My dear friends,
Through this issue of Treasure magazine, you are about to take a journey. It will be a very long journey, but you won't need to pack a suitcase and you can make it while you sit in a quiet place. Over these next weeks, as you read through the pages of this magazine, you will travel in your mind to Jerusalem and learn something about the lives of brother and sister Christians who live there.

Jerusalem is at the heart of a land we call the Holy Land. It is Holy for Christians because Jesus walked the dusty roads there during his life on earth 2000 years ago. For a very long time there has not been peace in the Holy Land and men and women have struggled to be peace-makers. Their lives have not been easy and, because they are our brothers and sisters, we want to share in their hopes and struggles for peace. Coming to know their stories the pages of this magazine is a way of sharing their lives.

This Advent you and your family have an opportunity to pray together and to read stories in Treasure Magazine. Some of the stories are drawn from Scripture and help us prepare for our celebration at Christmas of the birth of Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace. Other stories have been written by children who live in the Diocese of Jerusalem. Their deepest hope is for peace, especially because their beautiful land has been a place where fighting has taken place for as long as they can remember.

The attack of September 11 upon the United States calls us to respond in many ways. One way is to build peace and presence: a presence of compassion in the world. Together, as children of God, we have been called to be people of compassion, a compassion that is so great that God's mercy, God's loving kindness is shown in the way we serve those who are poor, sick, suffering, dying and in deepest need. You have an opportunity to give to ministries in your Diocese and ministries in the Diocese of Jerusalem.

May we offer our prayers, our support, our compassionate hearts for the work of peace in our homes, in our congregation, in the Diocese of Jerusalem, in the world. May Christmas and Epiphany bring us an awareness of the Peace only Christ can bring.

I pray your journey to Jerusalem will prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate