Prayer Diary February - July 2019
Welcome Circumstances change rapidly in the Middle East and our Christian partners can find themselves facing almost overwhelming challenges. Yet they continue their mission to serve the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in their communities. To know that people many miles away are praying for them is a huge encouragement and one that upholds their faith during difficult times. In this booklet, you ll find the prayer requests we ll be focusing on each week from February July 2019. Here at the Embrace office, our weekly staff prayer meeting follows the diary too it s wonderful to know that you are praying alongside us! We encourage you to share these prayer requests with your friends and church family either by reproducing the text in your parish newsletter or giving out copies, which we can send you free of charge. To order some extras, please phone us on 01494 897950, email info@embraceme.org or visit embraceme.org/prayer. Thank you for joining us in prayer our Christian partners in the Middle East find strength and inspiration in your support. Wishing you many blessings, The Embrace Prayer Team 2
Creative prayer Remembering Christians in the Middle East Many Eastern church traditions worship in ways that are multi-sensory and rich in symbolism. This creative prayer idea is inspired by an element from the Eucharist (or Communion) service in Orthodox churches. During the liturgy, Deacons play tambourine-like instruments to symbolise those gathered do not pray alone. The ringing sound reminds the congregation of both the angels and the great crowd of witnesses surrounding them. (See Hebrews 12:1.) Find something which makes a simple sound. (This might be a tambourine or bell, but could also be a glass you can gently strike with a spoon.) Pray for Christians in the Middle East with the words and knowledge you have out loud or in the silence of your heart. Pray blessing on their walks with God, their service of those in need, and that they ll grow in strength. Sound your instrument when you run out of words, in between your prayers, or even gently throughout them. Use it to remind you of Christians in the East who are praying too for Christians in the West, as well as for their own situations. Thank God for the continuing presence of His church s witness both there and here. 3
February 2019 3 February A life worth living Please pray for teenage girls realising that the future could be bright Vulnerable girls find a safe haven at the International Christian Committee s centre in Acre, Israel. Many have dropped out of school; the centre helps them return to education and to develop their confidence. The girls have recently been learning new skills to deal with difficulties at home and school, and to start planning their future careers. 10 February Teaching and learning Please pray for teachers learning new skills to help their students shine The Deaf Unit in Cairo constantly seeks to develop the knowledge of its staff, who work with hearing impaired children and those with other disabilities. The Unit s latest training programme focuses on communication and psychology, equipping teachers to bring out the best in every student. 17 February Treatment teamwork Please pray for medical teams reaching out to isolated communities The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip leaves healthcare services at breaking point, with vital medicines unavailable and few people able to afford to travel in search of treatment. Our partners at Caritas Jerusalem run four mobile medical teams, which visit remote locations to treat illness and injury, and to improve child health through preventive care. 24 February Healthy homes Please pray for families in need of healthier and more dignified living conditions Our partners at Habitat for Humanity Lebanon help vulnerable people improve their living conditions. Part of their work assists Palestinian refugees living in crowded and dilapidated accommodation. Habitat finds the most vulnerable families and helps them make their homes healthier and safer through improvements such as providing clean water and new roofs. Volunteers from around the world will travel to the West Bank this month to help Palestinian farmers plant olives. Farmers face the constant threat of losing their land and violence from Israeli settlers, which makes the presence of international volunteers vital. Please pray for a safe planting season and for the solidarity of the volunteers to bring a new hope to those living under occupation. 4
We pray for a peaceful time to come, it is really enough, the people cannot tolerate any more suffering. We really need a peaceful solution. This is not about politics, we care for everyone. As Christians we love people by serving them. AN EMBRACE PARTNER PROVIDING HEALTHCARE TO PEOPLE IN GAZA 5
March 2019 3 March Support networks Please pray for women making positive changes in their lives In two regions of Lebanon, our partners are helping poor Lebanese and Syrian refugee women take an active role in society. The Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief hosts informal seminars discussing issues relevant to everyday life including budgeting, health awareness and effective communication. The project also offers vocational training to help the women become financially independent. 10 March Advocacy and awareness Please pray for survivors of political violence in Palestine East Jerusalem YMCA helps people who are marginalised because of disability or because they have experienced the trauma of displacement or illegal detention under the Israeli occupation. EJ- YMCA provides much-needed counselling services and works with the Palestinian community to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities and vulnerable ex-detainees. 17 March Focus on abilities Please pray for a growth in inclusive attitudes to disability in Egypt The Fairhaven School in Alexandria teaches 150 children and young people with learning disabilities. Through education and vocational training, Fairhaven helps its students develop the skills to enter the workplace but there is still a lot of discrimination from employers. Part of the school s work, therefore, is to advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in the community. 24 March Health and humanity Please pray for our Christian partners working in challenging conditions in Gaza The Gaza Strip has a population of 1.9 million, only around 1,000 of whom are Christians. Yet the Christians of Gaza tirelessly serve their communities in the face of overwhelming hardship. This week, join us in praying for all the staff and volunteers of the Near East Council of Churches, who provide vital humanitarian and health services for Gaza s vulnerable people. 6
31 March Children on the move Please pray for Syrian and Palestinian refugee children getting a second chance at school The unsettled refugee life has a devastating impact on children s education. The Joint Christian Committee in Lebanon is tackling this issue by establishing an informal school for those who have either dropped out or been forced by conflict to leave. The project combines basic academic skills with fun creative activities, and the older teens are encouraged to start vocational training. Our Spring catalogue supports our partners life-changing work in the Middle East. In the lead up to Easter, our Trading Team will be busy working hard to make sure that your cards, gifts and Easter eggs arrive on time! Please pray and give thanks for their incredibly important work to our mission and for a fruitful season. Thank you so much for your support of our partners. Through your prayers, they are continually equipped to do the hard things in the places they are called to. ROWENA WORTHINGTON, PROGRAMMES AND PARTNERSHIPS CO-ORDINATOR 7
A prayer for Lent On all those following Your footsteps in the Middle East today, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On everyone still experiencing desert times in the lands where You walked, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On each one taking steps to lovingly help those facing poverty or injustice, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On all those embodying Your hope and transformation in generous sacrifice, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On every one of Embrace s partners journeying on the Way of the cross, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. On each individual longing for Your full restoration, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Amen. 8
The power of posture Many Orthodox Christians in the Middle East prostrate themselves 40 times every night during Lent. They ll pray the same line of liturgy with each movement which asks for the Lord s mercy. Could you use the power of posture alongside our prayer? You could kneel with each Lord have mercy Or symbolise surrender by laying a photograph of yourself facedown instead. You could also repeat the prayer every day during Lent. Did you know? Orthodox Christians have a different calendar so many of our Eastern brothers and sisters will celebrate Pascha (Easter Sunday) on 28, not 21 April. They also began their Great Lent fasting with Clean Monday on 11 March. 9
April 2019 7 April Life-saving skills Please pray for young Palestinians learning first aid Teenagers in the West Bank are learning important first aid skills thanks to our partners at St Luke s Hospital in Nablus. Hospital staff visit schools to deliver first aid courses, which give students the practical knowledge to deal with minor injuries and illness. The sessions are popular with the young people, who feel much more confident about what to do in an emergency. 14 April Education experts Please pray for the women working with children with special educational needs in Lebanon The SKILD Centre (Smart Kids with Individual Learning Differences) in Mansourieh is a 100% women-led place of education for children with additional needs including ADHD, autism and speech and language disorders. This week, we pray for all our friends who work there as they inspire their students and share their expertise with other organisations. 21 April At the community s heart Please pray for our partners community projects among Cairo s poorest people On the very edge of Cairo is a crowded slum area where a Christian community called the Zabaleen scrape a living by collecting rubbish. Within these difficult conditions, the Salaam Centre provides a medical clinic, a school, legal advice and programmes tackling a range of social issues such as domestic violence, addiction and hepatitis C prevention. 28 April Caring together Please pray for the residents of the Four Homes, who need the love of their families The Four Homes of Mercy is a uniquely important residential care provider for people with profound disabilities in the West Bank. In the past, many residents received few visits from their families, but the Four Homes has made a concerted effort to change this by encouraging relatives to become more involved. This has had positive effects on the residents well-being. 10
So often on my trips to the West Bank, people ask me to pray for them. The knowledge that friends across the world are standing with them in prayer clearly brings hope in the midst of injustice. ALISON ORMAN, EMBRACE VOLUNTEER Our Partnerships and Programmes Team regularly travel to visit our partners in Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria to witness their vital work. Please pray for the team s safe travels and productive conversations as we continue to support our partners in their mission. 11
May 2019 5 May Championing capabilities Please pray for our friends at Al-Kafaàt in their mission to nurture everyone s abilities The Al-Kafaàt Foundation has been an Embrace partner since the 1950s. Through the decades, they have never wavered from their conviction that every person with a disability has the right to education and respect. This week our prayers particularly focus on the team at the Rehabilitation Centre, who help nearly 1,000 people of all ages to reach their full potential. 12 May Nursing excellence Please pray for students embarking on a nursing career in Egypt The Christian-led Harpur Memorial Hospital in Menouf has always made patient care a priority, but has previously found it difficult to recruit highly trained nurses. To address the problem the hospital launched its own nursing school, and hard-working nursing assistants stepped forward to enhance their skills and patient care. Embrace is supporting the students as they work towards their qualifications. 19 May A school community Please pray for families discovering a new sense of achievement together The Swedish International Relief Association schools at Bethlehem and Jericho teach children with learning difficulties, who have not been served well at mainstream schools. Many of the students are from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the schools also now offer groups for parents to discuss social issues, learn about their rights and find out ways to support their children. 26 May The light of literacy Please pray for volunteers working hard to improve the situation of women in Egypt In rural Egypt, many girls miss out on school and grow up illiterate. Our partners at Think and Do challenge this situation by teaching literacy and vocational skills to women in their villages. We are so thankful for the teachers energy and commitment please pray with us that their light will continue to shine in their communities. Throughout the year, our Supporter Care Team work tirelessly processing all of your generous donations for our partners. Many of you will have spoken to the team, who are always on hand to answer your queries no matter how big or small! Please pray for them as we head into busier months of the year. 12
I feel like I am a human being again. We learnt that God is always working for our good even in the places where we cannot see it and that He has the power to turn around what seems tragic for good. SEIF, A BENEFICIARY OF A PARTNER WHO BUILD AND RENOVATE DAMAGED HOMES 13
June 2019 2 June Peacemakers in action Please pray for Israeli and Palestinian women allowing each other to be heard Courageous Israeli and Palestinian women are confronting their prejudices and preconceptions, thanks to Musalaha Ministry of Reconciliation. The Ministry brings groups of women together to listen to each other s experiences. It is not easy when hurt is buried so deep, but the difficult conversations often end in hope. Through Musalaha s reconciliation training, the women are also equipped to challenge attitudes in their wider communities. 9 June Empowering parents Please pray for all the families receiving support from the Learning Centre for the Deaf When a young child attends the early intervention programme at the Learning Centre for the Deaf in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon, they get expert help but the centre s mission is to help parents become experts in their child s needs too. Mums and dads are involved with the therapy and gain counselling and guidance to enhance their parenting confidence. 16 June Encouraged by prayer Please pray for our friends at Refuge Egypt as they serve people displaced by crisis and conflict Working at Refuge Egypt involves giving out food parcels, helping people find accommodation, providing medical care, delivering language lessons or vocational training, and many more tasks showing traumatised refugees that someone cares. Whatever their role, every staff member and volunteer will be strengthened to know you are praying for them. 23 June The right to earn a living Please pray for greater recognition of disabled people s rights in Lebanon People with learning disabilities face prejudice from employers, yet many are keen to earn a living and contribute to society. At the Zvartnotz Centre in Beirut s Armenian quarter, 17 adult students participate in a sheltered workshop that enables them to gain marketable skills. The project also provides medical care, counselling and social skills training according to each individual s needs. 14
