self-worth. As well as counselling and leadership training, the women learn skills to set up small businesses. When they return home, they are equipped to teach other women and girls that their rights matter. 21 October Where others fear to tread Please pray for the forgotten residents of a Lebanese slum One of our partners works in a Beirut neighbourhood considered a no-go area by other organisations. By operating education and health centres, they address the needs of Syrian refugees and disadvantaged Lebanese people who have nowhere else to turn. We help them provide medical care including mental health support for people of all ages. 28 October Reaching out the hand of compassion Please pray for the Princess Basma Centre s community outreach programme Poverty and travel restrictions make it difficult for West Bank families with disabled children to get appropriate support. Therapists from the Princess Basma Centre in East Jerusalem visit isolated communities to find children in need of help. Around 400 children per year are referred to the main centre for advanced rehabilitation; their parents are kept closely involved so they can continue the support at home. It s time for the olive harvest, a vitally important event in Palestinian culture and the economy. It should be a period of celebration, but farmers in the West Bank are at risk of violence from Israeli settlers. We are sending a team of volunteers to work alongside Palestinian farming families and show solidarity and fellowship. Please pray for a safe and fruitful harvest. It is always encouraging to hear of your passionate support for our partners through prayer. Your support, for people in the most difficult of circumstances, is deeply appreciated. CATHERINE GOLDING, EMBRACE SUPPORTER CARE TEAM 10 11

7 November November Tackling chronic illness Please pray for our partners offering healthcare to vulnerable and isolated people in the Gaza Strip Gaza s devastated economy and the ongoing blockade has left most of the population dependent on humanitarian aid. Chronic disease is prevalent and it is almost impossible to travel in search of healthcare. We help Al Ahli Hospital run free medical missions to communities across Gaza, improving the quality of life for people with long-term conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure. 11 November From isolation to independence Please pray for Egyptian women broadening their horizons Part of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, BLESS, is changing the lives of visually impaired women by nurturing their independence. Their programme offers training in daily living skills, technology, social skills and leadership, transforming the lives of women who have spent most of their lives in isolation. The project also involves sighted women as volunteer mentors to befriend the participants and promote their inclusion in the community. 18 November Championing girls education Please pray for Syrian girls at risk of missing out on education Many Syrian refugee children are not allowed to go to Lebanese schools, but even those who do get a place tend to struggle with the unfamiliar curriculum in a language they don t understand. Girls are particularly at risk of dropping out and being pressured into early marriage, so Beit el Nour runs a scheme, including an after-school club, and awareness sessions for their families, helping to keep them in education, protect them from abuse and uphold their rights. 25 November Workers rights Please pray for BASR s campaign for better employment for disabled people The Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation (BASR) is a small but influential hospital helping people with physical disabilities to develop their mobility and skills. And BASR wants to change society too, by persuading employers not to discriminate against disabled people. BASR works with job training centres and companies to make opportunities more inclusive. As we approach the start of Advent and consider the incarnation of Christ, we begin to reflect on the reality of living in the Middle East and think about how we can respond with compassion to its troubles. Our daily Advent reflections, short s with prayers, can help you pause and prepare for the coming of the King. Visit and sign up. I can t imagine our community without the Well-baby clinic or what would happen to the health of our families. I hope they remain to help our people and reduce our suffering. God bless them. WALAA, 31, MUM IN GAZA 12 13

