24.12.2016
Gift from Dublin and Glendalough Delivered on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem
A donation collected at the recent Diocesan ‘Discovery’ International Carol Service was hand–delivered by DCU Chaplain, Philip McKinley to Archbishop Suheil Dawani in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem where Anglicans had gathered for a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve.
The gift was part of the Diocesan ‘Jerusalem Link’ partnership and had been collected for the Diocese of Jerusalem’s Women’s Empowerment Project.
Anglicans are granted special permission to worship in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity once a year on Christmas Eve by the Greek Orthodox custodians of the Church.
The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols included readings from Dr Alistair McPhail, H.M. Consul General and Archbishop Theophylektos of Jordan.
After the service, the Archbishop received the gift from Philip McKinley and thanked the United Dioceses for their generosity and ongoing support.
The Archbishop and his Chaplain, Canon David Longe had only recently returned from their trip to Dublin and Glendalough, as part of the ‘Jerusalem Link’. During their visit, a donation was also made to the Women’s Empowerment Project by Rev Prof Anne Lodge on behalf of DCU’s Church of Ireland Centre.
‘Jerusalem Link’ was formally signed at the beginning of 2016, when Archbishop Michael Jackson led a delegation to Jerusalem. The year also saw a return visit to Dublin and Glendalough in early December. A number of initiatives are now in planning to further strengthen the link in 2017.
Photo Caption: Archbishop Suheil Dawani of Jerusalem with DCU Chaplain Philip McKinley, in the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem