PRISON VISIT

 

AT the invitation of the Chaplain, the Rev. Andrew Foran, we were asked to visit the women’s prison, HMP Send, and serve a short service for two Bulgarian inmates and a Russian.  We did so on Friday 13th June, and on our arrival found that eight prisoners had been gathered, including three Greeks and a Latvian, - all Orthodox except one.  Fr Alexis went to serve, and Fr Thomas to chant.  Anticipating meeting the Bulgarian prisoners, we had taken an icon of the Mother of God from Bulgaria and were ready to serve a moleben in Slavonic and English before it.  In the event, we managed also to add in some Greek.  We had an opportunity to speak to the inmates, and were even given tea and cakes with them.  In turn we gave them some icons prints which we had brought.  At the instigation of one of the most senior women there, who is a lifer and seemed to have taken the Orthodox group under a motherly wing, we have been invited to make regular visits, and hope to return near the feast of Sts Peter and Paul.    

 

 

VISITORS

 

FATHER Ioan Fodor of the Romanian Orthodox Church (new calendar) visited the Brotherhood on his return from serving at the Church of St Stephen the Great in Poole on Sunday, 1st June.  He served a memorial service in the cemetery at the grave of Irina Bontea, it being six months since her repose.  He was then invited to come into the Brotherhood for some tea before continuing his journey back to London.  Heroically Father has a weekday job as a scaffolder.

 

CHANTER Panagiotes Somalis from Greece attended our Divine Liturgy on the Soul Sabbath and sang with us on that occasion.  He is well-known to the older members of our parish because he had once lived in England and often used to visit, although we had not seen him for many years until this visit.  He is not only an accomplished chanter but a hymnographer, and has composed a number of services to the Western Saints in Greek.  Many of these we have on record and can send them to anyone who would be interested in using them.

 

THE Surbiton History Society visited our Church on 21st June, and were given a talk by Fr Niphon.  The visit of the group, which comprised about 25 people, was arranged beforehand by John Clarke of the Brookwood Cemetery Society.

 

 

FREEWILL OFFERINGS

 

IN the first six months of 2008, weekly averages of freewill offering put into the alms box at the back of the church were as follows:  January weekly average £243.80;  February £234.77;  March £254.04;  April £455.46;  May £201.62;  June £235.48.  We thank all of you who have helped support our community and our church by contributing anonymously in this way.  May the blessings of the Lord be upon you.

 

 

 

WEBSITE VISITS

 

IN THE SAME PERIOD, January to June, incl., of 2008, we have had 53,591 visits to our websitei b.  Website address: <www.saintedwardbrotherhood.org>

 

 

BISHOP AMBROSE’S AUTUMN VISIT

 

HIS GRACE, Bishop Ambrose of Methoni has now confirmed that he will be visiting England for the Autumn Feast of Saint Edward the Martyr.  He will arrive in this country on Friday 12th September n.s., and the next day, the feast of the Cincture of the Mother of God, he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the St Boniface Mission in Ryde, Isle of Wight - their first hierarchal service.  For the Sunday, which is also the Church New Year, he will celebrate with Mother Vikentia and her sisters at the Convent of the Annunciation in Willesden.  On the Monday evening and the Tuesday morning (15th & 16th September), he will celebrate the Vigil Service and the Divine Liturgy at Saint Edward’s Church on the festival of our heavenly patron.

 

THE BUILDING FUND

 

THIS NOW  stands at £676,243.94.   Our Architect, Irina Aldersley, is presently working on the plans for the re-roofing of the church.

 

 

 

PRACTICAL TIP

 

            THE SAVIOUR says, Ask and it shall be given you.  This, of course, refers to prayer, and when we ask for those things which pertain to the Heavenly Kingdom.  However, it is also true in a much more mundane sense.  Recently in our small parish, two or three instances have come to light where people have something to say, but have not asked, or later have moaned to others that they had somehow been passed over.  I am sure this happens in every parish and community.  In last month’s issue, we tried to address a weakness which seems to apply to those of us from the former Soviet bloc countries; so now, let us tackle one that seems to afflict the English sorely.  A kind of false humility or humble-crumble is no virtue.  If you have something to contribute, or something to suggest, or something to complain about: then do so.  The worst that can happen is that your idea will be turned down!  And indeed, your suggestion might be a great help.  Even worse is not to speak about something on your mind and then grumble later that it has not been dealt with.  If you are not clairvoyant, you cannot expect others to be!