Know Their Names

The Social Justice Committee at St. Augustine's received overwhelming endorsement from the Church Committee to begin a new service. In response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and knowing that over 16,800 (in August, the number is over 17,000 now) children have been killed in Gaza since the genocide began, we gather every Sunday for 15 minutes (11:30-11:45am) to read/hear the names of children who have died. Hearing the names of children who have been killed, speaking their names in the peaceful environment of our garden, is a way of acknowledging their existence, the importance of their brief lives, their right to life and dignity and the brutal circumstances of their death.

We gather in the community garden, not the memorial garden (which is away from public view) so the community can be invited to join us, is made aware of what we are doing. We stand in solidarity with our siblings in Gaza, in silence, as the names are read. Everyone is invited to join us.

Last Sunday was my first attendance as I've been away on holidays. To hear two and a half pages of names read out, and knowing not one child was over the age of one year, was heartbreaking. I have attached a photo of Hudson (reading) and his brother Maguire (holding the umbrella) who lead the reading for us in the rain.

St Augustine has also been hosting a Prayers for Peace service every Thursday since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.