Dear Friends,
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As usual, the services at both the US Embassy and St George's were wonderful this weekend but the subject was different! Saturday was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement to the Jewish people. I always observe Yom Kippur as a serious day of fasting and thinking about the Almighty.
On Saturday and Sunday I spoke about Abraham's journey from Ur in Iraq to Canaan in what was to become Israel. I spoke on the Jewish feasts and how they are meant to be eternal feasts. To Christians, Abraham is the father of salvation history.
It was rather interesting talking about Israel in Arab Iraq, but the response was amazing. I think we can safely say that we at St George's in Baghdad are an Arab Church that loves the Jews.
If you want to hear more on this subject I will be speaking at Chiswick Christian Centre on Sunday morning and at New Generation Church in Sidcup on Sunday evening (see panel on the right). I will then be immediately returning to Iraq. The British Iraq Inquiry team, headed by Sir John Chilcot, is coming to Baghdad and I am told I must be there. So I will only be home a very short while.
Yesterday was marred by terrible violence in Baghdad. You could hear the bombs exploding in various parts of the city. Many people were killed and injured and church attendance was markedly lowered.
Regarding our security guards who were killed last week, various people have asked for their names so they can pray for their families. Thank you for this, but all the families have asked that their names are not disclosed as they are worried about further attacks. All of those killed had young children and we want to support them.
In Iraq, an orphan is a child who has lost their father, since the men are usually the bread-winners here. The church has therefore set up a "widows and orphans fund" to support the families of these security guards, and others like them, who have lost their means of support in this dangerous place.
If you wish to contribute to this fund, click here to send a donation.
With grace peace and blessings,
The Rev'd Canon Andrew White
It is now easier than ever to donate via PayPal on at www.FRRME.org Please also visit the Donations page for more information.
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