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

But it was more than shopping and feasting. Bishop Michael added his presence to a meeting of some fifty Somali fishermen whose long overdue wages we are trying to obtain. We met with Aden’s deputy Governor and joined the Missionary Sisters of Charity for prayers one evening.

We found Bishop Michael and Julia easy to look after (they’ll be glad to know!); perceptive and quietly affirming of what we are about here. We are grateful.

While they were here, a delegation of Canadian Embassy officials from Abu Dhabi visited, and has formally appointed our clinics the medical processing centre for all refugees they approve from Yemen for resettlement in Canada. It is a significant responsibility and a ‘feather in the turban’, so to speak.

We look forward to keeping Holy Week and join in wishing you all a glorious Easter.

Peter and Nancy Crooks

 

On Sunday 27th january over 120 people packed into the church to hear a man who really is larger than life. Canon Andrew White had arrived in Cyprus for the Synod in Larnaca but came to the North to join us for our morning service. Yes, he is a big man with a loud voice but his message was even bigger and louder. he told us about his churches and congregations in Baghdad. What a brave man to continue to "be there" for all denominations and nationalities under extremely threatening circumstances. He pointed out that, due to the atrocities in Iraq, the majority of his congreation are women and children and he greets each and every one of them with a kiss

Shrove Tuesday once again saw a Pancake and Quiz Night. Fifteen teams of 4 people sat down to a delicious meal and then they had to put their brains in gear to complete quiz questions set by Nina Simmons. A close finish ended in a win for the "Veterans" represented by Bertil and Felicity Wedin and Ian & Margi Slade. This evening raised approximately £600. 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.

As people in the community gradually get the news that the long interregnum is indeed over and that the Church of the Epiphany is moving forward in many ways, we are finding broad interest among the expat community. At the end of February confirmation classes began with 14 young people, many who have shown an interest for more than a year and who are glad that we are planning for the bishop to visit in the fall. The Qatari authorities continue to be helpful in every way, though we still don't have permission to perform weddings, much to the dismay of a large number of couples! We have also begun building relationships with the leadership of the other Christian communities in the city. There are many, of course, and since we will all share a common compound good relations will be imperative in the years to come.

Building project - we received the first stage of the building permit last week, which means we can begin excavation on foundations. We are planning some kind of commemoration/blessing service on Pentecost weekend to commit the actual building phase into God's hand for his blessing. The fund-raising has been encouraging, with much positive interest shown by people interested in the project. We are hopeful of having raised enough funds to actually begin the first phase at Pentecost. This plan of the ground floor should give an indication of the scope of the project. We expect to be able to host 8 congregations at the same time from 700 - 50, about 3000 people on the compound at any time. The first floor will look much the same, with different configurations of meeting rooms. There will be a balcony for extra seating in the main church.  Notice the Byzantine style baptismal pool in the courtyard!

Epiphany Fun:

The beginning of the New Year seems to have become an annual event for fun at St Barnabas’ Church. January 7th 2008 was no exception. The rafters rocked from the frivolity of the congregation and the new roof was in danger of flying off!
Using the new Hall is still at a “trial and error” stage and so is the style of our Fun and Fund evenings. We tried to see if we could fit 60 into the space available – we did – and still left room for a raffle table (organised by Christine) and of course, Richard and his keyboard. There was even a little space for dancing!

Tickets were sold at £1 per person, plus a contribution for all to share, be it sandwiches, savouries, cake, or drink. This system worked very well and there was plenty of food and drink to go round. Keith got roped in to help on the bar again. (Never volunteer!!!!)
People generously bought raffle tickets and we’d collected about 14 prizes – funny how the same names kept cropping up though when the winning numbers were drawn!

So what did we do? A good-old-fashioned sing-song was the main entertainment and after a few drinks, who cared what words were sung? It even loosened up Ron and Dorothy enough to dance the cha-cha-cha and Rod and Pam to “do a double act” – plenty of wit and repartee – and as everyone knows, Pam only drinks water!!!!

This was a fun evening in every sense of the word and it was great to share the fellowship with our friends. However, at the same time, we raised funds – an amazing £174. A good time was had by all and thanks to Richard, Christine and Pam who put it all together.
Make a date for Epiphany 2009, same place, same time. Bring along your voice!

Dear Anetta


At our recent Executive Group Meeting, I was asked to write to you to ask if you could pass on our very grateful thanks to the people of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf for the Palm Crosses which were made and sent to us for distribution to Churches in the Exeter Diocese. We are most grateful for this support and of our links with each other. Our greetings to all in Cyprus and the Gulf and thanks for your help which is much appreciated.


With every blessing

Fr David Hastings
Executive Secretary
28th February, 2008
 

Following Synod in February, Bishop Michael and Julia visited the chaplaincies in Aden and Kuwait, with a short break in Dubai, where the Bishop visited the Ruler of Ras al Khaimah. On Thursday 13th Μarch they travel to Bahrain for Palm Sunday. They return to Cyprus for Easter.  Τhere will be a Maundy Thursday service with the Blessing of Oils and the Renewal of Priestly Vows for the Cyprus clergy.

On April 16th Bishop Michael and Julia travel to the UK for meetings, among them the Endowment Fund meeting and the Friends Reunion at Pilgrim Hall from 29th April to 1st May.  They return to Cyprus on 2nd May.

Finally, Bishop Michael and Julia hope to visit the Canterbury Group from 15th to 26th May. There follows a meeting of the Standing Committee in Cyprus on 28th and 29th May.