Monday, Dec 23, 2013

Dubai

As the year winds down, people may have a lot to be thankful for. Churches across the country have organised programmes to make sure that this gratitude reaches members of the community who might be struggling to make ends meet.

In Dubai, St. Mary’s Catholic Church has planned a gift-giving for children on Christmas Day. Initiated by the Filipino community, the church will give away gifts to children of the whole parish after each of the four masses on December 25.

In Sharjah, the St. Martin’s Church is regularly involved with expatriate workers in the community as part of their social outreach programme. They recently distributed gifts, food, blankets and telephone cards to over 650 workers living in labour camps.

The church’s chaplain, Reverend John Chapman, said: “We are involved with them every week and have special services for people in migrant camps who are living here without their families.”

In Abu Dhabi, Pastor Joseph Faragalla from the Arabic Evangelical Church said that they have two programmes that are part of the church’s efforts to reach out to the community.

“One of our funds is for those who cannot afford a good meal for Christmas and New Year. We collect money and pass it on to people who have limited income, but we do it in a way that is very discreet. People have already been donating to the fund and we are using it to hopefully reach people we are responsible for,” Pastor Joseph Faragalla.

The other initiative encourages families that attend church to invite for Christmas dinner members of the community who are living on their own or don’t have a family.

“We also encourage people to give gifts to those they invite for a special dinner so that they can have the feeling of being with family on Christmas,” he said.

In Al Ain, the English Church in the Evangelical Church of Al Ain has a Project Harvest Initiative, with the motto to bring bags of Christmas cheer to 1,500 labourers.

“We collected items and delivered bags to labour camps and do this for Christmas as well as Eid,” Frank Meyer, the church administrator said.

The Evangelical Community Church in Abu Dhabi organises a ‘Compassion Kit’ drive as well as a women’s outreach programme to give back to the community.

The Ladies Ministry of the Church visits and stays in touch with women of the community who are in a difficult personal or financial situation.

“Our main concerns are their physical and spiritual needs,” a member of the programme, who did not wish to be named, said.

“Especially with Christmas, we support them in this time of giving by providing meals and gifts. That was our big drive last week,” she said.

The Compassion Kit drive, the other programme organised by the Church, involves distributing boxes containing 20 items that would be of use to the labour community.

“We ask the different groups or families involved with the church to shop for hygiene items, snacks and a Dh20 telephone card. We then distribute them to our friends at the labour camps,” another member of the Church, who did not wish to be named, said.

While the Church completed its distribution for Christmas last week, it is a programme they organise on a regular basis.

“We do it as and when required, once in a month or two months, because it is not only about the items. It is really about building relationships and showing love,” he said.

By Huda Tabrez Community Web Editor

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