Author: Sue Fairhead

Thought for the Week, 24th March 2020

I have been delighted by how much it already means to me to stop and pray for our congregation and the people of the district of Larnaca every day at 6.00pm.

I am used to attending services on time so I set an alarm on my watch for 5.58pm, and I also set an alarm for 6.10pm to finish my time of silent prayer. I remember being shocked years ago by a writer on prayer saying that he set an alarm for the end of a prayer time, but now it is proving a useful and habit-forming part of my pattern.

There is a chair I always sit in for my devotional reading, for Morning Prayer, and now for silent prayer at 6.00. Sitting in the same place, like praying at a fixed time, helps me to focus on what I am there to do and I have a list of all your names in my lap. I sit down, I sit still, and I can attend in peace and quiet to what I am doing, the one thing necessary.

So the repetition and rhythm of this 10 minutes has become for me an enlivening time – being still with God, in my chair, with your name in my lap and on my heart.

Christopher

Looking Forward

These are strange times as we listen daily to the latest news, advice and measures being taken here and elsewhere.  Our thoughts and prayers are for all those who are ill with the virus and those who are caring for them. 

On Monday it was announced that we won’t be gathering together for public worship at St. Helena’s at least until 10 April as we join in efforts to reduce the threat of this virus and keep our neighbours and friends safe.

Being unable to worship together in our church is difficult at any time.  But this has come at a key time in the church’s year; a time when we mark Lent, Mothering Sunday and Holy Week.  Times when we don’t want to stay away from one other and ‘self-isolate’…

(to read the rest, see ‘Looking Forward: Mothering Sunday)

 

Pastoral letter from Archbishop Michael

WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST

The present moment feels unprecedented. Levels of anxiety and disorientation are high in many places and we who are Christians are finding that we are not exempt.

For many of the congregations of our diocese, public worship has been discontinued for the time being and until further notice, because the civil authorities, whose guests most of us are, have decreed that it should be. Situations vary, but everywhere at the moment is experiencing greater or lesser amounts of disruption and discontinuity….

(to read the rest, see: Archbishop’s pastoral letter)

prayer of the week

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:
raise us, who trust in him,
from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things which are above,
where he reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen

home page information

New Bishop-elect

Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, and the Synod of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf are pleased to announce the election of the Revd Sean Semple to be the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf.

More details here on the Diocesan website.

Book Sale

The next book sale will be on Wednesday April 24th in the St Helena’s courtyard, from 10am until 12 noon.

Charity Shop

The St Helena’s charity shop opening hours are 9.00am – 12.30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Prayer Guide

You can find the current Diocesan prayer guide here.

Indoor Masking Requirements

Wearing a face mask covering nose and mouth indoors is no longer required in indoor public places, including church. However vulnerable people are recommended to continue doing so. It is also still recommended to use hand gel, entering and leaving the church.

A Listening Ear

If you are a Cyprus resident and would like an opportunity to share where you are; how you are in this season, a trained Spiritual Director is available to listen confidentially.  Information here.

Safeguarding Mission Statement

St Helena’s Anglican Church makes full commitment to the ongoing welfare and safekeeping of vulnerable children and adults attending this Church at all times.

We undertake the responsibility of all within our Church to protect them as far as is practically possible from abuse of any kind.  We will ensure that all proper procedures and guidelines are followed, and that the appropriate person will be assigned to conduct any required investigations.  A mentoring system will be in place.

As part of policy and good practice, the following people have been trained to the appropriate level and have been appointed as shown:

Protection Officer (PO):                      Mrs Marina Peters
Deputy Protection Officer (DPO):       Fr Geoff Graham

Katafiyio Retreat House

Latest information about the retreat house at Katafiyio can be found here.

Anne and Christopher Futcher

Anne and Christopher Futcher

We look forward to welcoming you to St. Helena’s

March against Human Trafficking

‘Abolish slavery everywhere, forever.’ So read one of the placards under which we walked. At 10am on October 19th, the seafront at Limassol looked just a little different. There were the usual tourists dressed to enjoy the sunshine.

But there were also some 130 people of different ages and nationalities clothed completely in black. Christopher and I were among them. Silently, in single file we walked slowly along the promenade…

(to read the rest of the article, see: human trafficking)

Afternoon Tea

On Wednesday 16th October 2019, some 35 of us enjoyed gathering for wonderful home-made cakes and conversation at St. Helena’s. 

Do join us for our next tea at 3.00 pm on Tuesday 14th January. We look forward to welcoming you.

New Chaplains at St Helena’s

On Saturday 7 September 2019 Bishop Michael collated and instituted the Venerable Christopher Futcher as the new Archdeacon in Cyprus and parish priest of St Helena Larnaca. 

At the same service he licensed Christopher’s wife, the Revd Anne Futcher, as archdeaconry social concern officer and an associate priest at St Helena’s.