PRAYER DIARY FEBRUARY 2022 - JULY 2022 - Embrace the Middle East

PRAYER DIARY
                   FEBRUARY 2022 - JULY 2022

Across the Middle East, Christian communities are working hard to
show the compassion of Christ to those of all religions and beliefs.

Although their numbers are small, they make a big impact in the fight
against poverty and injustice. Against an ever-changing political landscape,
they give hope to people affected by discrimination, economic turmoil,
mental and physical illness, displacement and many other challenges.

This diary gives a prayer request for each week of the next six months,
and we invite you to use these prompts to inform your own prayers. You
can find more prayer resources and requests at our online prayer room,
embraceme.org/prayer-room-1

PRAYER DIARY
                   FEBRUARY 2022

6 February
As well as providing a livelihood for Palestinian farmers, olive trees are a
symbol of heritage and resilience. Yet they are under threat from Israeli
settler attacks. Please pray for the Olive Tree Project, which for 20 years has
helped farmers plant new trees and protect their harvest.

13 February
This week we remember the 21 Coptic Christians killed in Libya in 2015 by
Islamist extremists. The Arkan Cultural Centre in Alexandria brings together
Christian and Muslim young people to break down barriers of religious
tension. Their current project tackles youth unemployment by training the
participants in digital skills.

20 February
The right to freedom of movement is denied to many Palestinians, who face
roadblocks, checkpoints, permits and the separation barrier. This World
Social Justice Day, we pray for the Society of St Yves, who provide free legal
advice for those challenging the restrictions.

27 February
Please pray for the Karagheusian Health Centre, serving Syrian refugees
and disadvantaged Lebanese-Armenians in Bourj Hammoud. Lebanon’s
economic and political crisis has severely affected healthcare, and the
centre provides a lifeline for people who would not otherwise be able to get
treatment.

            God’s promises ignite the hope within us by
               reminding us that we are not alone.
    Serop Ohanian, Lebanon Field Director, The Karagheusian Centre

PRAYER DIARY
                   MARCH 2022

6 March
This week we mark International Women’s Day (8 March) by praying for at-
risk girls from the Arab community of Acre, Israel. The International Christian
Committee in Israel (ICCI) runs a drop-in centre providing counselling,
mentoring, social activities and family liaison for teenage girls at risk of
dropping out of education.

13 March
Please pray for the Notre Dame School, run by our long-term partner Al-
Kafaàt, which enables children living with disability to be fully included in
mainstream education. The school focuses on each child’s individual needs,
giving them the best possible chance of thriving in the future.

20 March
The tranquil environment of the Anafora Retreat Centre between Cairo
and Alexandria welcomes young women who have experienced physical
or psychological abuse. The project helps them heal from their trauma
and develop the confidence and skills to support other women in their
communities.

27 March
This Mothering Sunday we pray for all caring for the children of Syria.
Amidst the physical dangers and psychological toll of war, our partners at
Middle East Revive and Thrive (MERATH) and their partner churches run
three Child Friendly Spaces where children can learn and play in safety.

PRAYER DIARY
                   APRIL 2022

3 April
Yesterday was World Autism Awareness Day and we pray for our partners’
work with autistic children in Egypt. BLESS – part of the Coptic Evangelical
Church – engages each child’s whole family in their therapy and support, and
trains community volunteers to promote inclusion and tackle harmful myths.

10 April
The Four Homes of Mercy in Bethany provides a loving home environment
for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The 63 residents
each have an individual care plan and programme of activities to enrich
their lives; please join us in praying for all of them and their dedicated
support staff.

17 April
As we celebrate the risen Christ this Easter Sunday, we give thanks for all
the churches, individuals and volunteers who give their time and support to
Embrace, upholding the vital work of their brother and sister Christians in the
Middle East. Through solidarity across the miles, we can keep hope alive.

24 April
Please pray for the Learning Centre for the Deaf in Baabda, Lebanon,
working to give deaf people the same educational opportunities as hearing
people. Alongside the services offered through their centre, they lobby the
government on issues including employment rights and the promotion of
sign language.

          I invite you to pray for the Church of Jerusalem,
             so that it may be a Church that goes beyond
                        closed walls and doors.
               His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa

AYA’S STORY
Three-year-old Aya is a smart and
dynamic little girl who enjoys
all types of pretend play and
particularly likes memory games
and puzzles.
She was born with a hearing
impairment but thanks to the Early
Intervention Programme run by
our partners, the Learning Centre
for the Deaf in Lebanon, she’s a
happy, confident toddler.
Aya goes to regular sessions to
improve her spoken language and
cognitive skills as well as boosting
her confidence and independence.
She also attends the centre’s
Integrated Nursery, where she
can mix with children her own age, some of whom also have hearing
loss. Since attending, Aya’s language skills have improved at all levels –
she can already understand simple sentences and use individual words
to communicate. Her parents are thrilled with her progress and looking
forward to the future.

