> > > Brothers: We might alsowant to includethe genocideof abortion in our homilies(ifthere are any) on this largely forgotten holy day.GDVW+ > > Can anyone read Matthew 2:13 and fail to reflect on the modern day > slaughter of the innocents occurring in Bethlehem? It is particularly > sad that all children in the area whether Christian, Muslim, or Jewish > suffer the emotional blasting of war. > > Charles + > > ---------------------------------------------- > from ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE 23 DECEMBER 2002 > > Amos Trust wrote : > Christmas 2002 > > The following is a composite of information and messages received from > friends in Bethlehem, together with a suggested action for congregations > and individuals. We invite you to use the messages as a > meditation and then to encourage people to act. > > Many people will be singing the carol 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' at > carol services across the world. Others will listen to services on the > radio and will hear the familiar words referring to the 'O deep and > dreamless sleep' of Bethlehem's inhabitants, watched over in wondering > love by the angels as the birth of the Christ child takes place. > > The reality of Bethlehem today is more like the period after Christ's > birth, when Herod ordered the massacre of the children. Bishara Awad, > the President of Bethlehem Bible College writes: > 'As all of you turn your attention to Bethlehem these days, please > remember "Our Little Town" in your prayers. Bethlehem now is very sad. > All it's people are struggling under very strict curfew since the 22nd > of November. It may be hard to imagine being under curfew. It is very > cruel, because no one is allowed to leave his or her home for any > reason. All shops and schools are closed, as well as pharmacies and > work > places. There is no possibility for Christmas shopping, there are no > decorations, and one cannot go to church. Being a closed military area, > we are even denied the usual flood of Christian pilgrims. I pray that > you will sing this beautiful song and that its meaning will bless your > Christmas, but before you do please think of the suffering Church in > Bethlehem and say a prayer that the curfew will be lifted and the > siege on Bethlehem will end. You may want to also write to your nearest > Israeli representative and your own government officials about these > cruel acts done against the people of Bethlehem by the Israeli > army. > May Immanuel Bless You This Christmas.' > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > > As I pointed out yesterday, the Israeli government did allow Christians > to celebrate Christmas at the Church of the nativity, but within a > matter of hours re-imposed the curfew. > > Charles > > _________________________________________________________________ > MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 3 months FREE*. > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus&xAPID=42&PS=47575&PI=7324&DI=7474&SU= > > http://www.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/getmsg&HL=1216hotmailtaglines_virusprotection_3mf > > > -- > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to > <faithandlife-unsubscribe@...> ----------------------------------------- This Advent Season our sponsors are selling goods and services you don't want to miss! Support our sponsors with your purchase by clicking here. http://www.catholic.org/clife/advent/specials.php This email was sent using FREE Catholic Online Webmail. Please tell your family, friends and children about COL Webmail! http://webmail.catholic.org/