Welcome
Embrace has over 160 years’ experience of responding to humanitarian needs and upholding the Christian presence in the Middle East. The world has changed a lot across those long decades, but one thing remains constant – our partners’ faith in God’s transformational love. It’s a source of strength and inspiration for them to know that people across the world are praying for them as they face the challenges of life amid conflict, poverty and injustice.
This Prayer Diary will now replace the cut-out diary from your Embrace magazine – your prayers are more important than ever in these difficult times and the new format enables us to give you more detail.
If you would like to keep receiving the Prayer Diary, twice a year, you need to let us know.
• Complete the form that came with your diary and return it to us
in the freepost envelope
• Call our Supporter Care Team on 01494 897950
• Request your copies at
The contents of the Prayer Diary will also be freely available online.
Visit to download a copy. You can also contact us if you would like extra copies to share with your friends and church.
You can use these prayers in your church services, in prayer groups, or during private prayer at home. You are welcome to reproduce the prayers in your church newsletter – we’d love you to encourage others to pray for the Middle East’s Christians and the people they serve.
Wishing you all the blessings of a prayerful Lent, Easter and summer,
The Embrace Prayer Team
Prayers of Preparation
These prayers can be used together or separately. They have been written with Lent specifically in mind, but you could use them for rededication at other times too.
Lord Jesus,
prepare me to walk towards the Middle East again
with a heart more present to you.
Help me to better celebrate
every distinct individual and vibrant land,
every hope and realisation of transformation
and every one of Embrace’s faithful partners I meet
serving you and your children on the side of the road.
Help me also to mourn, pray and act to change
each desert of opportunity,
each painful reality of occupation
and each marginalising effect of poverty or prejudice
still limiting fullness of life for anyone who lives there today.
Amen
FEBRUARY
4 February
On a mission against cancer
Please pray for women’s health in Gaza
Health services in Gaza face medicine shortages and unreliable electricity supplies. Despite these issues, Al Ahli Arab Hospital provides a lifeline for women. Its free medical missions reach women in ostracised communities – vital work that includes the early detection of breast cancer through teaching awareness-raising and self-examination. In a society where women’s health is often neglected, education about the signs of cancer is vitally important.
11 February
Friendship and safety
Please pray for girls at risk of missing out on education
Girls living in poverty within the Palestinian community of Acre, Israel, are at high risk of dropping out of school. Our partners at the International Christian Committee in Israel run a centre where girls in crisis can find support, understanding and respite from difficult home situations.
The girls receive education and counselling about issues they face such as violence, sexual abuse and addiction. And the centre is a great place to make friends and learn useful skills for the future.
18 February
Bringing a community together
Please pray for refugees finding moments of happiness in a difficult situation
Dbayeh Refugee Camp sits isolated on a hill outside Beirut. Its long established
Palestinian community has been joined by people escaping the war in Syria, and the overcrowding and poverty has become worse. The library and community centre set up by our partner the Joint Christian Committee is the only place for people to socialise. The library is a venue for school classes, drama workshops, music lessons and a hub for community involvement.
25 February
The forefront of positive change
Please pray for our partners’ commitment to developing their professional skills
The needs of the Middle East’s communities change over time and our partners need to be adaptable and knowledgeable about the best ways to help. Staff training might not sound very inspirational, but it is vital for our partners to keep up-to-date and efficient. We’ve helped Episcocare and the Salaam Centre in Egypt to provide extra training on administration, healthcare, child protection issues and more, so their staff can provide the very best service to the vulnerable people in their care.
This month, volunteers from across the worldwill travel to the West Bank to help Palestinian farmers plant olive trees. This is a peaceful act of solidarity with the farmers, who face violence from Israeli settlers and the threat of losing their land. Please pray for a safe trip and for the volunteers’ presence to bring new hope to those living under occupation.
MARCH
4 March
Everyone’s life is worth living
Please pray for people facing stigmaand neglect because of disability
The Four Homes of Mercy provides nursing care and rehabilitation to people of all ages who have profound and multiple learning disabilities. Most of the residents are from poor families, who have not only struggled to cope with their relative’s needs but also faced the stigma that surrounds disability in Palestinian society. The Four Homes treats every resident as an individual and helps them to lead a healthy, dignified and fulfilling life.
