2009 12 newsletter christmas

The Nazareth Trust Healing in the name of Jesus since 1861

..........the son of a carpenter..........

Scene from Nazareth Village

Newsletter Christmas 2009

Welcome from Joseph Main, CEO

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s we approach the end of 2009, it is with a sense of deep appreciation that I look back at the year and see just how much has been achieved - appreciation for all those who support us - appreciation for all those who work so tirelessly - and, of course, a deep appreciation of what the Lord has done and continues to do in this place.

It is a good thing to step back & consider the wonder of His grace.

To consider that here, in the same town where He walked & served, He has enabled us to continue walking & serving in His name.

And what of the future? 2010 will be a year when we see the commitment of our supporters, staff and volunteers bear fruit. The Hospital’s new Operating Theatres and the School of Nursing’s new auditorium will both be well used and my personal appreciation goes to the General Director of our Hospital, Elia Abdo, and the Director of our School, Amal Khazin, for their determination and unceasing labour to bring these remarkable plans into being throughout 2009.

We will see our new volunteer programme, SERVE Nazareth, welcome its first cohort of 16, prepared and embarking upon a journey that will literally change the participants’ lives as well as bless the Christian communities of Nazareth and their own home towns. Thank you, Christine Farah and Derek Schwartz for making this come to life.

And 2010 will be the year of the first Nazareth Trust bike-ride.

Building on the tremendous work done by EMMS International since 2001, we look forward to welcoming all who can make it to Israel for the event - so a big thank you also goes to all you intrepid folk who sign up at the web-site and get ready to start pedaling!

I am delighted with our Christmas Newsletter and am sure you will find it an interesting and rewarding read. Continue to pray for us; continue to support us; and continue to tell others of what the Lord has done.

Joseph R. Main

A Christmas to remember & cherish to you all.

Chief Executive Officer

In this Edition

SERVE Nazareth - Christmas Appeal 2009

Page 4

Nazareth Hospital and School of Nursing

Page 6

EMMS International Bike Rides

Page 7

International Friends USA - NPI

Page 8

Seeds of Hope

Page 9

Welcome from Vincent Acheson, Editor

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hristmas is a time of celebration—most particularly for Christians, as we commemorate how “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth” (John 1, 14). These words have particular resonance for the Nazareth Trust: Jesus may have been born in Bethlehem, but it was in Nazareth that the Virgin Mary learnt of her pregnancy from the Angel Gabriel, and it was to Nazareth that Joseph and Mary returned to raise our Lord.

We devote much of this edition of your Newsletter to celebrating support for the people of Nazareth. As you will see, we continue to work hard to fulfill the potential the Lord has entrusted to us, but every now and then it is good to look back, look forward, smile and give thanks.

Looking back, we celebrate 9 years of Bike Rides in support of the Hospital organised by our sister charity EMMS International. We hear of the ongoing effectiveness of our friends NPI in the USA. We remember also how this was the year that the Hospital gained world-class operating rooms, and hear of the growth in visitors coming to help.

Looking forward,

we hear of

yet more wonderful

developments in the School of Nursing. We also look closely at a new programme with a vision to SERVE and encourage the diverse Christian communities of Nazareth. Far beyond Nazareth, you can read of the many ways in which you can Build Bridges between your own churches and the town to which we are called.

Finally, those who receive this Newsletter in Scotland will find full details of a Nazareth Trust Coffee Morning to be held at Davidson's Mains Parish Church in Edinburgh on Saturday, 13th February. Bring your friends to join us as we start to build our profile in Edinburgh for a new generation.

Finally, our Christmas Appeal for 2009 is in support of SERVE Nazareth. You can read about this huge leap of faith on pages 4&5. In time, the programme will be self-funding, but the start -up costs are considerable. We stand in real need of your generous Christmas gifts to ensure that this vision to support and encourage the Faithful of Jesus’ home town turns into reality in summer 2010.

Vincent Acheson

A joyous and blessed Christmas to Head of Programmes—UK you all!

PRAYER BOX Lord, our Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the birth of your Son who brought the Kingdom of Heaven to this fallen Earth, renew our minds, our bodies, our hearts and our souls for the work ahead.

Give us the wisdom, strength and determination to deliver blessing both to Nazareth, and to all whom we meet wherever in the world you lead us.

