This coming Sunday is our Christingle service. A fantastic event for all the family. We hold this service each year, and each year we manage to squeeze a few more people in and resolve to buy some more oranges for the next one. If you are unfamilair with Christingles you can find a history here. The basic meaning is that of ‘Christ Light’, and a Christingle is a traditional Moravian Christmas decoration which represents Jesus the Light of the World.
We have a lot of fun making these together, and at the end of the sevice we dim the light and light the candles for our final song before enjoying some refreshments together. Do join us!
Had a nightmare walking the kids to school in the wind today, and then discovered this when I got home. Of course, should have tied the kids to a kite and flown them there!
Manila (AsiaNews) – The Irish priest kidnapped a month ago in Pagadian (Mindanao) was released this morning before dawn at 4:25 in the coastal village of Sangalo. The Philippines and Ireland said they had not paid any ransom. The kidnappers had demanded the payment of 2 million U.S. dollars. Delivered by a group of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) to a military base in Zamboanga, Fr. Michael Sinnot said he was treated well by his captors, though he had to endure many difficulties when moving by sea and walking in the jungle that the rebels used as cover to escape army troops.
The priest says he has no ill feeling towards his kidnappers. "They treated me well … I was given lectures on their ideology, but for the rest, I was treated well."
Fr. Michael Sinnott, 79, a Columban missionary, was kidnapped on 11 October in the courtyard of his church by an armed group. Initially, authorities had suspected that the group belonged to the terrorist organization Abu Sayyaf or the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the armed group fighting for autonomy in Mindanao.
Fr. Sinnot has ruled that his kidnappers belonged to the MILF. "I am very sure," said the priest, after his release, "My captors were real nomads, not MILF." He also said that the reason for his kidnapping was for money in ransom.
In fact is was MILF – which has offered to help the army – that delivered the freed, priest, whose suffered precarious health conditions and had undergone by-pass surgery.
At the end of October, the kidnappers released a video of the priest, in which they demanded a ransom of 2 million dollars. The Philippine authorities and the Irish state say they did not pay the ransom.
General Ben Dolorfino, has applauded the commitment of MILF and stated that the release of Fr Sinnot is a “positive measure for the upcoming peace negotiations".
MILF, after decades of insurgency in the south, had opened peace talks with the government, but they were suspended last year due to a series of accidents caused by rebel groups in Mindanao.
This week we’ve seen the 10 year anniversary of the Berlin wall coming down, signifying the end of an era within the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Among all the reportage and commentary this article caught my eye in particular. It is from the Christian Charity Open Doors which has been working for amy years to support the church in countries where it is persecuted.
In 1982 Open Doors decided to prioritise work in the Soviet Union, focusing on two major projects: reaching out to the tens of millions of Russian Orthodox believers who did not have a Bible and strengthening the church in the Muslim republics of the Soviet Union, giving them a vision to reach out to their Muslim neighbours. And this was backed by a seven-year prayer campaign.
Slowly but surely things began to change – and the impact was seen in the wider political world as well as within Open Doors. From 1987 large numbers of religious prisoners were released from prisons and labour camps. There were 340 imprisoned Christian believers in 1985; just 17 by March 1990.
By 1988 the Soviet economy was in crisis. President Gorbachev, looking for support for a restructuring programme, promised that from this point on Christians would be recognised as ‘Soviet people, working people, patriots’. Churches began to be reopened.
In the same year, changed postal regulations allowed tens of thousands of New Testaments to be sent to believers and churches across the Soviet Union.
Brother Andrew took advantage of the new openness to get an agreement that in this year of the millennium celebrations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Open Doors would officially present them with one million New Testaments: he handed over the one millionth copy in person in Moscow to the Patriarch Alexy II.
The Nikolai Church in Leipzig, East Germany, had been holding prayers for peace every Monday evening since 1982. From a handful, the numbers had grown, and the prayer meetings became a focus for people longing for change. In October 1989 around 70,000 gathered outside the church: it was the revolution of ‘candles and prayers’.
So by November 1989 it was clear that change was sweeping through the communist bloc. But the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, while the border guards looked on, was a dramatic sign that things would not be the same again.
Peter K, an Open Doors team member, recalls that day: "My colleague and I got straight in the car and drove to Berlin to be part of that historic occasion. What a joy, what an answer to prayer!"
On another visit to Berlin, he told his taxi driver that people in the West had prayed for years for this. The driver stopped the car and said with tears in his eyes: "On behalf of the Germans of Berlin, I want to thank you for your prayers; God answered your prayers!"
Peter continues, "Now I am praying for North Korea. There are two Koreas, but God can make it one. I pray that He will open prison doors! He did it in Berlin and the wall came down. He can do it also in Korea!"
This coming Sunday has been designated an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Please join me in praying for our brothers and sisters around the world suffering for their faith in Christ. This year there is a particular focus on the needs of persecuted Christians in Orissa India.
