Praying for a Merry Christmas for the disaster victims. One Hundred locals and (US) base residents gather/Yokosuka December 25, 2010

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112250017/

Caption: Participants at a Christmas party sing hymns=Yokosuka Municipal Cultural Meeting Hall

Wishing to offer happiness to the disaster victims; on the 25th, in Fukudadai, Yokosuka City’s Municipal Cultural Meeting Hall, the local church held a Christmas party. One hundred townspeople participated, including members of Yokosuka's American military base and registered Filipino immigrants living in the town. Looking back at the world's many disasters that took place over the year, they prayed for the sake of the victims.

The church continues to periodically support the disaster area in East Japan. This month, in Mindanao Island, in the Southern Philippines, Typhoon Washi inflicted numerous casualties. On the 24th, Christmas Eve, worshippers collected financial support for the victims.

 　

Pastor Raymond Mercer said to the participants: "This Christmas, besides what presents our children will be receiving, what about the disaster victims? Let's ask what we can do for them." For the victims of the earthquake disaster, they're facing the cold weather of the North-East. In order to help them find hope, the church participants all together extended their thoughts towards them.

Original Text

被災者の幸せ祈るクリスマス、地元や基地から１００人集う/横須賀

2011年12月25日

 賛美歌を歌うクリスマスパーティーの参加者たち＝横須賀市立文化会館

被災者に幸せの贈り物があるように―。横須賀市深田台の市立文化会館で25日、地元の教会が主催するクリスマスパーティーが開かれた。市民のほか米海軍横須賀基地関係者やフィリピン籍の市内在住者など計１００人が参加。世界で災害の多かった１年を振り返り、被災者のために祈った。

教会では定期的に東日本大震災の被災地支援を続けている。今月にはフィリピン南部ミンダナオ島を台風12号が襲い多くの死傷者が出たため、24日のクリスマスイブの礼拝で支援金を集めた。

教会のレイ・マーサ―牧師は参加者に「このクリスマスでは子供たちに『プレゼントに何をもらった？』だけでなく、（被災者に）『何をしてあげた？』と聞きましょう」。震災の被災者には「東北は寒いが、希望を見つけられるように」と、参加者とともに思いをささげた。