JourneyOnline
The Christmas Bowl is a program of Christian World Service (CWS), a Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia. It is in its 58th year. The are grateful to everyone who has supported the Christmas Bowl over the years.
Education and Communications Officer for CWS Colleen Hodge said, “It is much appreciated and it is making a real difference with communities in 24 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific, as well as with refugees and Indigenous communities in Australia.”
Reports on the Christmas Bowl at work in the world are available on their website www.ncca.org.au/cws
This year they are inviting people to act for the christmas bowl. “This can mean a variety of things, apart from your gifts, such as using the resources to discuss justice and development issues with family and friends and letting your voice be heard by participating in Christmas Bowl related activities through to the end of 2006,” said Ms Hodge.
Details of some suggested activities are in the Christmas Bowl kit and on the website.
“The term ‘act’ also means ‘action by churches together’, which is a very important dimension of the Christmas Bowl. This action involves us all as congregations and families. It also involves a fantastic range of Australian churches.
“7 000 Christmas Bowl kits have been sent to Anglican, Apostolic, Assyrian Catholic, Churches of Christ, Congregational, Lutheran, Orthodox, Salvation Army and Uniting churches and the Religious Society of Friends.
“The liturgical resources were prepared by Dimitri Kepreotes, Associate Lecturer in Christian Education and Modern Greek, at St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney.
The Christmas Bowl helps the churches to work together in Australia and with partners around the world.
“The loyalty and commitment of the Christmas Bowl’s supporters is inspiring. Poverty reduction is often slow, though thanks to the remarkable efforts of people trying to escape poverty and people able to assist, like you and your church community, we are winning the struggle against extreme poverty in most of the regions where the Christmas Bowl is at work.
“Since the new millennium began some fantastic momentum has been created towards reducing extreme poverty. If we can build on this momentum over the next year, the world can achieve much more.
CWS has asked churches to pray for a generous response to the 2006 Christmas Bowl
Information and resources are available from Colleen Hodge HERE, CWS Education and Communications Programs, Freecall 1800 025 101, Website www.ncca.org.au/cws/christmasbowl