St Giles in Common with Anglican churches across the UK has been advised not to share the chalice at Communion services. When the Flu first ‘hit’ in the summer there was concern that large public gatherings could enable Swine Flu to spread faster than health services could cope with and so The Church of England issued guidelines that ‘those presiding at Holy Communion suspend the administration of the chalice during this wave of pandemic flu’. And so St Giles has followed those guidelines. This past week, The Diocese has considered the issue again, and has again asked us to not share a common cup at Communion. To quote from their letter:
‘A number of you have asked in recent days whether the current situation regarding the ‘Common Cup’ could be reviewed. At a meeting with senior staff a few days ago the decision was made to take further advice from those dealing with the pandemic locally – The County’s Emergency Plan Dept and local Health Officials. Their advice was that whilst Nottingham is no longer currently a ‘hot spot’, the actual pandemic itself continues, and that there is still anticipated a second wave of the virus during the autumn/winter. We are advised that it would be unwise to change the measures put in place at this time.’
I realise not everyone is happy with this decision, but it should be remembered that Communion is the time in the churches life when among other things we celebrate the fact that we are all one in Christ Jesus, and that these measures have been put in place for the common good. As someone who has suffered first hand from Swine Flu I know how unpleasant it can be! That said I recognise there are deeply felt emotions on this issue. As the bishops have asked parish clergy to remind their congregations the Prayer Book does allow for the giving of wine at Communion to be suspended in exceptional circumstances:
The administration of Holy Communion in the Church of England is principally governed by section 8 of the Sacrament Act 1547, which provides that ‘… the… most blessed Sacrament be hereafter commonly delivered and ministered unto the people… under both the kinds, that is to say of bread and wine, except necessity otherwise require…’
And such a decision is not taken lightly.
Is there a compromise?
Possibly.
We will review the options at our next PCC meeting, alternatives to sharing the chalice might be to use individual glasses for each communicant, or placing a drop of wine on each wafer before distributing, or the person giving out communion dipping the wafer in the wine before placing in the hands of those coming to receive. If you have strong feelings – let us know!
I love this Photo. West Bridgfordians will recognise the location as outside the CO-OP looking across to the library and it was taken by a entrant in last years Photomarathon 11-16 category. A fantastic community event sponsored by the churches of West Bridgford and local businesses and community groups. This year St Gile’s is the host venue.
The basic premise is that budding amateur photographers of all abilities meet at St Giles and are challenges to go and put together a portfolio of photos on a set theme, all within the West Bridgford area. It is a lot of fun, there are prizes for different age categories and we raise money for charity. Last year we had over a 100 entrants, and expect more this year. This years event will be on the 10th October – 9am to 3pm.
At our AGM this past April I focussed on what I feel God is calling us to give attention to in the life of St Giles. I outlined 4 priorities and one of these was prayer. Sue Ferraro has taken on the mantle of ‘prayer champion’ for St Giles, and whilst we are still figuring out all that entails, there is no doubt that a core component is to call people to gather together to pray. Our first prayer evening was fantastic, and we’ve decided to begin a monthly prayer meeting at St Giles. Obviously all are welcome to join us. We’re calling it ‘First Monday’. We’ll meet at church at 8pm on the first Monday of every month and spend time praying and in worship together. My prayer for this meeting is that in time it will become the spiritual engine of St Giles, place where we seek God and hear from him.
Our first Meeting is Monday 3rd August 8pm.
Bishop John Guernsey of the Church of Uganda in America is someone whose sermons I’ve recently discovered on this Interweb thingy and they’ve been a real blessing to me. Here he is on the ‘Prayer Driven Church’. I hope it inspires you as it did me.
The Dunfords are members of St Giles who are currently living and working in Lesotho in the field of education. Elizabeth is a teacher and has been working hard to help a new school get government registration, and David has been putting his skills to good use helping the local Anglican church. They recently achieved one of their major goals of seeing their school achieve it’s necessary registration and also the blessing of the bishop and local priests. You can read their story on their blog. St Giles prays for them and supports them, and we see their work as part of our ministry. Here is the Bishop arriving by horseback accompanied by the schools UK founder.
This coming Sunday is our Christingle service. A fantastic event for all the family. We hold this service each year, and each year we manage to squeeze a few more people in and resolve to buy some more oranges for the next one. If you are unfamilair with Christingles you can find a history here. The basic meaning is that of ‘Christ Light’, and a Christingle is a traditional Moravian Christmas decoration which represents Jesus the Light of the World.
St Giles in Common with Anglican churches across the UK has been advised not to share the chalice at Communion services. When the Flu first ‘hit’ in the summer there was concern that large public gatherings could enable Swine Flu to spread faster than health services could cope with and so The Church of England issued guidelines that ‘those presiding at Holy Communion suspend the administration of the chalice during this wave of pandemic flu’. And so St Giles has followed those guidelines. This past week, The Diocese has considered the issue again, and has again asked us to not share a common cup at Communion. To quote from their letter:
Prayer brings down walls
November 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment
This week we’ve seen the 10 year anniversary of the Berlin wall coming down, signifying the end of an era within the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Among all the reportage and commentary this article caught my eye in particular. It is from the Christian Charity Open Doors which has been working for amy years to support the church in countries where it is persecuted.
This coming Sunday has been designated an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Please join me in praying for our brothers and sisters around the world suffering for their faith in Christ. This year there is a particular focus on the needs of persecuted Christians in Orissa India.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: News Commentary · Persecution