Christmas Bowl

The Christmas Bowl is the Christmas appeal of Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia and a member of the global ACT Alliance. The Christmas Bowl began in 1949, when the Rev. Frank Byatt placed an empty bowl on the table during Christmas dinner and asked his guests to contribute the cost of their meal, in order to support refugees escaping the devastation of World War II. Today, the Christmas Bowl continues to be an ecumenical church appeal, with more than 2000 churches from 19 denominations getting involved around Australia. Each church brings a varied history of place, experience, and theology, but we share a common faith and belief that the future of Christians in Australia lies together. Together, churches raise almost $2.5 million annually through the Christmas Bowl, which provides much needed assistance to people affected by conflict and poverty around the world. For more information, please visit Act for Peace – Christmas Bowl.