This year we decided to encourage people to focus on peace as a theme for the Christmas tree. So this year there will be no tinsel and no baubles but simple white cardboard cut out doves. We have asked and encouraged people to add a prayer or thought about peace. We provided ready cut doves or a template for people to draw their own. We hope the collection of doves will be sufficient to cover the tree. If not, then a few of us will be busy on Saturday. We are decorating the tree after the funeral on Friday so that it will be ready for the start of Advent on Sunday.
Christian Aid’s theme for its carol service will focus on peace and they suggested the idea of using doves as decorations.
The focus of the resources, which includes worship ideas and videos, is Shede a refugee in South Sudan. When war broke out, she fled to South Sudan where she is living in Wedwell Refugee Settlement in South Sudan, provided by UNHCR. Two of her brothers were killed and her nephew severely injured. With no food and worsening conditions, she made the heart wrenching decision to leave Sudan with her three daughters and a six-year-old grandaughter. Sadly, her husband had to stay behind, and with no way to contact him, they have been separated ever since. Her daughters have since left the camp to find work. So Shede is left alone with her grandaughter.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas let us remember the many victims of the current conflicts in Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan. The money we collect from carol singing at Tesco’s will be given to the Christian Aid Christmas Appeal which focuses on support for people displaced in this war.
Toll Gavel United Church where faith, people and justice matter 