We have several exciting new concerts coming up at St Paul’s. Check out our website Calendar for more details.
Friday 20th October – the Athens Singers
Saturday 21st October – KATERINA PAPADOPOULOU AND NOTIO TOXO
Monday 30th October – Church Sessions 7 by Radio Pepper 96.6FM – “Alkyone”
As the Diocese in and for Europe, we are deeply aware of our international context; perhaps we’re also well-placed, then, to think internationally outside Europe itself. I’m delighted to say that we will be supporting this Advent the Anglican Communion Fund of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It exists to make small investments across the church; in the right hands, these can have great impact.
The focus of this year’s work is South Asia, with which I now myself feel a special link, after my sabbatical in that part of the world in early 2023.
Pakistan
Women in Pakistan regularly experience domestic violence, sexual abuse, forced marriages, kidnappings, acid attacks and more. Christian women and girls in Muslim Punjab face discrimination due to their gender, faith, and low position. They are the poorest of the poor, and often illiterate. At risk of forced conversions and false charges under blasphemy laws, they are often unable to stand up against these offences; they often don’t know their constitutional rights.
The Diocese of Sialkot, in Punjab Province, is supporting women and girls. The Bishop’s wife there is leading in teaching women about their rights and protection, for them to pass on to younger women: it is all born of the insight that God has made them wonderfully and fearfully, and it hopes to erase what is often the experienced shame of being female. Sessions on the law of Pakistan educate women about domestic violence and harassment; girls are given strength and confidence to recognise the protections they need.
Young Women in South India
The Covid pandemic took its toll on the economy and the health care industry in South India. The economy is still struggling to recover from the severe lockdown measures. The costs of essential goods has increased, and unemployment is high, with young women particularly vulnerable. At the same time, the need for nursing-at-home and health care support increased further, while the pandemic meant that skilled and educated young people migrated for work opportunities elsewhere.
The Church of South India is responding to these issues by starting a programme for young women aged 18 to 28, particularly from rural areas, to study home care nursing and health care. After completing a basic training course, some will go on to higher level training, and others will work in some of the CSI Mission hospitals. Not only will these young women gain skills and employment, bringing benefit to themselves and their families, but the pool of nursing and health care staff will also increase.
Hpa-An Diocese, Myanmar
A rat plague hit two parishes in the Diocese of Hpa-An, Myanmar in 2022, destroying seed sown and causing a loss of the following year’s harvest. A religious minority, Christians in Myanmar are more vulnerable to poverty, and government structures cannot be relied upon to offer a safety net to struggling families. A grant from the Fund helped the Church to purchase and distribute rice – both to Christian families and to the very poor of other faiths, feeding the hungry and serving as a witness to God’s love in this area touched by conflict, natural disaster and other maladies.
To donate to the ACF Appeal please see the notes below.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
+Robert Gibraltar in Europe
How you can donate to the Bishop in Europe’s Advent Appeal 2023:
By cheque to: Diocese in Europe (Advent Appeal 2023).
Diocese in Europe Board of Finance
14, Tufton St
London SW1P 3QZ
By bank transfer:
Account number: 40317039
Sort code: 20-06-13
IBAN: GB16 BUKB 2006 1340 3170 39
Swiftbic: BUKBGB22
On the Diocese in Europe Just Giving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/diocese-ineurope Or: via your Chaplaincy Treasurer to Nick Wraight in the Diocesan Office – Please add a reference to “Advent appeal 2023” to bank transfers and Justgiving.
COMMUNITY CONNECT ATHENS
St.Paul`s Anglican Church
Invites you to our Coffee morning
On Thursday October 12th
From 10:30 until 12:30pm
In St.Paul’s Church Gardens
Fillinon 27 & Amalias Ave.
On sale will be Books, Jigsaws,
Good quality second-hand clothing,
Handmade Greeting cards for all occasions,
Preserves & Mini Bingo.
Come along to meet or make new friends.
To chaplains, clergy, churchwardens, Readers and Readers in training
Dear colleagues in the Diocese in Europe
The Diocese in Europe’s lay learning course ‘Walking Together in Faith’ is back for a second year, starting in mid-September.
Initially launched in September 2022, the course was offered last year in an online version on Zoom. In addition, a small number of groups met in person locally and drew on the course material that has been made available. It was clear from the response during this first year that the course has both met a need in the diocese and has been well received. We will be building on our experience of last year to make it even better for this coming one!
I, myself led most of the ‘Zoom’ sessions (drawing in other colleagues and friends as appropriate). It was a stimulating experience. The group of about 25 people who joined us regularly came from different parts of our diverse and fascinating diocese. Part of the enjoyment and learning was the way that participants were able to share their different geographical and cultural insights.
