Holy Trinity Church, Corfu Newsletter November 2013

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"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free". John 8:31-32

Chaplain’s Chat We’ve arrived! Margaret and I want to thank you so much for the very warm welcome you have given to us in Holy Trinity. We have felt very much at home already. We are looking forward to being among you for the next weeks and trust that we will be a blessing and encouragement to each other. I’ve been thinking that it’s good to pause in our Christian lives from time to time and ask some fundamental questions : «Who are we?» and «Why are we here?» Who are we? As Christians we are branches attached to the Vine. Jesus said «I am the vine:you are the branches» (John 15:5) God’s purpose for each of our lives is to be joined to Jesus like a branch joined to a vine. This picture of attachment to Jesus is a vivid way of describing what it means to be a Christian. To be a Christian is to have Jesus spiritually attached to our innermost being. When this is the case, the life of Jesus flows into and through us and one result of that is fruitfulness . Why are we here? Jesus said: «This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples» (John 15:8) Primarily, Jesus meant two things when He talked about bearing fruit. Firstly, He was referring to the fruit of the Spirit

This is internal fruit. Galatians 5:22,23 tells us:

«The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control» This list of the fruit of the Spirit (which is not exhaustive as there are many others referred to in the New Testament) is about Christian character. If our characters are not Christ-like then what we are and do will speak so loudly to others that they won’t want to hear what we say. God’s purpose for us is not to argue people into the Kingdom of God but rather to attract them into it! Secondly, Jesus was referring to sharing the Gospel Jesus said: his harvest»

This is external fruit

«The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into ( Matthew 9:37).

The message of the Gospel is the only message of hope to a broken, dying world. It must be shared! And only we as Christians can share it! Those who win others for the Lord are harvesters, bringing in a spiritual harvest and a harvest represents fruitfulness. Not every Christian is called to be an evangelist but we are all called to be witnesses to what Jesus means to us and what He has done for us. A final question: If I was on trial for being a Christian, would the judge have enough evidence to convict me? In His Service, John McCammon

Services for November: Sunday 3rd November (4th before Advent) 09:45 Prayer in the Upper Room 10:30 Holy Communion Sunday 10th November (Remembrance Day) 09:45 Prayer in the Upper Room 10:30 Remembrance Day Service 11:45 Laying of the wreathes at the British Cemetery followed by refreshments back at HTC supplied by the Vice Consul Sunday 17th November (2nd before Advent) 09:45 Prayer in the Upper Room 10:30 Holy Communion Sunday 24th November (Christ the King) 09:45 Prayer in the Upper Room 10:30 All Age Service 19:00 Songs of Praise

Weekly Events during November: The church is open daily Tuesday to Friday each week from 10:00 to 13:00 for coffee, chat and exchange of library books Monday 17:30 The Kontokali group meets Tuesday 10:00 Coffee Morning Wednesday 10:00-13:00 Church Library open 12:30 Lunch Box Thursday 10:00 Bible Study 10:00 The Southern group meets at the home of one of the members Friday 10:00 Prayer & Fellowship meeting in the church

Tuesday 12th November 10:00 - 12:30 Cookery Club Tuesday 19th November 10:00 Coffee Morning Saturday 23rd November 10:00 Christmas Bazaar Sunday 24th November Publication deadline for PulseXtra Tuesday 26th November 10:00 - 12:30 Master’s Crafters Wednesday 27th November 19:00 - 22:00 Scrabble Club

Advance Notices for December Saturday 7th December 20:00 Christmas Party at Argo Restaurant, Gouvia Marina HTC Christmas Party, dancing to ‘Apollo duo’. Mezes and spot prizes throughout the evening. Tickets: 12 euros per head Thursday 12th December St Spyridon’s Day Saturday 14th December 18:00 Christingle Service Wednesday 18th December 12:30 Christmas Lunchbox Thursday 19th December 18:00 Meet at HTC for Carol Singing around Corfu Town Sunday 22nd December (4th Sunday in Advent) 19:00 Carol Service Tuesday 24th December 23:30 Midnight Communion

Special Events during November Sunday 3rd November Procession of St Spyridon Tuesday 5th November 10:00 - 12:30 Weight Watching Saturday 9th November 09:30 Gardening Party Monday 11th November 09:00 Church Council Meeting

Wednesday 25th December 10:30 Christmas Communion

Collections for August Plate Envelopes Gift Aid Gift Day Total

483.67 670.50 161.00 316.06 1631.23

All things come from God and of His own do we give him.

