Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH), located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, needs your urgent help. Owned and operated by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), it is the main cancer and kidney center serving Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.S. Congress committed $25 million in assistance for East Jerusalem hospitals for 2017 – funding that is now under threat of being cut.
Call and Write White House
Please call the White House hotline (202-456-1111) or write a comment in their comments submissions area to urge them to ensure there is no interruption of assistance for children and others in need of treatment for cancer and additional life-threatening diseases. The hotline is open M-F 9am-4pm ET.
Write Congress
Write to your senators and representatives to urge them to contact the White House as well. It takes a couple minutes to send a note using our sample letter.
Pray
Prayer of Intercession: Look with mercy, gracious God, upon people everywhere who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death. We remember before you today the Palestinians who come for healing to East Jerusalem hospitals, including the Lutheran hospital on the Mount of Olives. As these hospitals struggle now with keeping their doors open, send your Holy Spirit upon us and all government authorities to provide the support needed for your healing work to continue in Jerusalem; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Give
The ELCA provides ongoing support to Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem through ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response. Give now and your gifts will be used over and above our church’s ongoing, annual support in order to prevent interruptions to the lifesaving, critical care provided to children and other patients.
Share
Include this bulletin insert in your congregation’s bulletin this Sunday.
Learn
For more background information:
Briefing Paper on Augusta Victoria Hospital
Questions and Answers Sheet About Augusta Victoria Hospital
LWF Article with photos: US Cuts Funding to East Jerusalem Hospitals
LWF Article with photos: AVH and East Jerusalem Hospitals Respond to Reports of US Funding Cuts