THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN JERUSALEM AND THE MIDDLE EAST
DIOCESE OF CYPRUS AND THE GULF
 

The message of Christmas is outrageous. Or at least it ought to take our breath away in its boldness. It is this: that into the world, at Bethlehem in a cave used as a stable, in Palestine when it was the Roman-occupied province of Judaea, in a given culture, in a particular year, at a precise time, God was born in human flesh.

The annunciation nine months earlier was equally outrageous. A young woman conceived and bore within her God, humanly growing.

The crucifixion thirty-three years later was outrageous. In the words of a hymn by Sydney Carter that still has the power to shock, " 'It's God they ought to crucify, instead of you and me,' I said to the carpenter, a-hanging on the tree." They did.

And who caused these things to be? None other than God, acting as Spirit. The doctrine that Christ was God in humanity, thus uniting humanity to God, is classic, orthodox, and to some unacceptable to the point of being offensive or laughable or scandalous. St Paul told us it would be.

But it transforms us. It utterly transfigures us. It lifts us, because it raises to God the

Bishop Michael will be in the UK from 5th to 9th January, and among other things will attend a meeting of the Friends on 8th January. He and Julia will visit Dubai and the Northern Emirates from 9th to 16th January and will then travel to Abu Dhabi where they will remain until Monday 21st January. On Sunday 27th they will be in St Barnabas, Limassol, and from 29th January to 1st February will be in Larnaca attending Diocesan Synod

One of the most delightful events recently was the birth of baby Brian Ayomide Ogunlana to students Franklyn and Rosemary Ogunlana - it was not exactly a first since the founding of the original Famagusta Fellowship, because former members Manga & Marindra Robdera of Madagascar -(who we heard have just moved from there to Botswana) - had a child somewhere around 2001, but nevertheless a unique event for the congregation of 2007.

The picture shows the morning congregation on the occasion of baby Bryan's Dedication. The morning service has risen to nearly 40 and the Sunday School has grown to 6 with girls ranging from 2 - 8 from 4 countries including North Cyprus.The Thursday evening midweek fellowship series on 'What's so Amazing About Grace?' ends just before Christmas.

The teaching in the week that featured legalism produced much discussion - see here two of the groups from amongst the almost 30 people gathered in the Chaplaincy House.

A variety of events are planned for the New Year, commencing with the Centenary Week of Prayer for Christian Unity linking with the Padre from the UN base - RC Chaplain from Slovakia - with a morning visit to his Nissen Hut church in the UN camp and their visiting us in the evening.

We are hopeful that the Chinese Church from Larnaca will visit us in February and on into March among many other things planned DV Maggie Le Roy will lead an all day seminar on verities of styles of prayer in use in Christendom.

May you know the joy of the Christ-child in your heart and home. May 2008 and be Happy and Blessed.

The Reverend Robin Brookes, Chaplain
 

We are pleased to say that the Anglican Church is now registered with the Government of Qatar as an official institution, and that I am almost registered as a marriage officer in Qatar. The government has been more than helpful in so many ways.

This has allowed us to be much more public than in past years, and we are able to publicise church services for Christmas. The congregation is in good heart and enthusiastic about all that God is doing in this place.

We are excited with the progress we have been making on so many fronts. The planning approval for the building has been extended and we have a new groundbreaking date: Pentecost 08. The congregation is responding to the challenge of raising the funds, and the challenge of finding partners from their home churches in this project which will benefit Christians of many nationalities and denominations. We need all the help we can get (hint, hint).

As we move forward with all that still needs to be done, we covet your prayers.

The Reverend Canon William Schwartz
 

I get to church a typical 1930's British looking Church, only this one is surrounded by bomb barricades and razor wire. I can never really get used to this journey or the arrival but it is here my people are. I take off my bulletproof clothes and the 150 plus children are all waiting for me and run to me. They kiss me and hug me and I have to ensure that I give every child an individual hug and kiss. Abouna, Abouna they cry, in Arabic father, father. After the children, it is the turn of the adults. A long queue develops and they too come to kiss me and hug me. For them I am not just their priest I am really their Abouna, they love me, and I love them.

Never before have I had a congregation like this, never before have I felt the love of a people like this and never before have I loved a group of people like this. They are indeed my people and I am their Abouna. So we have well over a 1000 members and none of them are traditionally Anglicans.

