11th September, 2007

Clergy Meeting

Father Michael met with subdeacons Michael Kennedy and Peter Farrington to discuss various matters relating to the practical life of St Alban's Orthodox Church. The items discussed included organising a monthly cleaning evening, introducing a monthly week-night children's class, and appointing a new Treasurer to help us establish the finances of our community on a sound basis. All of these matters will be properly described in the next parish newsletter.

1st September, 2007

Work Day at St Felix Orthodox Church, Babingley

One of our subdeacons travelled up to King's Lynn, and to the Church of St Felix, to take part in a work day. One of the other British Orthodox participants wrote..

Often we are reminded of something that is good for us to remember, that the 'the Church' is not a building; but just sometimes, He can remind us of how it can be.

This reflection is brought on by what happened as St. Felix Church, Babingley, yesterday.

As some of you will know, the building is a rather wonderful tin tabernacle - with a thatch! It had, however, become a trifle run down over the years, and badly needed repainting, repairing and a good deal of work done on the grounds. Back in June Abba Seraphim, who now comes up from London every two weeks to lead the Liturgy, suggested, along with Deacon Mark that we had a 'work day' on 1 September to do this necessary work. With a congregation in single figures and myself, at 51, the youngest member by some way, this was, indeed an act of Faith; as Glendower said, you can call spirits from the vasty deep, but will they come when you call?

As I have a drive of an hour and a half to Church, I turned up a little later than the 9 am starting time. When I arrived at 9.30 there were already fifteen people there; by 10 am there were twenty. Some were Orthodox Christians who had driven three hours to be with us; most were Christians belonging to other Churches who had heard what we were doing and 'just wanted to help'. With the bishop himself clearing the brushwood, I set to digging to clear the area around the walls - with an Anglican on one side of me and another non-Orthodox Christian on the other; across the way two other non-Orthodox were sanding down our windows, and three others were painting them, helped by two Orthodox.

Where was the Church - well, on a (thank the Lord) coolish September morning as I shovelled yet another mound of earth into a wheelbarrow for my Anglican friend to take away - I looked around me and I saw it visible.

7th July, 2007

30th Anniversary Celebration

Some of us travelled up to London to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the consecration of Abba Seraphim as a bishop. Members and friends of the British Orthodox Church came together from all over the country and even from overseas. A wonderful liturgy was celebrated with many clergy, and ecumenical visitors, and then a buffet lunch was enjoyed by all.

Abba Seraphim spoke on the challenge of Islam facing the Church and the West, and remembered some of the people who have passed over into eternity and who were great supports to him over his thirty years as a bishop.

Many years, Abba Seraphim!

7th January, 2007

Our first liturgy of the year is the celebration of Epiphany. The services start at the usual times. We are expecting our two young Psaltors, to be serving in the altar with Subdeacon Michael and Subdeacon Peter, so do try to be there to support them.

24th December, 2006

Our bishop, Metropolitan Seraphim, celebrated the Liturgy for us on Christmas Eve. It was a great pleasure to have him with us, and especially because on this occasion he blessed two of our young church members, Don and Callum, as Psaltors, so that they could serve in the altar during the Liturgy. Metropolitan Seraphim also distributed gifts to the children present.

3rd November, 2006

British Orthodox Fellowship - Praying the Jesus Prayer.

On Friday we organised our first study evening as part of the activities of the British Orthodox Fellowship, an ecumenical organisation with the aim of helping members of all Christian traditions experience and understand something of our Orthodox life and spirituality. This first evening began with coffee, and then Father Michael, Subdeacon Michael and Subdeacon Peter gave short presentations on a variety of themes to do with the Jesus Prayer. There was time for questions, and some practical exercise of the Prayer. It was a very pleasant and worthwhile evening and another study evening is being arranged for January with the title - Praying with Icons.