11 March
Healthy from the beginning
Please pray for the health of expectant mothers and their babies in Gaza
As we celebrate Mothering Sunday here in the UK, please pray for pregnant women in Gaza. We support clinics run by the Near East Council of Churches, who help women have healthy pregnancies. The clinics provide folic acid, nutritional advice, medical care, anaemia screening, education about pregnancy and birth, and referral to maternity services. Regular antenatal appointments mean problems can be detected early and the women have the best possible chance of a safe birth.
18 March
Celebrating difference
Please pray for all children finally to get a chance to shine at school
Our partner LSESD runs a centre for Smart Kids with Individual Learning Differences (SKILD) in Lebanon, enabling children who have difficulty at school to learn in an inspiring, supportive environment and fulfil their potential. SKILD staff also visit mainstream schools to support children and teachers to identify a wide range of issues, including dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, bullying, problems at home, truancy and developmental delay.
25 March
Many hands make light work
Please pray for communities working together to make life better for everyone
With the support of BLESS (the Coptic Orthodox Church’s development organisation), poor communities in Egypt are becoming self-sufficient. BLESS works in each village for a fixed period of time, helping locals to improve infrastructure, living conditions and the village environment.Education is an important part of the work – nurseries keep young children safe and literacy classes help people of all ages gain independence. BLESS also give health and nutrition seminars and combat the traditional practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) by educating people about its dangers.
Regular visits to Israel and Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt are an important way for our Programmes and Partnerships Team to connect with Christians in the Middle East and witness the vital work they are doing. This month is a busy one for visits, so please pray for safe travel for our staff, for productive conversations and for strengthened relationships.
APRIL
Easter Prayer
Lord Jesus,
two thousand years of Easter prayers combined
still can’t convey enough praise and thanks
to fully celebrate the true joy of Easter.
Shepherd turned sacrificial lamb,
lead our lives to honour you
through daily choices, to love those in need.
Risen, saving, Resurrection Life
please keep resourcing Embrace,
all its partners – and me – from your limitless supply
of inspiration, strength and generosity
as we all seek to bring your transformation
to desert situations across the Middle East today,
until all that has long been rocky, barren or bleak
bursts into brilliant, fresh-glowing green again.
Amen
1 April
The fight for autism acceptance
Please pray for raised awareness of the rights and contributions of people with autism
The Al-Kafaàt Foundation, which supports more than 1,000 people in Lebanon with a variety of disabilities, runs programmes focused on educating autistic children and offering vocational training to autistic adults. The participants often report having encountered prejudice in society, so it is important to raise awareness of their right to acceptance and inclusion. This week Al-Kafaàt will be marking World Autism Awareness Day by encouraging the wider community to join in with their celebrations.
8 April
Planning ahead for patient care
Please pray for staff and students of the new nursing school in Menouf, Egypt
Harpur Memorial Hospital, a longstanding Embrace partner, has started
an exciting new project to train nurses. The first ten students, who enrolled last year, combine lectures and seminarswith practical experience on the hospitalwards. They have already helped improve patient care by assisting the existing staff. The ultimate goal is to benefit the local people – many from poor backgrounds – who rely on the hospital in their times of illness.
15 April
Towards an end to violence
Please pray for Christians educating against violence in Jericho
Our partners, the Palestinian Bible Society, know that many children in the West Bank city of Jericho are exposed to violence, verbal abuse and sexual harassment at school. Drug and alcohol abuse are on the rise and gender discrimination is widespread. The team at the Society’s community centre, Zacchaeus House, works with children and families to tackle these issues through educational support, relationship building activities, and raising awareness of women’s rights.
22 April
Home sweet home
Please pray for vulnerable families looking forward to safer, healthier living conditions
Habitat for Humanity in Lebanon helps families to renovate their homes, creating a safe and healthy living environment. Female-headed households, elderly people and those with disabilities are a priority; home improvements include fixing plumbing systems, installing toilets and restoring leaky roofs. The project also helps the local economy by employing tradespeople and buying materials from nearby suppliers.
29 April
Educating children … and society
Please pray for deaf children learning and achieving in the face of discrimination
Embrace’s partner, The Deaf Unit, in Cairo works with 50 deaf and hearing impaired children and young people, showing them that they are valued and respected in spite of society’s prejudices. The students are all from poor families who could not otherwise afford an appropriate education for their child. As well as academic studies, educational trips and fun activities for the younger ones, the Unit provides vocational training to older students, proving to potential employers that they have a lot to offer.
