DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

The children of St. Luke's sing hymns, perform plays, and enjoy a festive parade that reflects the spirit of Christmas in Beirut, Lebanon.

LOVE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE DIOCESE

Beirut, Lebanon - St. Luke's Rehabilitation Center (SLRC) is a boarding, day school, and rehabilitation center serving students with a wide range of cognitive disabilities. Located in the town of Beit Mery, just outside of Beirut, the center serves approximately 50 children and young adults. Most of the students come from extreme poverty and receive education and care at no cost. St. Luke’s provides a unique blend of academic education, vocational training, and therapeutic services, bridging the gap between learning and practical skill development to empower its students to lead more holistic and well-rounded lives.

St. Luke's leaders and staff are battling a long-standing challenge to shift the cultural perception that persists in marginalizing cognitively-disabled children. Oftentimes, in Lebanon, children born with a cognitive impairment are shunned and raised in isolation to maintain public, familial anonymity for fear of being ostracized from their communities. To combat this, the center works frequently with parents to help them better understand and accept their child’s disability while training them to support their child’s educational rights. This community outreach and educational work helps to reduce cases of abuse and neglect.

St. Luke’s offers a warm, loving, holistic education to the children they serve, working with students to teach them how to take care of their basic needs, navigate their daily activities, and gain independence. The older students may also access vocational training through their on-site chocolatier and bakery as well as through custom glass-painting. Sales from St. Luke’s Confectionery partially subsidize the operational costs of the school.

Celebration at St. Luke's on December 6, 2023 for St. Nicholas' Feast Day

Every year, St. Luke’s holds a large Christmas celebration for children, parents, staff, and teachers. The Student Choir sings Christmas hymns and songs, and each class of children performs either a prepared dance or short play that reflects the spirit of Christmas.

Following the children’s festive performances and Christmas parade, the children exchange “Secret Santa” gifts that they each created from painted glass with Madame Micheline, St. Luke’s resident glass artist. This interactive, creative method of gift-giving is meaningful to everyone involved, and offers the children an opportunity to use their imagination to customize and create their ideal gift and see it come to life for one another. This also eliminates the need to purchase outside gifts - a luxury that many families in Lebanon cannot afford since the country’s total financial collapse in 2021, leaving over 80% of Lebanon’s population living below the poverty line, with nearly 40% in extreme poverty.

Parents, teachers, and friends may also purchase candies, chocolates, and baked goods from St. Luke’s Confectionery during the reception at affordable costs. This year’s Christmas Celebration will be held on December 22nd.

BE INSPIRED: Watch this video gallery of festivities on SLRC's Facebook page to see the children joyfully experience St. Nicholas' Feast Day on December 6!

CLICK HERE to support St. Luke's.

St. Luke's Rehabilitation Center is a Diocese of Jerusalem institution. Its Director, Archdeacon Imad Zoorob, is also the rector of All Saints Episcopal Evangelical Church in Beirut, Lebanon, and All Saints Evangelical Church in Damascus, Syria.

A UN aid worker overseas a fuel delivery from inside the Ahli Arab Hospital Compound during the ceasefire in Gaza.

The WHO also reported that the hospital is teeming with hundreds of injured patients. St. Philip's Chapel, which sustained a fair amount of damage in the October 17 bombing at Ahli, is now being used to accommodate the massive overflow of injured. The majority of cases are severe and need advanced care and surgical intervention.

Although volunteer doctors and nurses have responded to appeals for help, Ahli is still in need of additional vascular, neuro, and orthopedic surgeons, as well as more drugs and medical supplies to meet the demand.

The Diocese of Jerusalem has partnered with the Palestine Red Crescent Society & The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to address these urgent needs and critical supplies shortages. The reliability of the supply chain remains a significant challenge, however, particularly now that the ceasefire has ended.

The situation on the ground is fluid, and information is challenging to verify. According to The Palestinian Telecommunications Company, as of Monday, December 4, landlines, mobile networks, and internet services in Gaza City and all of Northern Gaza are completely down due to damage caused by air strikes. AFEDJ will continue to monitor the situation and update our website with accurate, reliable information as necessary.

