Over 65 years of the Christmas Bowl
St Stephen's Uniting Church is a strong supporter of the Christmas Bowl, an ecumenical ministry through the National Council; of Churches in Australia.
As well as an appeal in December, the offerings from our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services go to the Christmas Bowl. In Christmas 2017 the congregation contributed $21,000 to the Christmas Bowl.
It began on Christmas Day 1949, when a minister named Rev Frank Byatt in Victoria placed a simple empty bowl on the table before him. He humbly asked his friends and family to contribute what they felt the cost of the meal had been. Rev Byatt asked that they consider their own good fortune in being able to share a Christmas meal together in comfort and safety. And he invited them to share God’s blessings of love and friendship in the form of a gift to people who had fled the horrors of World War Two and were suffering as refugees.
It began on Christmas Day 1949, when a minister named Rev Frank Byatt in Victoria placed a simple empty bowl on the table before him. He humbly asked his friends and family to contribute what they felt the cost of the meal had been. Rev Byatt asked that they consider their own good fortune in being able to share a Christmas meal together in comfort and safety. And he invited them to share God’s blessings of love and friendship in the form of a gift to people who had fled the horrors of World War Two and were suffering as refugees.
This invitation to Australian Christians to stand by men, women and children living through conflict and displacement is, sadly, more important than ever. For the first time in history, there are nearly 60 million displaced people in the world who need our help.
The Christmas Bowl appeal is our way of forging a loving connection between our Christian community here in Australia and people around the world who are experiencing dreadful hardship and suffering.
To support the Christmas Bowl, please use this link:
https://www.actforpeace.org.au/cb18/ssms
St Stephen's Uniting Church is a strong supporter of the Christmas Bowl, an ecumenical ministry through the National Council; of Churches in Australia.
As well as an appeal in December, the offerings from our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services go to the Christmas Bowl. In Christmas 2017 the congregation contributed $21,000 to the Christmas Bowl.
It began on Christmas Day 1949, when a minister named Rev Frank Byatt in Victoria placed a simple empty bowl on the table before him. He humbly asked his friends and family to contribute what they felt the cost of the meal had been. Rev Byatt asked that they consider their own good fortune in being able to share a Christmas meal together in comfort and safety. And he invited them to share God’s blessings of love and friendship in the form of a gift to people who had fled the horrors of World War Two and were suffering as refugees.
It began on Christmas Day 1949, when a minister named Rev Frank Byatt in Victoria placed a simple empty bowl on the table before him. He humbly asked his friends and family to contribute what they felt the cost of the meal had been. Rev Byatt asked that they consider their own good fortune in being able to share a Christmas meal together in comfort and safety. And he invited them to share God’s blessings of love and friendship in the form of a gift to people who had fled the horrors of World War Two and were suffering as refugees.
This invitation to Australian Christians to stand by men, women and children living through conflict and displacement is, sadly, more important than ever. For the first time in history, there are nearly 60 million displaced people in the world who need our help.
The Christmas Bowl appeal is our way of forging a loving connection between our Christian community here in Australia and people around the world who are experiencing dreadful hardship and suffering.
To support the Christmas Bowl, please use this link:
https://www.actforpeace.org.au/cb18/ssms