There are four ‘Modules’ for the course, and each Module has five Units.
Module One: Knowing God looks at prayer, and focuses on the Lord’s Prayer, and the context in which Jesus taught it to his disciples
Module Two: Growing in Christ explores what Christians over the centuries have wanted to say about Jesus Christ and what he did.
Module Three: Building Community looks at our common life as part of the People of God, and how it is expressed, for example in our worship.
Module Four: Living beyond Ourselves asks about how our Christian faith should affect our responses to key issues of our time such as the care for creation and migration.
This year’s online version of the course will start on Tuesday 26 September, and will then happen more-or-less fortnightly over the coming year. Module One will run before
1 September 2023
Christmas, and Module Two will start as soon as possible in the New Year. The online sessions will last for 90 minutes, and they will begin at 18.30 (UK time).
Our latest Parish Magazine is has now been published and is available to read here.
As always we are grateful to Oliver for his hard work in producing the magazine and if you have any stories, comments or letters you would like to share please contact him at: oliversamuelknight@outlook.com
CANCELLED DUE TO EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES
HAVE A GOOD SUMMER EVERYONE
WE’LL BE BACK IN SEPTEMBER!
Community Connect Athens
Come along one & all
And join us for coffee
In St. Pauls Church Garden
Filellinon 27, Syntagma
On Thursday 13th July
11:00am – 1:00pm
On sale will be Books, Preserves,
Good quality second-hand clothing,
Handmade Greeting cards for all occasions,
& Bingo
See you there!
Please note
There will not be a August coffee morning.
Our latest Newsletter has now been published so please click on the link below for access
Please click here to open the magazine
The meeting opened with prayer at 10.30 a.m. and the following matters were raised:
Finances: the deficit was 13,583 Euros, less than the 2020 amount of around 15,000 and a sign of post-Covid recovery. Accountant Philip Poulakis and Hon. Treasurer Nelly were thanked for their work and regular reporting.
Council membership: it was agreed that the one-year gap following a member’s end of tenure before he/she could re-apply for membership should be waived, in view of the current lack of people applying for Council membership.
Safeguarding: Safeguarding Officer Lynn Stavrou noted that any member of the congregation was welcome to complete the Level 1 Safeguarding course – available online – details from her.
Fundraising: the 2022 Christmas Bazaar had been a great success and the War Museum booked for 2023. Due to the closure of the British Embassy residence for up to 3 years for renovation, there would be no donations of food for the cafeteria. Both the Carol Sing-Along and Service had been well-attended, raising just over 1,400 Euros, and there had been a get-together at the Victory Café after the Christmas morning service. Oliver Knight reported income of 2,264 Euros from book sales in the previous 10 months – as well as book sales there would be a lending library for theological books and there was a demand for books from Newcomers, whose meetings Deacon Chris attended. Oliver added that more contributions were needed for the online Newsletter, particularly connected with church life. Concert bookings were slowly increasing and quiz evenings and coffee mornings continued to be profitable and enjoyable events. There would be a celebratory gathering in the garden on the day following the Coronation of King Charles III and souvenirs from the UK would be welcome (costs refundable if needed). The regular Radio Pepper concerts would continue and other bookings were coming in.
Any Other Business: the Bishop of Truro would be with us from 9th-13th March for meetings/discussions on his book on Christian persecution worldwide and he would receive, baptize and confirm members of the congregation;
Reader Sherry Angelis, a long-time member of our congregation, was now a resident of the Loida Home in Ekali.
Nelly Paraskevopoulou, our Reader in Training, would complete her course in summer. Best wishes for the success of his UK interviews re: training for Ordination were given to Angelos Palioudakis.
Discussions continued in the search for 2 Sunday School supervisors. Donations of plants for the garden were always welcome and Shirley Poulakis would again provide flower posies for Mothers’ Day.
Council’s second meeting with Diocesan Archdeacon Leslie Nathaniel would take place in February to continue the process of finding and appointing a Chaplain to serve at St. Paul’s following the retirement of Father Leonard at the end of July.
The meeting closed at 12.40.
Jean Mertzanakis (Hon. Secretary)
On 15 April 2023 family and friends gathered together at St Paul’s Anglican Church Athens to celebrate the Baptism of George Remy.
Fr Leonard led the service which consisted of prayers, renewal of Baptismal promises, sprinkling of water over George’s head, anointing with Oil and the lighting of the Baptismal Candle. George’s parents and Godparents also received a candle.
At the end of the service Fr Leonard blessed the baby and the congregation and everyone went out into the garden where delicious refreshments were served.
A very happy day was held by all and we welcome George Remy into the St Paul’s family.
