Archbishops launch Advent appeal for the Diocese of Jerusalem

[Lambeth Palace] Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Anglican archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Rev. Hosam E. Naoum, have issued a joint Advent appeal for Anglicans to pray for Palestinian Christians and support the work of the Diocese of Jerusalem. In a pastoral letter, the archbishops urge Anglicans around the world to support the Holy Land in this time of crisis.

The letter says, in part:

“Over five days, Nov. 15-19, 2024, we travelled together, as fellow brothers in Christ, on a long-planned pilgrimage to pray and worship with the living stones of Palestine and Israel, listening to their voices, and offering solidarity with them in the shadow of the ongoing war in the region. As Archbishop Justin prepares to leave office, we give thanks that his final official visit to the Holy Land affirmed the prayerful solidarity of the Church of England with the Diocese of Jerusalem and all Palestinian Christians.

“The last time we met in Jerusalem was just two weeks after the sudden eruption of war in the Holy Land in October 2023. Since then, the world has witnessed unimaginable suffering, death, destruction and displacement that has made Gaza simply uninhabitable. We give thanks that even in the midst of such horrors the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza City continues to serve those in need. We stand united in our call for an immediate end to the war, the release of all hostages and prisoners and an end to forced displacement.”

Read the full letter here.

From: Archbishops launch Advent appeal for the Diocese of Jerusalem – Episcopal News Service