The Shepherd, December 2009
SiR UK NEWS
BAPTISM AT SAINT EDWARD’S
ON THE FEAST of the Holy Angels, 8th / 21st November, George, the infant son of Robert and Nellie Snelling of Ash, Aldershot, was baptised and chrismated at Saint Edward’s Church - the first baptism there since we again started services there. Patrick and Rima Lewis stood as godparents for their nephew, and brought him the next day to receive the Holy Mysteries, and the following week for the eighth day prayer. After the ceremony, the family and friends held a reception in the hall of the Old Mortuary. About sixty people attended, many of them being at an Orthodox service for the first time.
ON THEIR RETURN from the Sacred Monastery of Sts Cyprian ad Justina, Fili, Greece, His Eminence, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna and His Grace, Bishop Auxentios of Photiki travelled overland across Europe, visited England, and then took ship for America, because, for health reasons, His Eminence is unable to travel by air. During their short stay in England, from Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th November, the two hierarchs stayed at the Brotherhood, and on the Tuesday they visited the Convent of the Annunciation in Willesden, where the Sisters treated them to a splendid luncheon. Here at Brookwood, they ate simpler fare, but following comments in an earlier despatch from the Archbishop, thanks to Linda McCartney, we made sure they had bangers and mash. Both here and at the Convent, they were able to meet a few of our parishioners, who attended services during their stay or came specially to receive their blessings. We hope that in future years, they may not only visit again but take the opportunity to serve here in our churches.
THE RE-ROOFING WORK on the Church came to an end on 30th October, n.s., and on the next day before the Saturday evening Vespers, we chanted a Thanksgiving Te Deum for its completion. We served that weekend in the Mortuary, as we did not have time to refurnish the church sufficiently for Divine service. However, on the following weekend, again before the Saturday evening Vespers (7th November n.s.), with the blessing of Bishop Ambrose, we chanted the service of the Lesser Blessing of Waters and blessed the church, and so began our regular daily services there again. Sill the church had only a few of the icons in it, but we have been able to bring them back, and for the Vigil of the Holy Angels, on the evening of Friday, 20th November, n.s., the church was again adorned with its icons. Glory be to our God!
VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS
WE OWE a special debt of gratitude to those of our parishioners, friends and supporters, who came to help with the re-furnishing of the church, decorating the shrine area again and helping us move things back into place. The odd thing was (or perhaps it is not so odd) that the first volunteers came not from our immediate area, but from South Wales, Essex, and even Swindon - the very people who perhaps had the most excuse not to help! Our thanks go especially to them and to all who helped: Fr Stephen and Presbytera Joanna Fretwell, Philip Craven (who came three times), Nick Oliver, Glynn Lovell, Andrew and Olga McKellar, Simon Cattell, Patrick Lewis, Patricia Lewis, Robert Snelling, Simon Teague, Igor and Natalia Giliov, Irina Aldersley, Katherine Kirk, and Michael and Margaret Woodrow, and to James Harrin and Kristian Akselberg, who even as I type, are working on redecorating the ecclesiarch’s room, which had begun to resemble the Black Hole of Calcutta. In our society, many contemporary Orthodox Christians appear to think that the occasional attendance at a Sunday Liturgy and making financial contributions fulfil their obligations to the Church; beside their good work, it was heartening to see these people dedicate their time and energies to helping the church community in a practical way. May they be granted many blessings!
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