They are from every possible denomination in Iraq, they come because they live near the church and it is too dangerous to travel to their traditional places. My Saturday job is looking after the Iraqi Church, on Sundays I look after the American Chapel at the US Embassy. Monday to Friday, I am mainly working on religious sectarianism. One of the people with me today asks me where all the men are. I respond in quite a matter of fact way "Oh, most of them have been killed". In the past three years, 11 of my staff and all of my original Church leaders have been killed and the pain is still there. The women are still in black and when the fathers are killed we have to take on supporting each family, there is no other way.Despite all the problems, dangers and difficulties here, things are improving and violence is reducing. This time last year, I was not even able to have services in the church; we met in the Prime Minister's office. Now we are back. Yesterday we had our Church Christmas Bazaar. These in Iraq usually do not exist, but all the women at Church belong to the UK based Mothers Union and from them they learnt about such events. For weeks, they have been making products to cheaply sell. My mind goes back to the intense activities of this week, engaging mainly with Islamic clerics, working to beat down sectarianism and religiously inspired violence. In Islam, we are fast approaching the festival of Eid.  Like Christmas it is a time when peace is talked about a lot.

 We are grateful for the statement about this read by the Bishop of Liverpool regarding our five British Hostages. We work nonstop on their case and we hope and pray that this season of good will indeed bear fruit.

Despite all the negatives of this place, we are finally seeing improvements they may be slight and gradual but we have to hope they are coming. No, we cannot walk down the streets of Baghdad like we used to but even my Iraqi congregation tell me things are changing. Two of the biggest changes are that they now have more electricity and better security. As we look back on the past year, it is difficult to describe how tough it has been. I think of the security threats to me and having had to leave Iraq for a while. As we look at the present, we do see change this Christmas. The questions of the West are not the questions of most ordinary people here. Most people do not even mention the issue of coalition troop withdrawal. The fact is that the coalition are trusted more by most Iraqis than their own police and forces. Many people do not even consider coalition withdrawal will be possible until the situation significantly improves.

We do have hope again and we are planning for a wonderful Christmas. I talk to the children and I ask them what they are most looking forward too. They tell me that it is soon to be the birthday of Jesus that he was born not very far away in Bethlehem. They all say that what they are really looking forward to is the singing they will do at church and the play they are going to do. There is no mention of presents or great food. There will not be any of that, but they will worship the Christ Child born in a stable not very far away in Bethlehem. They sing to me some of the carols they have been practising and they are wonderful. The Children tell me that it is going to be the best Christmas ever! I always have a spot in the service where people can talk to me and tell me what has been happening. The stories are all awful. One woman had just gone to the market and the woman next to her was killed. Another person had witnessed a car blowing up but had survived. The stories of death and destruction, chaos and tragedy continue, but amongst them all is a simple gratitude to God for survival. In most places, there may be frantic preparations for the extravagances of Christmas, but here in Baghdad it is simply the spiritual that remains: the birthday of a saviour. That is what they will hold to, that is what will give them hope this Christmas time though surrounded by death and destruction they will celebrate life in all its fullness, the life brought by Jesus not far away. He is still not far away, and for my people is their only hope. So in the midst of all this chaos and tragedy we celebrate Christmas here, but here Christmas is all about our Lord: his mercy and his grace, and a great big party in heaven.

Happy Christmas from Baghdad. We are going to have the best one ever!

The Rev'd Canon Andrew White, Anglican Chaplain in Iraq
President of the Foundation for Reconciliation and Relief in the Middle East
 

Two weeks ago we hosted our third Yemen Smile cleft surgery camp. The results were very good. A tearfully grateful father said of his lovely fifteen year old daughter after surgery, ‘Now she has life’.

We also traveled to Sanaa with some of the congregation to take a Christmas service at the British Ambassador’s home. There are no church buildings in Sanaa. We expect about 80 people will be present.
 

In Aden, Christmas seems to bring fishermen, not shepherds! Yesterday came a delegation on behalf of 120 Yemeni employed Somali fishermen without wages for 3 months. They have been banned from returning to their vessels. They are on the streets. The inns are full because of the eid. We’ll see what can be done …

Much love and joy to you all this Christmas.

Peter and Nancy Crookes
 

Limassol is not the biggest Port in the world but it is a busy one. During the course of ship-visiting seafarers often say to me that they feel people in the wider community do not understand or even appreciate them! This may or may not be true. However, without seafarers doing their lonely, hard, and sometimes dangerous work, here in Cyprus we would starve! It's amazing what comes in through the Port for the benefit of those of us who live on the island. I decided after being appointed as Port Chaplain that on leaving every vessel after visiting I would say "THANK YOU for bringing us your cargo" - and this certainly seems to be appreciated, sometimes taking the seafarers by surprise! All of us should appreciate what seafarers do for the good of the whole community.

Limassol Seafarers Mission Centre is a haven for the men (and a few women) who work on the ships which come to us every day of the week 52 weeks of the year. They appreciate the friendly welcome we give them at the MC and the facilities we provide - mainly internet/email and card-phone - but also a break away from their work and the chance to talk to other people. Just occasionally do they need extra help, advice, information, or guidance. This year the Centre will open on Christmas morning to enable seafarers in port to contact their loved ones who are often half a world away. Port ministry is a genuine privilege which relies heavily on the dedicated service of our team of volunteers who staff the Centre through the week. Please show your appreciation for seafarers by praying for them, and for all who work in the vitally important shipping industry.

