United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough

23.12.2014

Prepare a Place at Your Table – Archbishop Appeals to People to Make Space in their Hearts During Twelve Days of Christmas

“Prepare a place at your table … is an invitation to each one of you to contribute to a better life of dignity and well–being for the people of Gaza, as Christmas 2014 approaches and is almost upon us. Our intention is to raise €150,000 from right across the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough for the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. The Hospital is non–political and is run by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East. It serves the need of everyone in need. After everything that 2014 has bought to bear on the ordinary people of Gaza, there is a real note of urgency in my appeal to you for generosity and for money to enable reconstruction and development in the Hospital. People who are sick need good facilities if the nursing and medical staff are to do their work and to give effectively of their skill and compassion. We need money. 

Prepare a place at your table … is something you can do at home, in your neighbourhood and in your community at any time throughout The Twelve Days of Christmas. It is your opportunity to gather some friends and family in your home. All of you can eat together and make a difference to those who will appreciate most of all the friendship in Christ which you will be sharing with them from our United Dioceses. We are doing something unique in the world–wide Anglican Communion. Please make space for a few hours to clear your table for this purpose. Please get the money to us by whatever means is most suitable and most convenient. Please lay your table for those whom you may never meet but who will know that during The Twelve Days of Christmas you made room for them in your heart and at your table … You will enjoy it!

I wish to thank most sincerely all of those who have contributed generously to date and have already gone out of their way to prepare a place at their table for the people of Gaza.

A very Happy Christmas and Twelve Days of Christmas to you and a Blessed New Year,”

+Michael 

Prepare a Place is a Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Appeal to raise funds for the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. The dioceses plans to raise €150,000 for solar panels for the hospital to ensure a sustainable supply of electricity. Funds will also go to the upgrading of facilities for on–call staff. Read more about the work of Al Ahli Hospital by clicking here.

Donations to Dublin and Glendalough’s ‘Prepare A Place’ Advent Appeal for Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza can be made via Bishops’ Appeal either by using envelopes which are available in all parish churches or by electronic transfer to IBAN: IE31BOFI90001749839499 BIC: BOFIIE2D (reference Gaza). Cheques may be sent to: Bishop’s Appeal, Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6 or you may simply hand your donation in an envelope marked Gaza Appeal to your Rector.

For more details on Dublin and Glendalough’s ‘Prepare a Place’ Advent Appeal for Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza see www.facebook.com/prepareaplace

Photo captions: An extended family enjoying their Christmas dinner and a child who is receiving treatment at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City.