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SERVE Nazareth Christmas Appeal 2009

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ummer 2010 will see the campus hosting a new work of service to the people of Our Lord’s home town.

What is SERVE Nazareth?

SERVE Nazareth has grown out of a vision to bring Christians from around the world to serve and encourage the body of Christ in Nazareth.

We believe that we look most like Christ as we serve and look to Jesus as our example: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10,45 .

Participants will spend several months with us, working alongside the different denominations in Nazareth, and will thus join these diverse communities together with Christian Unions, universities, colleges, and churches around the world.

While church internships will be a major part of the programme, we are working to offer participants the chance to further their education and Biblical knowledge. We have thus included educational courses in partnership with a well respected seminary. These courses will further support and encourage understanding of the Bible and the culture of the Middle East.

Meet the Team

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erek Schwartz joins us from the USA. He worked in Nazareth for six months in 2009 and visited in 2007.

‚Over the last 5 years I have participated in programmes like SERVE in different parts of the world. The calling to create and keep unity among believers has touched my heart in a great way.

To succeed, we will have to achieve and maintain unity as Christians working together. 80% of missionaries leave the field to which they are assigned because of disunity. We need to create community Derek Schwartz that seeks God with fire and urgency, and shares the reality of our responsibility to keep unity among us.

WHAT CAN I DO? Subscribe to our Christmas Appeal We stand in real need of your generous Christmas gifts to ensure that the SERVE Nazareth vision turns into reality in Summer 2010.

Pass the word!

Tell others of this chance to spend several life-changing months serving in Nazareth.

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SERVE Nazareth Christmas Appeal 2009

SERVE Nazareth will allow us to use our gifts in unique ways in serving others. People will see Christ in us as we humble ourselves and seek to serve without asking anything in return. As we show love through service, people will be drawn to this counter-intuitive way of life - something I have experienced firsthand. I count it a privilege to help others share the thrill and great reward of serving God and serving others‛

C

hristine Farah has worked in the Hospital for many years, and has recently moved into this new role:

‚SERVE Nazareth’s themes of unity, community and encouragement have all resonated with me for many years, but I never knew where they would ultimately lead me!

The emphasis for participants will be of service, encouragement, restoration and healing. We do not have a political or denominational agenda to fulfill. We exist to serve and build up where there is need – to come and assist from the ground up.

Christine Farah

At the same time, the programme provides education and experience for participants which they will be the richer for on their return. Participants will go back to their sending churches and communities with the experience of another culture, a community of friends from home and abroad, a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Bible and having experienced a depth of spiritual growth it is hard to achieve outside of community‛.

The Challenge Success will require much hard work and wisdom.

We also need your generous financial help to get the programme launched on time.

For more information please email: serve@nazarethtrust.org or visit

http://www.nazarethtrust.org/volunteering-in-nazareth

PRAYER BOX

Please support Derek and Christine with your prayers so they can deliver a programme starting in summer 2010 which fulfils the vision the Lord has given us.

Pray also for all those who come - that they will not only come and see, but come and become part of the community on the campus – taking back as much, if not more, of a blessing than they bring with them and thoroughly prepared to continue to serve on their return.

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Nazareth Hospital EMMS Nazareth School of Nursing Nazareth Hospital EMMS

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hilst SERVE Nazareth is new, volunteers have been coming to the Hospital for many years to help wherever possible. They are vital both for our Christian witness and to support the clinical care we deliver to all who need our help. Volunteers come as individuals for several months or as members of workparties for a week or two.

Statistics tell a story— and in this case, the story is an exciting one: Year Individuals Workparties

2008 18 3

2009 23 10

New Operating Rooms in service —weekend maintenance

Medical students come on placement as part of their studies. Their numbers are also on the rise: in 2008 the Hospital hosted only one student, in 2009 the number increased to six.

Several have returned to their University Christian Unions to Medical Student Elisabeth Butler of Southampton University in action. spread the word about the wonderful testimony of Nazareth Hospital EMMS.

Nazareth School of Nursing

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ecember will see a double celebration: on Sunday 13th we will open the new auditorium and cafeteria, and mark the 85th Anniversary of the oldest School of Nursing in Israel. As ever, we are profoundly grateful to BibleLands for their support.

