When you give to the Christmas Bowl, you improve the quality of someone else's life.
For many years Australians have been giving annually to the Christmas Bowl. Christmas Bowl giving transcends the boundaries of individual churches. The funds go to projects that are initiated and run by churches together in many different countries.
Your giving to the Christmas Bowl in the past has translated into a better life, a little more hope, for someone in the world - for an individual, a family, a community.
This is Christian fellowship at work, when you are invisibly but tangibly connected to other people.
On the map you can see where Act for Peace are currently working with our partners overseas.
The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) is one such partner. PCC helps church leaders from various denominations to understand HIV-AIDS so that they can help those directly affected and stand by their loved ones. The All Africa Conference of Churches runs a similar programme. Both of these are supported through the funds Act for Peace give to the Christmas Bowl.
The Christmas Bowl is a programme of Act for Peace (formerly Christian World Service). Act for Peace currently works with communities in 22 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.
Remember that in the countries of Asia, Africa, the Pacific and the Middle East, a little goes a very long way.
You can support the Christmas Bowl in many ways
The Christmas Bowl display
at the Sherwood Uniting Church
Why not plan imaginative events this year to help support the Christmas Bowl?
Here are some ideas:
- Have a very simple meal with your friends at home, for example, and contribute to the Christmas Bowl the extra money you might have spent on a restaurant meal.
- Put a bowl on the table at your staff Christmas Party, instead of giving presents.
- Hold a raffle at your Christmas party or a BBQ for Christmas Bowl - perhaps local businesses might like to donate something as a prize.
- Hold an "auction of promise", in which the " objects" to be auctioned are intangible offers, such as:
- mowing someone's lawn
- cooking a good meal
- weeding someone's garden
- helping with decorating (if someone has particular skills)
Make sure you charge an entrance fee and publicise the event widely. - Are you taking part in a fun run, special walk or other community event?
Set up your own everyday hero website - it's very easy. It's a simple way for your family and friends to sponsor you. Make sure you name the charity as Christmas Bowl. Check it out here. - Here's a good idea from Western Australia, one that can be practised all year round: "Bless a bowl in your worship area, staff room or work place and encourage everyone to toss their 5 and 10 cent pieces in to the bowl. Keep a tally of the amount raised. Consider keeping the bowl going for the whole year and support the Christmas Bowl work all year. Keep a supply of Christmas Bowl book marks by the bowl so people can read the Christmas Bowl stories." (Together Online, CCWA)
Write to us with your ideas for supporting the Christmas Bowl!
If you would like to speak to someone at QCT about the Christmas Bowl, please contact Hazel Smart by email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .
Follow this link to read more about the Christmas Bowl and access general resources.