The Reverend Marvin Bamforth
Limassol MtS Chaplain
 

The wider expatriate community has been gracious in inviting the church to have a presence in their activities. I was a guest speaker for the St Andrews Caledonian Ball and was asked to speak about St Andrew which proved to be a marvellous opportunity to speak of the Gospel to over 200 people who would not normally darken the doors of the church. The British Embassy also continue to be a source of great encouragement and it was great to join with 900 Brits recently at a Christmas event there. The ambassador is a committed Christian and was keen to remind his constituents of the true meaning behind Christmas

It was also thrilling to be involved with a couple of Christian Muslim dialogue events and I look forwards to seeing where these lead.

 

In the New Year we will be welcoming visitors from Singapore, and seeking to explore with the Kuwaiti government possibilities of opening up a new church centre in the city. We will also be looking forward to welcoming our new Bishop.

To our sister churches in the Cyprus and the Gulf we wish you all a blessed Christmas.

Τhe Reverend Andy Thompson
 

The Christmas season does not mean that we are neglecting raising funds for our face lift of St. Andrews Compound in 2008/09. Dirhams 50,000 was raised in our Big Sale: selling quality goods for 2 or 3 Dirhams combines raising funds with serving the needs of the poorer people in our community. Our sale was on a Friday, so, as 70 congregations worship here on that day, we had a built-in customer base!

This year, pre Christmas celebrations coincide with Eid Al Adha. Visiting the Majlises of the ruling family yesterday to offer “Eid Mubarak Caneesa Inglesi”, one senior Emirati pledged a sizeable donation for the facelift. Another was hoping to postpone a trip abroad in order to meet Bishop Michael when he visits Abu Dhabi in January.

We are not forgetting charitable giving. I offered the pulpit to Gideons International on Friday and Sunday early in December and donations to them amounted to Dirhams 2,190 with which they intend to buy “388 New Testaments and 10 Full Bibles which will be placed in hotels and hospitals in 182 countries around the world in 82 languages”.

This Christmas, we have added Chrismon to the usual Nativity Play and Christingle services for Children. Chrismon is a most popular and educational dressing of the Christmas tree with symbols of Christianity down the centuries. 40 children and parents spent a happy morning constructing the symbols and then decorating the tree amid carols, prayers and explanations.

The Reverend Clive Windebank
 

Celebrations on the weekend of Bishop Michael's enthronement gave a good opportunity for visitors from abroad to see the Katafiyio Retreat House, to absorb a little of the house's 200 year architectural history, and it's 14 month history of being a place for quiet reflection and prayer.

In November the house was used by a number of folk but since then, and until now, there are few bookings into the new year. Do please let congregations and individuals you are in contact with, know about this facility

Maggie will be busy in January with preparations for:
- the monthly quiet day at Katafiyio;
- leading three weekend retreats in three different cities in Yemen in February;
- speaking at the Womens World Day of Prayer service in Ayia Napa in March;
- leading a retreat day for St Mark's, Famagusta, in March;
... in amongst seeing folk for individual Spiritual Direction, etc.

Maggie Le-Roy, Retreats Facilitator

Carol Service: Our service of Nine Lessons and Carols was held in St. Andrew's at 6pm on the evening of Sunday 16th December. It was a very well attended service, there being 136 in the congregation inside and brave souls standing listening outside. The choir was supported by members of the Kyrenia Chamber Choir which is also conducted by our Choirmaster Mr. George Ward. A tremendous effort was put into the Carols sung by the choir on their own. Many additional practises were held, and it all paid off with singing of a high standard on the night. My thanks to those parishioners who organised refreshments in the Church Hall after the Service.

Samantha Arlington: Samantha works near Kyrenia and on her way home some eight weeks ago, she suffered multiple injuries when the car she was a passenger in was hit by a minibus whose driver was without insurance. Her injuries included both arms broken, right leg broken in three places, broken nose, and damaged ribs. The Parish heard of her plight and a number of them visited her in hospital and also donated funds to pay for several weeks of her after-care when she was released from hospital into the care of a retired Nurse. As she had ,many years ago been an amateur jockey, contact was made on her behalf by the Chaplain, with the Injured Jockey Fund in London and after many forms had been completed and returned to them, a letter arrived on 17th December informing us that they would donate £2500 towards her future medical needs. So Samantha will have a very happy Christmas, free of financial medical worries for the forseeable future as she returns to her own home to try and take up her life again under difficult circumstances.

Τhe Reverend Michael Houston
 

At the meeting of the Provincial Standing Committee held in November, 2007, it was decided to hold the next Provincial Clergy Conference from 17th to 21st November, 2008 in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. This will be followed by a Provincial Standing Committee on 22nd November.
 

The prayer book with the updated directory had already gone to press when the following new contact details were received. Please make a note of them for the time being, until the new prayer book and directory in July is circulated.