Middle East Peace Trip

Here’s a way to turn a negative into a positive. I received an email message from Sojourners, the liberal Christian activist group, indicating that “religious right” organizations have been inundating the White House with mail opposing President Bush’s upcoming trip to the Middle East. Apparently these groups oppose any “two-state” peace settlement that includes negations with the Palestinians.

Sojourners asks that those who identify themselves as Christians write to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to express their support for peace in the Middle East, and to emphasize that most Christians do NOT oppose a peace settlement in the region. Since pray for peace in the Middle East was my Christmas Day blog post, I’m participating in Sojourners email campaign, even though this will be the first time I have sent anything supportive to this particular White House. (Still wrapping my head around that one.)

Today’ mitzvah: Consider joining Sojourners’ email campaign to tell Condoleezza Rice that most Christians do support a two-state solution in the Middle East. If this action isn’t right for you, this also would be an excellent time to pray for peace in the Middle East via an email prayer request in the Western Wall.

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Prayers in the Western Wall in Jerusalem

“Pray for peace in Jerusalem,” was the first thing I heard this morning as the radio switched on. I was only half-awake and I’m still unsure of the context. But this sounded like a perfect post for Christmas Day, and a bit of a thank-you since I’ve appropriated (and probably mistranslated) a bit of Yiddish for the blog’s title.

Visitors to Jerusalem often place small prayers and letters to God in the Western (or Wailing) Wall. For those not able to be in Jerusalem themselves, yeshiva students will accept prayer requests online, print them out, and place them in the Wall on one’s behalf.

Today’s mitzvah: Consider sending a prayer of thanksgiving and peace to be placed in the Western Wall.

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Praying without Ceasing: 129 Years & Going Strong

Tucked away in LaCrosse, WI, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are keeping vigil. Yet this isn’t just any vigil. The order’s nuns have been praying without ceasing, 24 hours a day, since August 1, 1878. Day and night, even through difficult financial periods, at least two sisters are always at prayer — praying for all of us.

I hesitated to post on the sisters’ vigil since I know they are sometimes overwhelmed by internet prayer requests, which they receive quite gladly. Yet for me nothing better embodies the spirit of Christmas than these amazing women.

The sisters receive prayer requests on their web site. They also welcome donations — this is a cause for which I don
’t hesitate to suggest a contribution if you are able.

Today’s mitzvah: Send a thank-you to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and consider praying for them as they pray for us.

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