The timing is excellent - with Work in progress in the School. This area 66 new students this year, will be a cafeteria, providing students with space is currently in very an area to ‘chill’ between lectures and enjoy a range of healthy snacks. Profits limited supply! will be put back into the School.

On that day, we will launch an Alumni Association. If you are an ex-student or staff member, please get in touch with us so you can be included.

Finally, work continues on the new BA Degree in partnership with Haifa University. More news in the next Newsletter!

PRAYER BOX Pray that the Lord will bring increasing numbers of volunteers and Christian medical students to share in community and service in Nazareth.

Pray for the Christian witness of the School of Nursing as students from all backgrounds are trained for medical service.

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EMMS International Bike Ride 2009

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he Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society began running Bike Rides to support the work of Nazareth Hospital in 1992. In 2001, the Society became two separate charities, EMMS International and EMMS Nazareth (The Nazareth Trust).

EMMS International continued to develop bike rides and treks, which included an annual bike ride in support of Nazareth. This wonderful sign of EMMS International 2009 Bike Riders arriving at the Hospital Back Gate at the end of a ride which was uphill all the way ongoing close from the Dead Sea. As always, the Nazareth Greek Orthodox Scout Band plays in their honour. This year’s 18 riders relations has been raised over £25,000! invaluable to Nazareth, as until 2007, EMMS Nazareth (The Nazareth Trust) had no presence of its own in the United Kingdom.

As we go to press, what will be the final EMMS International Bike Ride in support of Nazareth Hospital has just finished.

The Israel and Jordan bike rides have raised substantial sums in support of the Nazareth Hospital and School of Nursing.

They have made a significant difference to the work in Nazareth. A grand total of £340,000 has been raised since EMMS became two separate charities.

Times have moved on, and we now have our own Head Office in the UK – and, of course, the new operating name of ‘The Nazareth Trust’. The trustees of the Nazareth Trust have decided that they now wish to run their own bike ride in the Galilee in 2010, which will be part fundraising challenge, part wheeled pilgrimage.

Joe Cooney of EMMS International.

Joe has organised every Bike Ride since 2001. It is thanks to his dedication and professionalism that EMMS International has helped riders to raise almost £130,000 in the last five years alone.

EMMS International will therefore focus their bike rides and treks on supporting their partners in Malawi, India and Nepal. Both charities will continue to seek ways to work in partnership going forward.

All of us at the Nazareth Trust would like to offer our very warmest thanks and appreciation to EMMS International for their support since 2001, and both charities wish each other every success with their respective events in the future.

NAZARETH TRUST BIKE RIDE 2010

News coming soon on www.nazarethtrust.org about the Nazareth Trust Bike Ride in the Galilee October 2010!

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International Friends: Nazareth Project, Inc. (USA)

This past fall, we successfully completed negotiations for a $300,000 grant award from American Schools and Hospitals Abroad, a division of US Agency for International Development. With these funds, Nazareth Hospital will purchase incubators for the NICU, a gastro colonoscope & light source, fetal monitor, recovery room monitors, two CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) machines for orthopedics, surgical instruments, an endoscopic system, two high speed autoclaves, a dishwasher/disinfector for surgical instruments, and a medical air generator.

In October, Mennonite Nurses Association, a North American organization dedicated to the promotion of nursing and provision of support for Christian nurses, in a wonderful act of partnership, devoted $1325 to the auditorium project for the School of Nursing.

While these fund-raising successes are important, they do not paint the complete picture of our mission and vision.

Nazareth Project Inc. provides a network through which God’s people in the US are able to walk alongside of their brothers and sisters in Nazareth. They continue to do so through their prayers, sacrificial giving, time, and hospitality.

We desire to see this work grow, continuing in ways that ultimately encourage, build up, and strengthen.

As is typical of administrative work, our days in the office are filled with details - details that sometimes distract from our deeper purpose. As we move into this Advent season, we at Nazareth Project renew our commitment to focus on Jesus, whose hometown we serve. We remember how He stood before the people of his hometown synagogue, opened a scroll, and read these words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he has anointed me To proclaim good news to the Poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are Oppressed, To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, saying, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21) As we join Christians around the world in observing this time of waiting, we share in God’s desire for the poor to hear the Good News, for the captive to be liberated, for the blind to see, and the oppressed set free. These same desires have also been given to us, and by that same Spirit.

PRAYER BOX

Give thanks for the ongoing dedicated service of NPI. Pray that the Lord will meet financial needs of the organisation, so that they may continue to be obedient and faithful in their mission.

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Seeds of Hope NAZARETH HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY SERVICE

Christmas 2009 MEET RANDA ELIAS Randa is the Director of Nursing Services at the Hospital and a member of the Hospital management team, as well as being involved in the work of the

spiritual

services

Randa is a regular speaker at the morning chapel services

department.

A deaconess at the Local Baptist church and women’s

ministry

coordinator,

Randa

regularly speaks at the Wednesday morning chapel services and was involved in the recent planning and preparation of the Spiritual Care Policy introduced at the Hospital.

Randa says “I desire to show and practise my faith in managing people, decision making and in my priorities at work and home”.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7, 14

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NAZARETH HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY SERVICE

Our Ministry

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ne of the main recent activities of the Chaplaincy service was the annual retreat for hospital staff and volunteers. This, the second such retreat held in recent years, was held at Nes Ammin kibbutz near Nahariyya. The weekend coincided with the first torrential rainstorms of the season, but this did nothing to dampen the spirits of those attending!

Rev Mones Farah led the retreat along with Hospital Chaplain Rev Suheil Bathish and CEO Joseph Main

The speaker this year was Rev Mones Farah, of Meadgate Church, Great Baddow, UK. A local Christian Arab who lives abroad, Rev Farah brought a series of sessions based on the theme, ‚Walking in the valley after the mountaintop—

The children had their own retreat with Rose, a volunteer from the Child Evangelism Fellowship

Being people of faith in every circumstance‛.

The retreat this year attracted more than 40 attendees, from hospital workers in almost every area, to volunteers and retirees with their families.

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NAZARETH HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY SERVICE

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ork Groups have become a regular sight on the campus. They work at the hospital and wherever possible attend and participate in the Sunday evening services in English. Visitors often speak at the services. You can read their devotional messages in the ‘Faith’ Section of the website, or subscribe to receive them direct by email each week.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” Psalm 103: 2-3

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ith the swine flu epidemic, we see the fear, confusion and panic disease can bring. Masks, gloves and instructions put people under pressure as our staff try to help families to avoid the illness or deal with it, especially when a family member becomes ill.

We thank the Lord for the help our hospital can provide and pray for the safety and health of all staff and patients.

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n November we also were pleased to welcome Karen Miller Ruach, Co—Director of Nazareth Project Inc. Karen visited with her husband Hans, and spent time with hospital staff and the chaplaincy team.

Nazareth Projects, Inc support the Hospital and also helped raise funds for the annual retreat through a church in the US. They also organised the visit of Hospital Chaplain Rev Suheil Bathish to the US in 2008 where he spent time between several hospitals and their chaplaincy services.

Karen Miller Ruach, Co—Director of Nazareth Project Inc. with her husband Hans

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NAZARETH HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY SERVICE

Meditation

”After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”

Matthew 4, 2

Jesus began His ministry with fasting. He taught how to fast by saying “When you fast..” and not “If you fast...” (Matt 6: 17) considering it a must. The early church followed this and so should we.

Why Fast?

The main goal of fasting is to humble ourselves before God, as David said in Psalm 35, 13: “I humbled myself with fasting”. The core of fasting is leaving the natural things, seeking what is above nature, focussing our sight on the Lord who is above all.

Fasting (and prayer) change our inner person, turning our flesh from master into slave, showing God’s presence in our lives and allowing the Holy Spirit to flow in us abundantly. Fasting with the right intentions can change not only ourselves but our families, our societies and our countries.

I am convinced that as believers it is our responsibility to bridge the gap, so let us humble ourselves before the Lord, seeking Him in fasting and prayer, for He will hear and heal our country.

Randa Elias, Director of Nursing Services

PRAYER BOX Please pray for the staff and their families who attended the recent Retreat—that they will continue to be encouraged and built up in the witness they bear in the Hospital and at home Please also pray for the success of our Chaplaincy Appeal, the total of which is currently £8,123.75

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