Chaplain’s comments.
‘And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.’ Acts 1v8 Msg
This was the promise of Jesus to His disciples just before He ascended to heaven,
during the 40 days that He spent with them, teaching about the Kingdom of God.
We will celebrate Ascension Day with a special Open Air Service at Cape Greco,
followed by a lunch together on Thursday 17th May from 11am. (Tell Mark if you
want to join us for lunch)
How did the disciples spend their time while they were waiting for the gift of the Holy
Spirit? They were together in the upper room (not just the Twelve, including Judas’
replacement, but about 120 people) and they prayed together. We have several
special extra opportunities to do that over the 10 days from Ascension to Pentecost:
Friday 18th May 7pm Festival Vespers at Dherynia Chapel with Bishop Michael.
Thursday 24th May 7.30pm Joint Prayer and Praise at Scandinavian Church, Ayia
N a p a.
Pentecost Praise Saturday 26th May 7pm Ayia Thekla Amphitheatre (tbc) (more
details to come)
Pentecost Sunday 27th May 4pm Global Day of Prayer at Larnaca Community
Church. (see poster)
It is good to meet together regularly and especially to pray, but then God will lead us
out as His witnesses first in our ‘Jerusalem’ and then in wider circles to reach all
nations! Join us!
And do not forget our regular Tuesday and Thursday prayer groups meeting West
(10am) and East (9am) in our Parish.
Easter Day
‘Easter is either a gigantic hoax or the most important day in history.’ So writes Prof JND Anderson in his important book ‘Evidence for the Resurrection’. A sceptical lawyer Frank Morrison set out to disprove the resurrection but after carefully examining all the evidence, he eventually wrote up his findings in ‘Who moved the stone?’ He became convinced of Jesus’ resurrection- no other explanation fitted the evidence - an empty tomb, many appearances, changed disciples, use of Sunday and incredible growth of the church worldwide. So what? The importance and meaning of Easter today gives to those who believe a sure hope in the face of death. It confirms that Jesus is truly the Son of God and that His sacrifice for our sins has been accepted so that we can be forgiven.
This is the text of a recent broadcast on Radio Napa by Reverend Simon:
Napa Radio Christmas 2011. SE Cyprus Parish.
Hello Everyone. My name is Simon Holloway, the new Chaplain to the South East Cyprus Parish, part of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. My wife and I have been in Cyprus now just for 3 months, having moved from Horley, Surrey, just near Gatwick Airport. We used to be Gatwick Parking for our friends and family, but have now become their new holiday destination, as I am sure many of you are also!
Anyway, I am here to invite you to our Annual Christmas Carol Service at the Ayia Napa Town Hall next weekend. We usually meet on the last Sunday before Christmas but there are Municipal Elections on Sunday this year, so we are holding the Carol Service on Saturday 17th December at 6.30pm instead. It will be an hour’s service with traditional readings and carols, some special items, prayers and a short illustrated talk. Mulled wine and mince pies to follow and we will take up a collection for Apostolos Varnabas School in Liopetri, which serves children and young adults with special needs. All ages are welcome and we really look forward to seeing you there.
Christmas away from home. Of course many will return to be with their family and friends, but if you are alone this Christmas or apart from your dear ones, you may reflect on the first Christmas. Joseph and Mary took the long journey back to Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem for the Roman Census, although Mary was near to the time for giving birth. The circumstances of her pregnancy caused a scandal amongst her family, so none of them would give them shelter when they came to Bethlehem. You all know the story - No room at the Inn, guest house, hotel .... and the baby was born in a stable or possibly a small cave, amongst animals. You know how cold it would have been if the birth took place in December, so it was probably earlier in the year, but December 25th was eventually chosen as the date to celebrate Jesus’ birth, because it was shortly after the Winter Solstice on 21 December, when the days began to grow longer and to replace worship of the Sun with worship of the Son of God.
Whatever our circumstances this Christmas, it is good to remember that our Heavenly Father, who sent Jesus on a rescue mission to our world, knows and understands our human needs and identifies with us. As one of the familiar Christmas carols reminds us:
‘How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.’
Come along next Saturday at 6.30pm to Ayia Napa Town Hall to celebrate with us and find out more about this wonderful gift.
(If you are not free then, but would like to come on Christmas Eve then we will be at Atlantica Aeneas Hotel Chapel at 11pm for Midnight Mass and then on Christmas Day at 11am at the Scandinavian Church near the Orange Grove Restaurant on Nissi Avenue, which is our regular meeting place each Sunday)
If you have internet access, you can find out more by visiting www.angsecy.org or phone 99766789 to speak to me directly.