September 2007

"Fr. Deiniol from Blaenau Ffestiniog
climbing hillside to St. Bertram’s Well, Ilam"

In this Issue

Advance Notices
Ilam
Midlands Orthodox Study Centre
Institute for Orthodox Studies in Cambridge
Sunday School

Advance notices

Saturday 22^nd September, Church of the Holy Apostles, Leyland: Fr. Christodoulos writes: “Recently, on Monday 23rd July, we were able to move into the former Methodist Church in Leyland, the culmination of our collective efforts over the last 17 years to find a place for an Orthodox Church for our Community. We want to share our joy with as many as possible and to give public thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles for the provision He has made for us so far. We will serve the Holy Liturgy at 10.30, and we would welcome particularly as you concelebrate with us. Following the Liturgy, there will be a buffet meal for all. There will be time for everyone to look around the premises, and to see first hand the challenges which lie ahead of us. Following this there will be a short presentation by Oeconomos Stephen Maxfield, who has been involved in the Community since the beginning.”

Saturday 6^th October: Pilgrimage to St. Winifred’s well at Holywell on the North Wales coast, organised by St. Barbara’s, Chester and led by Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain.

Saturday 10^th November: Meal to celebrate the Parish Feast of the Holy Archangel Michael. This will be at The Butchers Arms, Audley, after Great Vespers. We will be in a separate upstairs-room. A menu, including children’s and vegetarian options, is available in our own refreshment room for your perusal and early booking.

Saturday 17^th November: Shopping trip to the Peak Village, near Matlock, returning via the beautiful village of Castleton on the day that the “Christmas lights” are switched on, at about 4:30pm, with the attendant attractions.

Ilam

Our tenth annual pilgrimage to St. Bertram, at Ilam, was blessed with a wonderfully sunny day and the company of friends old and new.
For those who could not make the climb up to the spring here is a photograph of Archpriest Daniel Joseph blessing the water.

Pilgrims came with Fr. Gregory from Manchester, with Fr. Dennis from Doncaster and from Louth, London, Oxford and several other places swelling our ranks as we served the Liturgy and Great Vespers. Thanks to all who worked so hard to make it a very special day.

“Holy Father Bertram, pray to God for us !”

Terence had been up the hill preparing
and clearing the well so that the water
was crystal clear.

More photos ...

Midlands Orthodox Study Centre of St. Theodore of Canterbury

The Centre was established in 2002 to teach Orthodox Theology. Started to serve two local parishes, the Centre has developed significantly. The courses offered are intended for a wide variety of people and interests, varying from those who are interested in learning more about their faith to those who are involved or will be involved in ministry in the Church.

The Certificate course is intended to provide a good introduction to the Orthodox Church, its faith and life. This is done over two years with modules introducing important Church themes, the history of the Church, the New Testament, the Old Testament and a module on the Canons of the Church, providing a good grounding for anyone who might, for instance, need to teach Orthodoxy in schools.

The Diploma course builds on this with modules on Spirituality, Liturgy, Doctrine and the Fathers providing help for those who may be intending to exercise ministry in the Church.

Most of the teaching takes place on the second Saturday of the month (barring July and August) 10am to 5pm at the Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Sun Street, Palfrey, Walsall, West Midlands.

More details available in our refreshment room at Church. Simon Harvey has attended lectures last year and would be happy to share his experiences of this course.

The Institute for Orthodox Studies in Cambridge

This, also, is a Pan-Orthodox venture for Orthodox teaching. We have seen a great deal about this in our Deanery Newsletters and there are always details available at the Church.

Both these ventures need our support in prayer and finances to make sure that there is ample opportunity for education in the Faith and training for our future priests and teachers.

Sunday School

It is now six months since St. Michaels has offered a Sunday School. It all happens from 11:15 to 11:45 in the kitchen behind church. The children who have taken part have worked very well together, learning about their faith.

We aim to serve children in the parish, to help nurture their Christian faith and to help them to understand better the inheritance they have received through Baptism. We provide catechism for primary school aged children and also craft and story activities for children in the year before school. Younger children are welcome to attend with their parents. If you wish to know more about what we do, would like your children to take part or wish to help, please speak to Father Samuel or to Simon and Vicky Harvey. We welcome your support.

If you have any items for the newsletter, please e-mail Simon Harvey at simon.harvey@stoke.gov.uk or else leave a copy of your submission with Father Samuel or with Simon at church. Ideally, submissions should be made by the 15th of the month to get into the following month’s edition. Exceptions may be made in emergencies.