Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

The Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales, has praised congregations across Wales for their wonderful response to the present crisis stemming from the tsunami in the Indian ocean on 26 December and urged congregations and individuals to hold the victims in their prayers during this difficult time.

Commenting today the Archbishop said:

"In my sermon on Christmas day, I emphasised the importance of doing something when we are faced with tragedies and said that 'the central truth of the Gospel is about praying for our world, caring for our world and doing something practical to help the poor of our world. The heart of the festival of Christmas is that God in Jesus Christ identifies himself completely with his world, especially those who are poor or in trouble of any kind and invites those who are his followers to join Him in his struggle against poverty, disease, war, hopelessness and despair. Therein lies the meaning of love both divine and human.'

"Faced as we are with the growing scale of this tragedy, it is all the more important that we do both these things - do something practical and positive, but also pray - particularly for those who have been bereaved or injured as a result of the 26 December tsunami.

"Every life lost is a tragedy for members of that person's family and pur hearts and prayers are with all those who have suffered a bereavement or been injured as a result of this tidal wave."

"The response we have seen already from the people of Wales in financial contributions to the disaster relief fund has been magnificent and I hope that this proves to be only the beginning of the assistance we offer to those shattered communities around the Indian Ocean. The need is great as the Bishop of Columbo (Sri Lanka) emphasised in a recent e-mail to me.

"I have today authorised a donation of GB?5,000 to the disaster relief fund from the Church in Wales' overseas mission fund and I know that many church congregations and individual Christians across Wales will also want to contribute to the relief fund.

"I have also asked for special prayers to be prepared for use by Church in Wales congregations across Wales and these will be with clerics for use this coming Sunday."