In the face of these challenging circumstances, support and fundraising efforts are paramount to ensure the continued operation of vital diocesan institutions and the well-being of those affected in the Holy Land. As the situation evolves, AFEDJ will continue to provide accurate, relevant, mission-focused updates. We also ask that you share this article with friends and loved ones.

BROADER IMPACT OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT ON THE GREATER DIOCESE OF JERUSALEM INSTITUTIONS

The repercussions of the conflict extend beyond Ahli Arab Hospital, affecting all ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem across the Holy Land, either directly or indirectly.

Border Closures and Unpredictable Travel Lead to Soaring Unemployment Rates and Economic Fallout Spikes in settler violence, ongoing artillery exchanges between Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon, and border closures have made travel between Israel and the Occupied Territories of Palestine difficult to impossible. Because of this, Jerusalem, Israel, and the West Bank are grappling with sharply rising unemployment rates. Palestinian residents of the West Bank and East Jerusalem who work in Israeli firms, tourism, and related sectors are severely impacted, leading to furloughs that directly affect Diocese of Jerusalem schools, centers, and healthcare institutions.

Financial Strain on Families and Institutions Families are unable to cover the costs of school tuition and medical services. Due to the closure and separation of West Bank areas, income generated by Diocese of Jerusalem schools and health institutions has plummeted.

Holy Land Pilgrimages Put on Hold The suspension of Holy Land pilgrimages further compounds the economic challenges faced by Jerusalem and Ramallah. This results in a loss of income, both from guesthouses and St. George’s College, which is crucial for bridging the financial gap in schools and health institutions.

A child from St. Luke's Rehabilitation Center in Lebanon trims the Christmas Tree.

GIVE THE GIFT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS

As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to join us in partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem. Every new, unrestricted donation will be generously matched 1:1 up to $100,000, doubling the impact of your support! In appreciation of your generosity, all donors making new, unrestricted gifts will receive an exclusive invitation to a virtual coffee hour with Archbishop Hosam Naoum on January 18 at 12 PM EST.

Let's come together in support of our shared mission. Your generosity makes a difference! Donate today and mark your calendars for this unique opportunity to join us in conversation with the Archbishop.

Want to invite your friends, family, or church to support the Diocese of Jerusalem?

Share this link to donate to our online campaign.

Share this post on Facebook and Instagram.

Share this article with friends and loved ones to keep them updated on the challenges our affiliates in the Holy Land face.

Download this flyer to spread the word and raise awareness for our affiliated humanitarian institutions in the Diocese of Jerusalem.

Thank you for being a beacon of hope.

BEARING WITNESS SHARES A MESSAGE OF LOVE & HOPE AMIDST WAR

The current landscape is saturated with misinformation and divisive opinions that contribute to Islamophobia, antisemitism, and a sense of hopelessness. It is imperative to resist these tendencies and instead embrace compassion and our mutual belief in the possibility of creating a fair and peaceful world where everyone can thrive.

Bearing Witness is an inspiring, short, 5-session educational curriculum that brings hope to the hopeless and demonstrates what the news outlets often miss: that there are peacemakers of all faiths and nationalities working together to bring agency, dignity, and hope to all God's children in the Holy Land.

You can bring this unifying educational curriculum to your small group, church, or organization at no cost to you. We have new optional facilitator training dates on the schedule for January - Sign up today.

BUILD INTEREST WITH DOWNLOADABLE MATERIALS

Download and print an overview of the Bearing Witness program to build interest in starting a Bearing Witness group in your church, organization, or diocese.

For churches, organizations, and small group participation:

An Invitation to Bearing Witness Postcard

Bearing Witness 8.5″x11″ Session Flyer

For dioceses, formation directors, and facilitators:

Bearing Witness Program Flyer

RESOURCES: PRESIDING BISHOP MICHAEL CURRY AND ARCHBISHOP HOSAM NAOUM SHARE A CONVERSATION

Webinar Broadcast 11/21/23 - Watch the conversation between The Most Reverend Hosam Elias Naoum, Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and the Most Reverend Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, moderated by Archdeacon Paul Feheley, Middle East Partnership Officer for The Episcopal Church.

2023 ADVENT DAILY MEDITATIONS

A booklet of daily prayers and reflections for the Advent Season, written by the clergy of the Diocese of Jerusalem. 2023 Advent Daily Meditations

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