St Helena’s is the local community representing a worldwide Anglican Communion that includes the Church of England, the Church in Wales and the Episcopalian Church in America. Cyprus is part of the Anglican Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East. There are Anglican churches in all the main towns, throughout the whole island of Cyprus, and St Helena’s Larnaca is opposite the old hospital near the bus stops in the centre of town…(to read the full article, see ‘Food for Thought, Larnaka News)
Author: Sue Fairhead
St Helena’s Luncheon Club
The inaugural meeting of the St Helena’s Luncheon Club took place on October 5th 2011. 24 people tucked into a hearty meal of roast pork, followed by home made apple crumble and custard, and tea or coffee.
This new initiative attempts to bring people together socially for a meal once each month. The Club will be meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. The membership fee is 5 euros per year, and each meal also costs 5 euros.
The general impression after the first meeting was that the meal represented fantastic value. Ladies from St Helena’s form the cooks, waiters and washers-up, but membership of the Club is open to anyone, as long as numbers allow. A waiting list will operate if needed.
Chaplain John Holdsworth said: “I’m very encouraged both by the way the church has responded so enthusiastically, and by the comments of the first members. I hope it goes from strength to strength.”
Visit to St George’s Church
Over 20 members of St Helena’s visited the beautiful church of St George in the Troodos on July 3rd. Following a picnic lunch at a mountain site, members joined together for a service of Evensong, led by the Chaplain Ven Dr John Holdsworth. St George’s has been described as the most interesting Anglican church building in Cyprus. It is open for services at 4pm each Sunday in the Summer.
Vicarage barbecue
John and Sue recently hosted a barbecue at the vicarage. The food was excellent and the socializing even better with around 60 people attending. In addition, although the main aim of the event was for people to have a good time, over €400 was raised for church funds.
Farewell to Alexa
Only a few weeks after saying goodybe to Jill, St Helena’s had another sad farewell as Alexa Issa returns to her native Scotland.
Alexa has been a member of St Helena’s for over 20 years and has made an enormous contribution to the church over the years.
Farewell to Jill
Ven. Dr. John Holdsworth presenting a certificate to Jill Ford in recognition of her service to St Helena’s, particularly in relation to her office and creative activities.
Jill and her husband, Tony, have now returned to live in the UK but will not be forgotten by the church members.
Easter Pastoral Letter
The Passion of Christ is still a subject that excites film makers and TV programme makers alike. It still surprises me that in this secular age, there are enough people who want to attempt new dramatic interpretations of the events of Holy Week and Easter, and that there is a ready audience for them. That can only be good, but we do have to approach each of them with a little caution. I never saw Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, being put off, like many others, by the reports of prolonged gratuitous violence that it contained. There is a Hollywood way of portraying evil…