The Parish Magazine December 2023

FROM PAGE 13
PARISH NOTICEBOARD — 5
Pray for peace in Holy Land
Palestinian Christian leaders refrained from expressing
sympathy for the victims of the 7 October Hamas terrorist
attacks, voicing concerns and criticism after Israel’s response
and focusing their condemnation on Israel’s actions in the
aftermath.
Hundreds of people were reported killed in the bombing
of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, possibly more than
500. This is the only Christian hospital in Gaza, one once
visited by Brother Andrew.
The attack is not believed to have been because of its
Christian affiliation. Both Israelis and Palestinians have
blamed the other side for the bombing.
Many had been sheltering in its grounds as it was believed
to be a safe place. Most of the Christians in Gaza are finding
refuge at churches in the city. In a separate incident, an
explosion next to a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City
resulted in the deaths of 18 Christians.
Advocacy agency Open Doors asks us to pray for all
caught up in the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza. The
Bible Society in Israel say ‘More than ever, we need your
prayers. Prayers for those who mourn. Prayers for God to use
this tragic event to cause people to seek God about their own
eternal destiny.’
And they ask us to pray God gives us wisdom in these
days: ‘Wisdom how to comfort. Wisdom how to pray.
Wisdom and grace to be God's messengers, serving his
kingdom, that we not weaken his message with our own
anger. Pray with us that God will use all those leaders whose
decisions in these days will determine the fate of so many
people. May our loving God bring this disaster to an end.’
References and further reading
Telegraph article on ‘Labour’s Islamist Problem’: https://www.
telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/30/anti-semitism-starmer-labourparty-islamism/
The Philos Project: https://philosproject.org/
The Philos Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
thephilosproject
President Joe Biden on Hamas attack – inews: https://apple.news/
Ae6dniMIST_qY-FcDGGtzKg
Mosab Hassan Yousef CNN interview on Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/reel/CybYejTxsKJ/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng%3D%3D
Federation of American Scientists – translation of excerpts of the
original 1988 charter of Hamas: https://irp.fas.org/world/para/
docs/880818a.htm
Bombing of Christian hospital in Gaza: https://opendoorsuk.org/news/
latest-news/israel-gaza-news/
Open Doors – prayer: https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latestnews/israel-gaza-prayer/
For your prayers in December
— Crisis at Christmas
PRAYERS NEEDED
— Salvation Army’s work with the homeless
— A blessing on all seeking peace in the Holy Land
— For all who will be alone this Christmas
Peter Rennie
From the
editor's desk
The Parish Magazine - December 2023 15
editor@theparishmagazine.co.uk
There's no getting away from it, the older you get the faster
time seems to fly by. As a child I remember that waiting for
Christmas — which was far less commercialised 77 years
ago - seemed to go on for an eternity. Now, it seems just like
yesterday since we last celebrated this important Christian
event that changed the world for ever!
It also seems like yesterday that I became editor of this
magazine, but that was 11 years ago in December 2012.
Looking back at that first issue I was responsible for surprised
me how much it has changed since then. That first issue was
mainly in black and white and had just 24 pages. Today, of
course, it is in full colour throughout its 44 pages and there
are still a few items that I have to hold over for another day.
Most magazines that are funded by advertising, as we
are, operate, as we do, on a 60:40 balance, between editorial
(60) and advertising. (40) pages. In the publishing world this
is a well recognised balance that works both financially and
aesthetically, and we are fortunate that we have so many
local businesses and organisations that support us through
advertising. And this is why, of course, that we ask you, as a
reader, to mention The Parish Magazine when you respond to
one of their advertisements in the magazine.
THANK YOU!
This also means that we have some special 'thank yous'
to make — thank you to our advertisers for their continued
support and thank you to our readers for being readers and
for mentioning where you saw an advert.
There's also a very special thank you to the original
advertisers who have continued to support us continuously
throughout our last 11 years — Haslams Estate Agency,
The Hicks Group, AB Walker funeral directors, The Mill
at Sonning, the Scouts, AF Jones and Sheppard funeral
directors, and especially The French Horn, who have not
only supported us with advertising but have also generously
supported us in several other special projects that St Andrew's
Church and this magazine have been involved with. It was,
therefore, with some sadness to learn that The French Horn
and its estate is up for sale for £12 million. We wish the
owners a happy and very well-earned future.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE?
A key point about our advertisers is that they all agree
to support us throughout the whole year and we are hoping
many of them will continue to do so in 2024. If you are
potentially a new advertiser and would like to become part
of our magazine family then now is a good time to talk with
Harriet about reserving some space for your business or
organisation. Her contact details are on page 42.
Whether you are an advertiser or a reader The Parish
Magazine team has one important message for you — have a
Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year!