PRAYER DIARY
                   MAY 2022

1 May
In Aleppo, Syria, a decade of war has left unemployment high and
resources scarce; medical services are too expensive for many. Please pray
for the Pontifical Mission for Lebanon, which helps the St Vincent de Paul
Association in Syria run a healthcare programme that covers the cost of
people’s treatment.

8 May
The East Jerusalem YMCA works with survivors of political violence.
Through psychological, medical and practical support, they help people to
improve their quality of life in the aftermath of trauma. One year on from
the escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip (10-21 May 2021), we pray for
all who are affected by conflict.

15 May
Today is the UN International Day of Families, and we pray for families living
in the Cairo slum area of Ezbet El Nakhl, where the Salaam Centre works to
build a healthier, safer society. One of the centre’s projects provides medical
care, counselling and legal advice for women facing domestic abuse.

22 May
This week we give thanks for the rich diversity of Christian tradition across
the Middle East.Although their challenges and pressures differ according
to the local context, they are united by their faith and their compassion for
those around them.

29 May
Amid Lebanon’s economic crisis, the Beit El Nour association is more
needed than ever. Please pray for their project helping girls from
underprivileged families, supporting them to stay in school or offering
alternative education to those who have dropped out.

PRAYER DIARY
                   JUNE 2022

5 June
It is 20 years since construction of the separation barrier began between
Israel and the West Bank. The barrier has curtailed Palestinians’ freedom to
access employment and healthcare, and to cultivate their own land. We pray
for peace with justice, and for equality of rights for Israelis and Palestinians.

12 June
Our partners’ local knowledge means they can reach people overlooked by
international humanitarian agencies. Please pray for the Middle East Council
of Churches, helping marginalised women in Lebanon’s most isolated areas
to improve their lives through health education and vocational training.

19 June
Across our region of focus, Christians are reaching out to those on the
fringes of society and showing them that they are seen, heard and valued.
This week we pray for all who are marginalised, especially those facing
multiple barriers to the enjoyment of their rights.

26 June
Employment opportunities are limited for disabled people in Palestine.
Please pray for the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, working with
jobseekers and employers to promote inclusion. They are currently helping
two Vocational Training Centres to make their premises more accessible for
disabled students.

           I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie
              down, and none shall make you afraid.
                                Leviticus 26:6

PRAYER DIARY
                   JULY 2022

3 July
Please pray for the students at the Nazareth School of Nursing, training to
provide the highest level of care for their future patients. Embrace is helping
the school buy training manikins so the students can perfect their skills.

10 July
The Pontifical Mission for Palestine is helping Scouts in the Gaza Strip
develop their leadership skills. This World Youth Skills Day (15 July) we pray
for this important work, which brings Muslim and Christian Scout troops
together and ensures girls and boys can participate equally.

17 July
Women in three rural Egyptian communities are benefiting from the Life
Schools run by Think and Do. Please pray for the Life School, which provides
literacy and numeracy classes to women who have missed out on education,
and helps them develop political awareness and knowledge of their rights.

24 July
This week we remember all those who have left a legacy to Embrace in
their will. We give thanks for their compassion, and pray that their lasting
generosity will have a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged people
in the Middle East for many generations to come.

31 July
Please pray for the Fairhaven School in Alexandria (see picture left), which
provides education and vocational training for children and young people
with learning disabilities. They also campaign for wider recognition of
disabled people’s rights.

   I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal.
   Jeremiah 30:17

THANK YOU
Thank you for your prayers...they show our Christian partners that they
are not alone in caring about the disadvantaged communities of the Middle
East. If you are inspired to find out more about our partners and their work,
you can find lots more information on our website: www.embraceme.org

EXTRA COPIES:

Copies of the prayer diary are available free of charge, so if you would like
some extras to give to friends, email info@embraceme.org or call 01494
897950 to request them. You are also welcome to reproduce the text in your
church newsletter.

Embrace the Middle East
24 London Road West, Amersham, HP7 0EZ
t: 01494 897950 e: info@embraceme.org w: embraceme.org
Registered Charity Number: 1076329.