September 2008

In this Issue

Pilgrimage to St Bertram’s Tomb
Enthronement of Metropolitan John

Pilgrimage to St. Bertram’s Tomb at Ilam

     We had another wonderful pilgrimage with the forecast torrential rain not appearing at all!

     Just under sixty of us enjoyed the blessing of St. Bertram and asked for his holy prayers. Nine different nationalities, but one Orthodox Faith, worshipped together in love and harmony.

     We climbed the hill to the spring and Fr. Gregory blessed the waters.

     We finished the day, starting the new day, Sunday, with Great Vespers. The singing was good, the serving was good and the fellowship was good.

     Thanks be to God!

     For your diaries…

     The next pilgrimage is to St. Winifred at Holywell in North Wales, organised by Fr. Pancratios and the Chester congregation. This is on Saturday 4th October. Please offer lifts and make it known that you need a lift.

The enthronement of our father, Metropolitan John

     Nine of us are travelling to Paris for the Enthronement of our new Archbishop, his Eminence Metropolitan John.
     The Saturday enthronement ceremony will be presided over by our Patriarch Ignatios in the Greek Cathedral of St. Stephen.
     On Sunday many bishops will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy.

     We look forward to seeing our father Metropolitan John at St. Michael’s sometime next year. There will be a welcome and reception at our cathedral of St. George in London on Saturday October 11th at 12 noon. Please let Fr. Samuel know if you would like to go to that. We are all invited, but for catering purposes we will need to indicate numbers. Perhaps we could have a coach?

    St. Michael’s Feast

     This year 8th November is on a Saturday. We will serve the Divine Liturgy at 10:30am and after Great Vespers at 6:00pm, we will have our meal at the Butchers Arms in Audley.
     Details, and a signing-up sheet will be in our refreshment room soon!

Stop Press:
A call to any closet singers…

     September sees me away for two consecutive weekends starting on Saturday 13th.

     Veronica (Irene) is also going to be out of action during this time while she undergoes treatment in hospital – and we all wish her well and a speedy recovery and return to the music desk.

     Any retired choir members who are able to come back and help out are urged to be around for those weekends if at all possible. Anyone who is hiding their musical talents under a bushel – it’s about time you got them out and gave them a bit of a dust down!

     If you think you might like to sing with the choir, but don’t like the idea of diving straight in on a Sunday morning, why not come along to Great Vespers on a Saturday and have a go.

     It would be great to have enough voices to enable the occasional absence without being a part short.

    Thank you in anticipation.

Martin Shorthose

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.