Prayer Focus Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11: 24-25

We give thanks for: ● ● ● ● ●

our congregation in Lefkada our Churchwardens and PCC members our Home Group Leaders the locums we have been provided with during our interregnum all those who have joined with us during the summer season

Please pray for:

Cartoons by permission © Kirk Luehrs

Ÿ comfort and peace for Mila and her family following the death of her mother Ÿ the Church in Albania, especially for the mission of Richard and Linda in Saranda and their involvement in the Eagles Wings Home and Albanian Encouragement Committee Ÿ The Albanian Encouragement Project Ÿ the process leading to the recognition of the Church of England in Greece Ÿ the process leading to the appointment of a new Chaplain for HTC Ÿ the PCC and particularly for our Churchwardens, Pauline and Christine Ÿ strength and wisdom for Jackie in Lefkada Ÿ blessing, protection and guidance for all those who have returned to England. We will miss them and thank them for their fellowship. Pray especially for Lynn, Jimmy and Amira, Linda Watson, Audrey Hughes and Ioanna Ashford Ÿ Tony as he returns to England, that he will be provided with accommodation. We pray for your peace and comfort while he is in hospital there. Ÿ Taylor undergoing assessments for ASD, epilepsy and learning difficulties

World Calendar for November 11th November

Remembrance Day

Remember all those who have died fighting for peace, freedom and justice and pray for their friends and families.

16th November

International Day for Tolerance

Pray for tolerance between peoples and nations.

17th November

World Peace Day

Pray for God’s peace to rest on all His people.

20th November

Universal Children’s Day

Pray for children throughout the world. Remember particularly those who are in suffering through abuse, neglect, illness or war.

28th November

International Education Week

Pray for all those responsible for the education of children in this world.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

TESTIMONY Looking back I remember the first time I read in church , I was scared stiff and my knees literally knocked. My initial reaction when volunteers were asked for was “oh no I can’t do that’, but then I remembered what Jesus had done for me and felt that it was the least I could do for Him. Now it’s become a privilege and a joy . The same when clinic and hospital visitors were asked for, ”Oh no I could never do that, what would I say, what would I do?” Again I remembered that Jesus had suffered on the cross to save me, and it was the least I could do for Him. So I stepped out of my self consciousness , and each time I go not knowing what to expect, I ask Him for the words to say and the things to do, and He does it. So be encouraged, when we supply the will, HE supplies the power, WOW! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4. 13 “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by acion, is dead.” James 2.17 ‘When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right. “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritace, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.” Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?” The King will reply, “I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.” Then He will say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, You who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.” They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help You?” He will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.” Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life’ Mathew 25.31-46 Praise Him Lorraine (Mrs Mop)

Gardening Party "I am the true vine and My Father is the gardener." John 15:1 We are truly blessed in having a garden in the centre of the town which we use for most of our functions. We are planning to have a gardening party on the 9th November and we need volunteers to help us to prune the wisteria, bougainvillea and to cut a few branches of one of the trees. The garden needs to be weeded and dug over. Please bring your own tools, we will require a chainsaw, spades, hedge clippers, trowels and secateurs. Many in our congregation have “green fingers” which is a gift from God. So come along and use your skills in His garden. Image used by courtesy of pams clipart.com

Please let Pauline or Christine know if you can help. Thank you.

Visiting Team Needed Occasions arise when people need to be visited in hospital or at home. Maybe to take some shopping or a meal,or even just for a coffee and chat .Knowing that someone is there can be such a comfort. If you would like to help please contact Lorraine.

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH RATIONS PROGRAMME ‘DAILY BREAD’ Within the Metropolis Parish of Corfu, there are three churches who run a ‘Daily Bread’ programme, providing meals for the needy of the parish. These churches are ‘Virgin Mary, Mandrakina’, ‘Three Saints Martyrs, Anemomilos’ and ‘St John of Lazos, Kefalomandouko’. Christine, Maggie, and John & Margaret McCammon went to visit the Church of the Virgin Mary Mandrakina to find out more about the programme and how we can help. Spiros and his dedicated team of women, provide lunch between 12.30 and 1.15. Working on a rota system two ladies come in every day and prepare the food; there was a lovely smell wafting from the kitchen of potato and pea casserole whilst we were there. As the winter draws near and seasonal work finishes, this winter will probably be extremely hard for many families. Any help of food donations and clothes can be taken to this small church during the mornings, which is just before the Palace of St Michael and St George, alternatively bring things into HTC and we will make sure it goes to those in need.

