Holy Land's children are focus for St. Nicholas Day
Episcopal News Service. November 6, 2009 [110609-04]
ENS staff
All Episcopalians, especially children, are being asked to celebrate St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6 this year by showing concern for other children in the Holy Land and making an offering to help brighten their future.
"We decided to make this year's St. Nicholas Day our day to raise money for the children of the Holy Land," said Phoebe Griswold, president of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. "Many of these children are hurting. They live amid apprehension and anxiety in a land of occupation where the Christian presence is dwindling fast. What I am hoping for is that this will be an ongoing way of both honoring St. Nicholas and bringing attention to the plight of children in the Holy Land."
Since its inception in 1996, the American Friends has donated more than $20 million in medical assistance, school and infant supplies, and cash gifts to the Diocese of Jerusalem. The mission of the organization, a nonprofit, nonpolitical partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, is to heal the sick, feed the hungry, shelter orphans and soothe the suffering. The ministry includes supporting two major hospitals, 13 schools, 29 parishes and 6 institutes for the disabled in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
The offerings of young Episcopalians can make a dramatic difference in the daily lives of children who live in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank, said Griswold. "Fifteen dollars can provide books for a child starting school, $50 can pay for one week at a school for the deaf, $100 can pay for the services of a medical clinic in a rural community, $500 will provide Braille machines for two blind children."
Jane Williams, patron of the St. Nicholas Society in England and the spouse of Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, read a "proclamation" from St. Nicholas in support of the children of the Holy Land during a ceremony at the St. Nicholas shrine at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, during a visit to the Diocese of Pennsylvania in October. "These are children who live in the shadow of political violence, and their future is brightened by our love and generosity," she said.
His legends are bold
Nicholas, born of devout Christian parents in Turkey in about 300 AD, developed a strong commitment to help others and used his personal wealth to help the sick and suffering. Many stories and good works have been attributed to Nicholas, who has become known worldwide as the protector of students and all children. Most famous is the story of three girls who lived in such poverty that their father, unable to support them, prepared to sell them into slavery. Learning of their plight, Nicholas rescued them by providing each daughter with a bag of gold. For this, the church made him the protector of young girls and brides.
Nicholas, who was made bishop of Myra for his philanthropic works, stayed in the Holy Land for some time, living in a cave in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, now preserved as a place of pilgrimage. Many Christian Palestinians regard him as their patron saint.
"There was a good bishop, whose story is told; his memory is glorious, his legends are bold." These are the opening lines of a hymn included in resources on the American Friends' and related websites to help church leaders and Sunday schools teachers bring the patron saint's work to life and celebrate St. Nicholas Day.
Included on the American Friends site are hymns, Prayers of the People, recipes, a St. Nicholas pageant, a bulletin board poster, a pew bulletin insert and a pattern for children to make golden "collection bags," similar to the ones that Nicholas gave to the three girls. Go to www.afedj.org and click on St. Nicholas Day for these and activities for adults and children.
For copies of hymns, prayer cards, coloring pages, a prayer service and stories and ideas for worship, go to www.stnicholassociety.com.
Other stories and customs, liturgical resources, an image gallery with icons of St. Nicholas, children's activities, recipes and music can be found at www.stnicholascenter.org.
While the focus is on Episcopal youngsters in the United States helping other children on this St. Nicholas Day, Griswold said information and resources also are available for congregational outreach and mission committees, music directors and youth ministers. "There is so much we can do to bring a Christmas offering to the children of the Holy Land in the name of St. Nicholas," she said.
"St. Nicholas is one of the best evangelistic tools Anglicans could employ in this day and age," said the Rev. James Rosenthal, president of the U.K.-based St. Nicholas Society. "A true gift, especially at times of economic woes, he helps us prioritize and get the message across of care, compassion, and generosity."