ST. NICHOLAS BRINGS GIFTS TO CHRISTIAN CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE-EAST
The Feast of St. Nicholas is coming upon us soon (December 6). What plans are you making in your congregation to honor the favorite saint of children everywhere and to teach about his fabled concern for the poor and the homeless prior to the onslaught of the annual national consumer mania?
The American Friends of the Society of Jerusalem has devised a plan to help foster the true cause of St. Nicholas and help the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem minister to the people of the Holy Land at the same time. They are providing materials for a St. Nicholas Festival and Pageant (feel free to create your own observation as well), which could take place on the First Sunday of Advent or the actual Feast Day itself, which is on a Monday this year. Materials are available at their website:
http://www.afedj.org/StNicholasDay2010_2.html
The Diocese of Jerusalem serves Christians in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, where the Christian population dwindles annually due to the extraordinarily difficult political, economic, and social conditions in all of those countries. In the midst of such complex challenges, the Diocese operates schools, hospitals, orphanages, economic development projects, and of course parishes. But the difficulties are great. What would the Holy Land be like without an indigenous Christian presence? That reality may come upon us if help does not come soon and generously to our church in the region.
In the spirit of St. Nicholas, a special offering to support the ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem would be most welcome and a fitting start to the Advent season. Contributions may be sent directly to the Diocese, through its website http://www.j-diocese.org/ or through the American Friends at http://www.afedj.org/ In both cases, there is provision for direct online contributions, so that the congregational offering and individual donations as well will be easy to deliver. Check out the ideas and make sure your Christian Formation leaders have access to them, too!
A blessed St. Nicholas Day to all!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment