The Shepherd, December 2004
BROOKWOOD NEWS
NEW CATECHUMEN
On Sunday 8th / 21st November, which was also the feast of St Michael and All Angels, Peter Budding of Guildford made his vows and was received into the catechumenate at St Edward’s Church. Peter is named after the Holy Apostle Peter, and we ask the prayers of the faithful for him, that he might in time make a good completion of that which he has made a good beginning.
NEW SERVER AND NEW CHORISTER
In the last month the children of our architect, Irina Aldersley, have volunteered to help during the Divine services. Alexander has started serving as an altar-boy, and Ana-Maria has started singing in the choir. May the Lord God grant them both Many Years in the service of His Church. Please support them by your prayers.
THREE NEW ICONS FOR THE CHURCH
An icon which we commissioned from the sisters of the St Elizabeth Convent, Etna, California, has arrived. It depicts the holy Prophet Naum and the Venerable Naum of Ochrid. These saints are resorted to in prayer by those with mental afflictions, and we are having icon prints made so that they can be distributed to help people who suffer in this way. We have also been given a beautiful hand-painted icon of St John of Damascus by Andreas Stratis. The icon was painted by the Priestmonk Nectarios in Cyprus, but the inscriptions are written in English. And Mrs Antonina Ananin of Poole, who for many years was the choir-mistress in the London Russian Orthodox Church, has donated a low-relief casting, depicting the Righteous John of Cronstadt the Wonderworker, which we have hung on the wall of the turret as one approaches the main entrance.
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
For the second time, the Fundraising Committee met at the Brotherhood on Wednesday 24th November. This time, with the exception of Thomas Loring who was unable to be with us, all the committee members were in attendance, and we appreciate their contributions to our discussions. Two smaller groupings have been appointed to deal with specific needs, and one of these will work with Miss Grace Meeking, who has kindly offered her professional expertise in helping to produce an appeal brochure. The second group, of “prospectors,” which will include Fr Alexis, Mrs Elizabeth Castle, Mrs Justina Trollope, Mr Christopher Shaw and Miss Elizabeth Meade, is due to meet on 9th December. (The next full Fundraising Committee will be on Thursday 13th January.) On Sunday 7th November, after the Divine Liturgy Fr Alexis and Architect Irina Aldersley of Hoble Designs Limited gave a presentation about the building plans to those who attended church, aided by Irina’s plans, architect’s drawings and illustrations. We are particularly grateful to those of the congregation who subsequently came forward with offers of planned giving towards the Fund.
BUILDING FUND TOTAL
At the time of writing, the amount in the Building Fund for the new Monastery House and for the renovation of the two existing buildings stands at £157,792.24p - an increase of £41,042.24p since our last figure published in October. Approximately three-quarters of this increase was generously donated by one benefactor. But our thanks to all those who have contributed - God’s blessings be yours.
SHEPHERD RETURNS
A few stragglers are still sending back their re-subscription forms, but the majority now seem to be in. With their contributions to the magazine, readers have sent us a total of £1,285 for the King Edward Orthodox Trust Company Limited, £2,581.70 for the Building Fund, and £865 for the Orthodox Aid Fund. Our thanks are yours, and may God’s blessings be yours in the year ahead.
DRAINAGE WORKS
Work is being carried out around the church and in the Orthodox cemetery and woods to ensure the grounds are better drained in the bad weather. This work is being undertaken by members of the Brotherhood, but we are grateful to Meredith Hutchins of Silver Tower Services for his help in obtaining materials at a discount and for his professional help and advice.
CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS
Because of the lack of accommodation at the Brotherhood house at present, this year our after-Liturgy Christmas Breakfast and Carol Singing will be held again at Lord Pirbright Hall on Pirbright Green. Last year, happily the Russians there added their own national carols to the usual English ones. We hope this year that the Romanians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs, Georgians and others among you will come prepared with carols from your own traditions.
A NOTE
Just a note to remind readers, because it seems to be forgotten, that every week we have Sunday School immediately after the Liturgy in the “library,” and that every Saturday evening we have Catechumen Talks at 5 p.m. before Vespers. These talks can be attended by anyone interested in learning more about the Faith or wanting an opportunity to ask questions. You do not have to be a catechumen, you may be simply interested or even an Orthodox of long standing, as long as you would like to come and have something to learn.
****************
PRACTICAL TIP
GIVE YOURSELF TIME to say your prayers each morning and evening. Often we leave ourselves next to no time in the morning to say prayers before we have to rush off about the day’s business, and in the evening we often leave it so late that we are too tired and simply want to jump into bed. The result is that we tend to rush through the set order of prayers, with very little thought and attention, and think that we have done what was necessary. We neglect to say any prayers, either of thanksgiving or of supplication, about the particular things that concern us or our loved ones. This brings us very little profit, and does little to honour God, His All-holy Mother or the Angels and Saints whom we are addressing. If one takes a little more time, perhaps only five minutes, even if one says fewer prayers, one will do so with more attention and with greater reverence. 
|
