Notice of upcoming Book Sale

Bishop’s Lent Appeal – Anglican Centre in Rome

February 2024

It is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity as I write, and it seems an appropriate time to be

asking for your support in the Annual Lent Appeal, because the focus of our efforts this Lent

will be the Anglican Centre in Rome.

In a world that seems ever more divided and fragmented, all work for unity is precious and

valued. The unity in truth of Christ’s church is his gift, but it is a gift to be treasured and

nurtured – during the recent “Synod on Synodality” of the Roman Catholic church, the

Centre was buzzing with visitors and hosted structured conversations that could have taken

place nowhere else.

Founded in 1966, just after the second Vatican Council, it remains as a bastion of hope for

full visible unity. We now recognise each other’s baptism, our priests can preside together

when Anglicans and Roman Catholics are married, we have travelled far towards agreement

in the matters of the Eucharist and Justification by faith in Christ; and the Centre smooths

the path for discussions on the important issues ahead.

Crucially, and recently, the Centre has been a hub of activity as the Roman church has held

its recent Synod. The Roman Catholic church is looking to increase its own sense of

inclusion of all Christians in the mission of the church, and it recognises the learning that is

available from the Anglican Communion in this.

READ MORE

St Paul’s Annual Christmas Bazaar

St. Paul’s Anglican Church invites you to its 2023 Christmas Bazaar at the War Museum, Rizari 4 (Vasillis Sofias Avenue) Athens.

Saturday 3rd December 2023 11.00 am – 4.30pm

Come along for a fun day out and browse our lovely stalls.  Stock up on Home-made preserves, and delicious cakes.  Find a Toy or a piece of jewellery for Christmas presents and don’t forget the Crackers for the Christmas Table.  Also on sale will be nearly-new clothing, beautiful gifts and much more.  Win a prize in our exciting Christmas Raffle, then take the weight off your feet and relax in our cafeteria with a glass of wine or an Irish Coffee.

All proceeds support our church and the charitable organisations we work with here in Athens.

Please note the Church will be open between 10.00 hrs and 12.00 hrs during the week prior to the bazaar, 27th November – 2nd December,  for the collection of goods; We will not be able to accept donation on the day.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU

Save the Date

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

CHILDREN’S ENSEMBLE “VARAVĪKSNE” FROM LATVIA

Friday October 27 @ 18:00 – 19:00

Monday 30th October – Church Sessions 7 by Radio Pepper 96.6FM – “Alkyone”

Bishop of Europe’s Advent Appeal 2023

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 Coffee Morning

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.