GIVING BASKET Collections are ongoing for:Needs as they arise Local community through outlets with The Orthodox Church Albania Myriam in Old Peoples Home in Ioannina

IF YOU CAN NOT FEED A MILLION PEOPLE THEN JUST FEED ONE Mother Teresa

Needed: Non perishable foods, especially pasta pulses rice tinned meat and fish Toiletries Underwear and socks Gifts and items for the home (especially by the end of October) Myriam ;- Nighties , bedsocks, cream crackers, diabetic sweets and chocolate, phone cards. Water bottle tops for Children's Fund, outlet through Evangelical Church Used stamps (except ones with Queens head only) for ICS International Church Society,please leave a quarter inch border. Thanks and Blessings ( 'Give and it will be given unto you .. . . .(Luke 6.38.)

God in the Fire Camping is an activity I have learned to enjoy since my husband, Mark, came into my life. In his opinion, my growing up years were severely deprived. Ever since my first “roughing it” experience with the youth group from our church, I have come to actually “enjoy” sleeping on the hard ground, answering nature’s call baring it in the wild, and bathing in a swimming suit in the lake. Well, maybe not “enjoy” exactly, but I am more then willing to put up with these minor inconveniences just to bask in my favourite part of camping – the campfire. There is something about sitting around a nice blazing fire on a fold-up lawn chair, staring in fascination at the flames as they flicker and change from blue to red, orange and yellow. Roasting marshmallows (which usually means burning the outside to a crisp!), singing old songs that seem to be reserved for just such occasions, and the telling of tales that tend to grow each time they are told – these are all memory nuggets that we have tried to bury deep into the childhood experiences of our eager offspring. Once the children have been tucked, for the last time, back into their sleeping bags, the adults linger around the fire till all that remains are the glowing hot coals with the reds and blacks and yellows dancing back and forth. The conversations we have had around campfires are some of my most treasured memories. What is it that makes us more willing to “bare our souls” around a fire? Is it the absence of all the busy distractions of our everyday life? Is it the fact that as we stare into the ever-changing flames, we do not actually have to look each other in the eye? Can you imagine the conversations that the children of Israel must have had in front of their tents as they gazed at the pillar of fire? I am sure they must have sung songs (maybe even Miriam’s song?) and told over and over the story of their deliverance from Egypt. As the 40 years of their wandering dragged on, I imagine there were nights that the older generation bared their souls to the younger, confessing what happened when they disobeyed the Lord. Personally, I cannot imagine living in a tent for 40 years. I think I might even tire of staring into that pillar of fire after that long! However, I can only imagine the memories that must have come flooding back every time the Israelites made a fire after settling down in their new land. They were reminded of God’s eternal presence, of how He was always faithful to guide them, and of how He supplied their every need. The next time you sit around a campfire with your legs burning and your back freezing, think about how awesome your God is! He will always be with you. He will direct your footsteps if you will follow Him, and He will supply your EVERY need! Donna Haug is a missionary wife and mother who loves to write. She has spent much of her life overseas. As a result, her writings have a 'down to earth' quality to them and quite often an international bent. Check out the latest on the Haugs at www.thehaugs.com

Clip art © Bobbie Peachey, http://webclipart.about.com

Notice We will no longer be producing the quarterly PulseXtra. As a result of this, instead of there being a delay in publishing articles received, we will, in most cases, be able to publish them as as they are submitted. Pulse will vary in size each month and we now ask that a donation of 50 cents per printed copy be made to cover costs. Carole Sherratt We always welcome contributions to our publications, however, we will not publish any material which infringes copyright. When sending in items for inclusion please state your source and the name of the author. We are happy to accept prayer requests for inclusion in Pulse or in the morning service. If you are requesting prayer for someone other than yourself please make sure you have their permission to be mentioned publicly Church Office: Tel: +30 2661 031 467 Open Tuesday – Friday 10am - 13:00 Email: [email protected]

Churchwardens: Pauline Argyrou: (M) 6976 196 322 Chris Spatoula: (M) 6936 077 390

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