Many of you have spoken to our Supporter Care Team, who answer the phones and help with your enquiries. They are very busy answering calls from supporters, and helping you in any way they can. Please pray for them as we head into the summer season and give thanks for the team’s hard work. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to support our partners in the Middle East.
MAY
6 May
Rights and rehabilitation
Please pray for disabled children benefiting from outreach work
Children with disabilities are some of the most neglected people in Palestine, vulnerable to poverty and abuse. The Princess Basma Centre in East Jerusalem sends teams out to communities across the West Bank to help local children’s services become inclusive. As well as educating people about the rights of disabled children to equal opportunities and dignity, they refer children with complex needs back to the centre for rehabilitation and treatment.
13 May
A second chance
Please pray for Egyptian women taking back control of their lives
In the Egyptian villages where our partner Think and Do work, six in 10 women can’t read. A lack of value on girls’ education means many have not been to school at all, while others had to drop out to do household chores. Think and Do run an inspiring project called Life School where women can catch up on the education they have missed. As well as reading, writing and basic maths, they learn social skills and attend health and hygiene classes.
20 May
Making society listen
Please pray for greater awareness of the rights of deaf children and adults
It’s Deaf Awareness Week in the UK and our partner, the Learning Centre for the Deaf in Lebanon, make it their mission to stand up for young people with hearing impairment all year round. Their early intervention programme helps children build communication skills; the programme embraces the whole family as they too get guidance, home visits and support. The team also run a high school for teenagers and promotedeaf people’s rights.
27 May
A holistic approach
Please pray for Egyptian communities working to make life better for everyone
Episcocare, the Anglican church’ssocial care organisation in Egypt,works to improve the quality oflife for whole communities. Theywork around Alexandria, Giza andCario running literacy classes foradults, nursery schools, mentoringand leadership programmes foryoung women, health centres andprovide microloans to support smallbusinesses. Their holistic approachimproves the social and economicconditions across the community.
We will be taking our exhibition stand to two events this month – Big Church Day Out and the Heart and Soul festival. Please pray that we will successfully spread the word about our Christian partners’ mission against poverty and injustice in the Middle East, and that festival goers will be inspired to join us.
JUNE
3 June
Facing danger with knowledge
Please pray for young people learning skills that could save lives
St Luke’s Hospital is one of the main providers of healthcare to disadvantaged people in and around Nablus, West Bank. We’re helping them start a new project offering first aid training to teenagers at local schools, equipping them to help others not only with everyday illnesses and minor injury but also in the situations of conflict that can suddenly arise in the area. The hospital aims to teach 840 students aged between 15 and 18, covering a range of topics including how to deal with burns, open wounds, and broken bones.
10 June
Meeting forgotten health needs
Please pray for people with chronic illnesses
While we give a lot of attention to the emergency needs of refugees, it’s also important to think about longer-term issues. Refugees with existing health conditions quickly run out of medication once they have fled home, with potentially disastrous consequences. At the KaragheusianMedical Centre in Beirut, refugees from Syria and local people living in poverty can get treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy and cancer. Many of the patients have slipped through the net of other aid agencies or are not eligible for government support, so the clinic is vital to their quality of life.
17 June
Promoting women’sindependence
Please pray for women keen to learn new skills
The Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief (ICNDR) works in two areas of Lebanon to help Lebanese and refugee women become more independent and confident. The project offers vocational training depending on the interests of each group of women – computer skills, business organisation, handicrafts and English are all popular, and are enhanced with life skills such as stress management, nutrition and internet safety. One group is training as care workers for elderly and infirm people in the community. ICNDR has discovered a high demand for these programmes from women excited about the opportunity to earn a living.
24 June
Beyond the emergency
Please pray for refugees starting a new life in Cairo
Egypt has long been a place of relative safety for refugees escaping from terrifying situations in Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and other African countries. Increasingly, they are joined by Syrians. But life is far from easy in Cairo, and our partner Refuge Egypt make ittheir mission to give practical andemotional support to people far fromhome. As well as offering emergencyhelp, Refuge Egypt aims to buildrefugees’ resilience in the longer term.Their training courses teach refugees the necessary skills to enter Egypt’sworkforce, and the jobs service putsthem in contact with employers.