From The Desk of Deacon Judy
“He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds…” (Psalm 147:3)
Grief upon grief.
We grieve the loss of yet another cherished member of our parish family, Ed Hill, a gifted servant of God who shared his musical talents with the choir and his woodworking talents to support the annual Bazaar Our prayers go out to his wife of 60 years, Margaret, and his family. The beauty of our Christian community is that we walk with each other, through joys and sorrows. We share the intimate grief each time a beloved parish near dies, yet we hold the hope of life eternal life for all.
We grieve the loss of lives from the horrific Hamas attack on innocents in Israel.
We grieve those innocents in Gaza who have now died as a result of this devastating war.
Suhaila Tarazi, the Director of Ahli Hospital in Gaza, affirmed “Where there is love, there is hope….” A few months ago on a zoom call with the board of AFEDJ (American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem).
Just a few days ago her hospital, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, was living into that love as they struggled to heal the injured from the most recent violence in their neighborhood.
Then a rocket struck Ahli Hospital, killing patients and staff, destroying a wing of the hospital.
Jesus reminds us to love our neighbors, which include our enemies. Jesus reminds us to overcome evil with good. Christians in the Holy Land are bearing witness to that profound love and very difficult call.
I offer my heartfelt gratitude to Father Rob and to the congregation last Sunday for their generous offerings to support Ahli Hospital in Gaza, an offering to provide fuel and medical supplies during the most difficult and heartbreaking time, an offering which no doubt will help restore the building and its services in the future.
Thank you for all your prayers as we mourn all who have been killed and share the agony of all who are grieving in the land of the Holy One.
From Thursday to Sunday I am in Washington D.C. for our AFEDJ Board Meeting. Although Archbishop Nahum will not be with us in person, we will speak with him virtually and will get a more thorough understanding of how the humanitarian ministries of the diocese are serving the community in the most tragic of times.
To learn more, I invite you to read the AFEDJ, ENS, and TEC communications.
https://afedj.org/in-war-we-live-hour-by-hour/
May God’s perfect peace be with us all.
Shalom/Salaam, Judy Q+
