The Good Friday Concert can be hosted by Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Virginia, and can be held on-line by the Episcopal Church on March twenty ninth.Photo: Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
[Episcopal News Service] Each yr, Anglicans are inspired throughout Holy Week to donate to the Episcopal Church’s Good Friday providing, which helps Anglican ministries within the Middle East. This yr, persons are additionally invited to spend a part of Good Friday attending live shows supplied by the church and spiritually specializing in the holy day commemorating Jesus’ loss of life on the cross.
A sacred music live performance hosted by Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Diocese of Southern Virginia, can be accessible for viewing on the Episcopal Church’s on-line platform beginning March 29 at 3:00 pm ET. Online donations are actually accessible, and all Anglican congregations plan to gather Good Friday choices at in-person Good Friday providers.
“All kids of God, together with Palestinians, Israelis, Iraqis, Cypriots and Lebanese, have the best to security and safety,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry stated in his Lenten message. and inspired Anglicans to dedicate it to Good Friday choices. “As we commemorate the Lord’s Passion and Death on Good Friday, we bear in mind the injustice and oppression confronted by these He loves in the present day, and we bear in mind the urgency of affection: true sacrificial love. Masu.”
The Good Friday Offering was created after World War I to foster relationships with Christians within the Middle East by supporting reduction efforts and ecumenical partnerships. Today, the Church continues to donate funds raised every year by means of donations to the Anglican Provinces of the area, and to Anglican Churches in Jerusalem and the Middle East, to assist what it perceives to be probably the most urgent wants in its dioceses. I’m.
The urgency has elevated this yr amid continued violence and struggling in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories following the October 7 assault by Hamas on Israeli communities that left an estimated 1,200 individuals useless. Hamas militants kidnapped greater than 250 individuals and took them again to Gaza as hostages. Israel responded by declaring battle, bombarding Gaza with rockets, and sending floor forces into populated areas. Gaza authorities estimate that greater than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed within the preventing, which has heightened world alarm and requires a ceasefire.
Some Anglican ministries supported by Good Friday choices are additionally within the crossfire of the Israel-Hamas battle. With the Gaza Strip within the grip of a extreme humanitarian disaster marked by deaths, displacement, meals and water shortages, energy outages, and the destruction of numerous buildings by airstrikes, the Al Ahly Arab Hospital in northern Gaza is main the best way on this struggle. Despite this, the hospital stays open to deal with individuals injured within the battle. . Recent reviews say famine is “imminent” in northern Gaza.
The Anglican hospital itself was partially broken by rocket hearth believed to have been fired by the Israeli navy early within the battle, and one other explosion within the hospital courtyard drew worldwide condemnation, however Israel and the United States It was introduced that there had been an explosion. It is claimed to have been attributable to Palestinian armed teams.
In addition to Al-Ahly Hospital, the Diocese of Jerusalem operates a second charity hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, within the West Bank metropolis of Nablus, the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Jordan, and the Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children within the East. are doing. Jerusalem. In the Gulf Diocese of Cyprus, the Anglican Church has partnered with Iraqis previously on native outreach efforts, reminiscent of an financial improvement program aimed toward supporting poultry farmers. The Anglican Province additionally contains the Diocese of Iran.
“This is my final Good Friday letter to you as presiding bishop,” stated Currie, whose successor can be elected in June and can be sworn in on Nov. 1. To donate once more to assist God’s family members on this a part of the world. This is what love asks of us. ”
A video of the Good Friday live performance, recorded at Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Virginia, can be streamed on the Episcopal Church’s on-line platform on March 29 at 3 p.m.Photo: Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church’s Good Friday Concert will characteristic a choice of hymns generally related to the solemn Christian holy day. “Each music facilities round a ardour story,” the church’s director of Middle East partnerships, the Rev. Paul Fehely, instructed Episcopal News Service. “This is aimed toward rising the best way individuals mirror, the best way they worship, and the best way they really feel the which means of Good Friday.”
Musical performances can be directed by Kevin Kwan, organist at Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, in collaboration with Curry’s complete church employees. The live performance lasts roughly 1 hour.
The live performance can even characteristic a recorded message of thanks from Anglican Archbishop Hosham Naum, chief of the Jerusalem-based diocese. Last yr’s Good Friday choices raised $253,000 for the state, in accordance with the church’s unaudited estimates. The want within the space is even higher this yr, Fehery stated.
“We have seen the loss of life and destruction that battle has produced,” he stated. The Episcopal Church responded with solemn prayers for peace, whereas additionally mobilizing important monetary assist for reduction efforts within the area. “Thousands of Episcopalians are beneficiant in remembering our brothers and sisters within the Middle East.”
In addition to donating to the Good Friday Offering whereas attending the March 29 service on the Episcopal Church, you may make a donation by visiting iam.ec/goodfridayoffering.
– David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor at Episcopal News Service. Contact him at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.