30 June Solidarity and cooperation Please pray for our partners in Gaza, who work in challenging conditions Amazing things happen when our Christian partners work together to create positive changes for disadvantaged people. The Pontifical Mission for Palestine and Al Ahli Hospital are helping Gaza s young adults to escape from the cycle of poverty through an on-the-job training scheme at the hospital. Join us in giving thanks for solidarity between Christians in the Middle East. I really felt love there between Israelis and Palestinians... God wants us to find the common thing between each of us. EFRAT, A 24-YEAR- OLD ISRAELI WOMAN PART OF A RECONCILIATION PROJECT BETWEEN ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Our Regional Manager, Mark, is running 1,725 miles round the pilgrimage paths of Scotland and North East England raising money to help Iraqi refugees return home. The run kicked off in January and he s now at the half-way point! Please pray for Mark, and for those running alongside him or holding events, for a safe and fruitful last five months to the finish line. 15
July 2019 7 July Adapting to change Please pray for vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian girls finding safety at Beit el Nour Conditions in the Middle East constantly evolve and our partners have to be ready to adapt their projects according to emerging needs. Beit el Nour, which has long provided a safe haven for Lebanese girls at risk of abuse, child labour and early marriage, works with those from the Syrian refugee community too. 14 July A home from home Please pray for women and young people finding happiness and hope at Zacchaeus House The ancient city of Jericho in the West Bank faces many social problems, with high rates of unemployment, poverty and domestic abuse. The Palestinian Bible Society s Zacchaeus House offers a warm welcome and a place to make friends, for children to play together as well as offering a range of skills classes and counselling. Thanks to the dedication of its staff, vulnerable women and children feel supported and valued. 21 July Grassroots transformation Please pray for our friends in Egypt in their fight against poverty Our partners at the Egyptian development organisation BLESS are passionate about helping communities improve their living conditions and local economy. BLESS helps village committees start grassroots projects focusing on women s and children s rights, housing and environmental improvement, community peace building and much more. Please join us in praying for the staff and volunteers working together to make positive change. 28 July Medics on the frontline Please pray for hospital staff working under extreme pressure in Gaza The Al Ahli Hospital is always on high alert. As well as treating day-to-day injuries and chronic conditions, any moment could bring an influx of patients wounded as a result of the ongoing conflict. The hospital does not turn anyone away and works with limited resources to treat both the physical injuries and the psychological toll of conflict. 16
God has put me here, I firmly believe that, right now, in this hard time, to encourage and lead my people so that we may be of help to many others. Every day I want to motivate and tell my staff, it s OK, it s hard, but you are here, you are providing hope to these people. EMBRACE PARTNER PROVIDING HEALTHCARE SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES AND POOR FAMILIES As the summer season kicks off, our team of volunteers will be heading to New Wine. Please pray for our volunteers, who are kindly offering up their time and talents, to spread the message of our partners work to the public. 17
Creative prayer idea Praying for Christians in the Middle East at Pentecost This creative prayer idea is inspired by a Syriac-Orthodox tradition. During their Pentecost liturgy, leaves are dipped into a bowl of water. You will need: a bowl of water, some leaves, a permanent marker pen and a Bible opened at Psalm 1. Think of some of the distinct nations and Christian traditions Embrace s partners come from: Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria Eastern Catholic, Protestant and a range of Orthodox traditions including Syriac and Coptic. Choose one of these nations or traditions at a time Write each one on a separate leaf. Then dip the leaf in the water As each leaf gets wet: Thank God that His Spirit is present with all His people in this nation or part of the church. Pray a fresh blessing on the Christians connected to this distinct part of His family tree. Pray specifically for Christians in the Middle East to be like Psalm 1:3 s tree: rooted in Christ and drinking deep from the Spirit s life-giving water bearing fruit to help vulnerable people in their community, whatever the season. 18
Thank you 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. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, sign up for regular emails at embraceme.org/keepintouch You can also get in touch with our friendly Supporter Care Team on 01494 897950 or by email info@embraceme.org Front cover photo: Stephen Butler, taken inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Embrace the Middle East 24 London Road West, Amersham, HP7 0EZ t: 01494 897950 e: info @embraceme.org w: www.embraceme.org Registered Charity Number: 1076329.