8 December December Valued and loved Please pray for disabled children and young people claiming their place in the world It is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December. The team at Shams el Birr centre in Egypt s 6th of October City work tirelessly all year round to transform the lives of disabled children and advocate for their rights in a society that sees them as a burden. Shams el Birr provides residential care, education and vocational training for disabled children and young people, showing them that they are important, valued and loved. 9 December Letting children be children Please pray for children struggling to cope with the demands of life in the West Bank At the Palestinian Bible Society s Zacchaeus House in Jericho, Palestinian children find a safe and supportive environment where they can take part in activities, get advice on their problems and learn that they do not have to tolerate violence and abuse. Through arts and crafts, storytelling, sports and games, the children learn about the importance of remaining in education and living a healthy life. 16 December Fit for human habitation Please pray for refugees living in insanitary and inadequate accommodation Some people who have escaped the war in Syria were already refugees, having been displaced from Palestine many years ago. Habitat for Humanity Lebanon, which helps improve the substandard housing they live in, has started a project specifically for this vulnerable population. Palestinian refugees from Syria can get help to install toilets and kitchens, doors and roofs and make their accommodation weather-proof. 23 December A wondrous gift is given Please pray for women giving birth amid poverty, and for the health of their newborns One humble birth more than 2000 years ago brought us the hope of everlasting life. Today, in places where Jesus lived, babies are being born into poverty and conflict. But we can help them get a healthy start, thanks to your donations and prayers. Caritas Jerusalem provides antenatal and maternity care to disadvantaged women, and postnatal support for them and their precious new babies. 30 December Clinics and compassion Please pray for the health and welfare of African refugees in Cairo Refuge Egypt welcomes people who have fled war and atrocities in a number of sub-saharan countries. For refugees who have no resources and for those suffering health problems, the future seems especially bleak. As well as providing emergency food and clothing, Refuge Egypt runs medical clinics it is particularly vital for refugees with HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis to be tested and treated promptly. Your prayers are what make the impossible possible in the Middle East thank you for this vital support. NEIL GRAHAM, REGIONAL TEAM MANAGER Behind the scenes, Embrace is guided by a team of trustees who bring years of experience and expertise from many walks of life. All share a passion for the Middle East and a calling to lend their abilities to our cause. We ask you to pray for them, our patrons, and our senior leadership team as they direct and lead Embrace into the future

9 January January Jobs bring joy Please pray for women and young people dreaming of a productive future Unemployment is high in the Palestinian refugee camp at Dbayeh, Lebanon, and with it comes frustration and lack of self-confidence. The Pontifical Mission to Lebanon and the Joint Christian Committee have set up a joint project to improve the prospects of women and young people. They provide job training and scholarships to break down the obstacles preventing people from going into further education. 13 January Nourishing innocent lives Please pray for babies and young children affected by Gaza s political and economic catastrophe The Near East Council of Churches (NECC) is the only organisation in Gaza providing Well-baby clinics that includes children up to the age of six. Owing to the collapse of Gaza s economy and the intense pressure on resources, anaemia and malnutrition are rife in this age group. The clinics screening and treatment service for these conditions saves thousands of lives every year. 20 January Enterprising women Please pray for Egyptian women working hard to leave poverty behind Think and Do, an Embrace partner in Egypt, aims to improve the lives of vulnerable women especially widows and female heads of household by helping them set up small enterprises. The women can apply for microloans either to start their business or to create healthy and safe living conditions by renovating their homes. More than 40 women have also done job training in sewing, hairdressing or cheese production. 27 January Adapting to changing needs Please pray for hearing impaired children developing their communication skills The Learning Centre for the Deaf in Baabda, Lebanon, work with very young hearing impaired children to get their communication skills off to a good start. As refugees continue to arrive from Syria, the centre is also adapting its programmes for older children who have never before received assistance. As a brand new year begins, let us meet it with hope, determination and a heart for peace. We cannot be certain what 2019 will bring for the Middle East, but we do know that Embrace s Christian partners will never give up sharing God s love through practical action for those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable. Pray with us for lives saved, hope given and injustice overcome! The most important thing is please continue to pray for us. This is a ministry of God and we want to keep serving people so they know that He loves them. AN EMBRACE PARTNER WHO PROVIDES URGENT CARE FOR REFUGEES 16 17

10 Creative prayer idea Thank you Making your prayers into art Take a piece of paper and write EMBRACE across it in large, outlined letters. You can do this activity on your own or, if you re part of a group, you could each make one letter on a separate sheet of paper. The activity is especially fun for youth groups and Sunday schools, and you don t have to be very artistic to make it work! Now get some coloured pens and use the space inside the letters to write down prayer points for the Middle East. You can put general themes such as peace, justice, healthcare and women s rights, mixed in with more specific short prayers. Look through the Prayer Diary for ideas. For example, you could write things like: Thank you, Lord for giving me the chance to change lives by supporting Embrace. Please keep everyone safe on the mobile medical missions. I pray for the good health of refugee mums and their new babies. Lord, please inspire and strengthen all Embrace s Christian partners. If you or your group members like drawing, you could decorate around the letters with symbols of peace such as doves and olive branches. Then, each time you look at your artwork, use it as a reminder to pray for the people of the Middle East. Thank you for praying with us, for Embrace and our partners, and their challenging but life-changing work. And most importantly for those in need in the Middle East. 18 To keep up-to-date with the latest news, sign up for regular s at embraceme.org/keepintouch You can also get in touch with our friendly Supporter Care Team on or by info@embraceme.org to find out more about our work and how your support is transforming lives.

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