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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18 th - 25 th 2008
The 100 th anniversary of the first week of prayer for Christian Unity will be celebrated in St Albans Cathedral on 20 th January, in the presence of Archbishop Coccia of Pesaro and Bishop Martin Lind, Bishop of Linköping.
Resources for use in parishes are available from the CTBI website. Click here.
Archdeacon of St Albans Retires
Message from The Bishop of St Albans:
“It is with sadness that I announce the retirement, on the grounds of ill health, of Helen Cunliffe, Archdeacon of St Albans.
In the Cunliffe’s Christmas ‘round-robin’, were these words:
“ Helen has just been granted retirement on grounds of ill-health, following a serious breakdown in May. It is ironic that it had to happen now, as Archdeacon of St Albans seemed a tailor-made post, and she has loved the work and the people she’s encountered in every aspect of the job. We’re putting it down to 24 years of accumulated stress. She is making good progress, and is very grateful for prayers and many expressions of love and concern over the past months”.
I want to say, in addition to that, how very much loved and respected Helen was. You only had to be with her in any of the parishes of the St Albans Archdeaconry to see that. She brought to her task, wisdom, sensitivity, a most generous and loving pastoral heart and a gentle but tough concern for the development of the mission of the Church in the diocese and further afield. We shall miss Helen enormously and assure her and her family of our prayers for her well being.
We are working on plans for a ‘farewell’ for Helen but the details have yet to be finalised. Once this has happened I shall be in touch with everyone.
Meanwhile, pray for Helen: a good, loving priest, archdeacon and friend.”
Link Diocese’s former bishop dies
The retired Bishop of Fano, Bishop Vittorio Tomasetti died on 6 January 2008. Fano is one of St Albans’ Italian link dioceses. The Bishop of St Albans said this in a letter to the present Bishop of Fano, Bishop Armando Trasarti, read out at the funeral.
“Our links with your diocese were blessed by the gentleness and grace which Bishop Tomasetti brought to our conversations. He was a man of courage and prayer and of shy but warm humanity. We rejoice to have known him and pray that as the links between our dioceses grow we shall continue to recognise the significant contribution he made to ecumenical understanding.”
In the Bishop’s Christmas Stocking….
...was Safraz Mansoor’s book, “Greetings from Bury Park: race, religion and rock and roll,” recounting the experiences of a second-generation Muslim growing up in Luton. Bishop Christopher recommends it for the insights it offers. (The Diocesan Resource Centre has some copies available).
Diocesan Environment Officer, Diocese of St Albans
The Diocese of St Albans has appointed Revd Martin King as its Diocesan Environment Officer.
Martin has been a non-stipendiary minister at St Helen’s and St Peter’s in Wheathampstead since his ordination in 2005. Martin came to ordained ministry after a career as a business professional. Before thaq Martin spent three years as a commissioned officer in the Royal Signals.
Martin has long had an active interest in environmental issues and his scientific background has helped him to assess the significance of many of the contributions to the lively environmental debate that is going on around us.
As DEO, Martin is expecting to be able to combine his scientific knowledge and his interest in practical environmental issues with an understanding of the theology of caring for the world that God has given us. He will be supporting parishes and deaneries, which wish to strengthen their own environmental understanding and practice. In this he will work closely with the Diocese’s Environment Group
Martin welcomes contact on environmental matters via email on martin.king@stalbans.anglican.org or by phone on 07963 196416.
The Revd Habib Badr, is a Middle-Eastern pastor and scholar
He will be giving a lecture on ‘Martyrdom in Christian and Islamic Traditions’, at the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans (AL1 1BY), Saturday, 19 th January, 2-4pm, in the Crypt. Understanding why some people of faith see martyrdom as a way to serve God is an important issue in our time, as well as part of our Christian heritage. The lecture is open to anyone and everyone. You do not need to book or register.
Wanted: Guinea pigs to study snapshots for Lent!
Interactive Christian Extension Studies, (ICES), has produced a Lent Course. They are looking for people to use it this year and give them their opinions and suggestions so that it can be distributed more widely next year.
ICES students interact with texts and with each other. The course uses images and quizzes to help the learning process. Paintings of the life of Christ from Mantegna to Spencer and Dali bring teaching alive in a fresh way.
The Course, entitled Snapshots of the Life of Christ should enable students to grasp the overall plan of Matthew’s Gospel, study a few passages in more depth, discern Matthew’s special concerns and apply passages from the Bible to their own situation.
Those taking part in the trial will be asked for a modest contribution around £4.50 to meet costs. Further details from Mike Butterworth 01296 481154, or mikebutterworth@waitrose.com
A Forum on Homelessness
This event is part of Poverty and Homelessness Action Week. Its purpose is simply to listen to the stories of the homeless, giving a voice to those who are not often heard. Wednesday 30 th January 7.30 – 9.30pm, Clulow Room, Norton Parish Centre, Common View, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1DA.
Village Church for Village Life Award
Country Life magazine is looking for the finest adaptation of an historic rural parish church which allows for its continuing life as a place of worship and encourages use for wider community benefit.
The competition is inspired by Sir Roy Strong and supported by the Mercers Company. The first prize winner will receive £10,000; runner-up £5,000.
Details and entry form on www.countrylife.co.uk/villagechurch
Find out how you and your church can respond to the AIDS pandemic…
..at a TEARFUND Event at the Kerith Centre, Bracknell, Saturday 15 th March 2008.
Kay Warren , co-founder of Saddleback Church, California, and Executive Director of their HIV and AIDS Initiative, will be the main speaker on the day.
Other speakers are:
Patricia Sawo – the East Africa Representative of ANERELA (African Network of Religious Leaders living with or affected by AIDS) and
Rev David Peck – the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for International Development
Download a booking form here
Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration Bedford
Bedfordshire students will be joined by local Councillors and invited guests to ‘Imagine…remember, reflect, react’, on Holocaust Memorial Day 2008. The event is on 28 th January 2008 at 6pm at Bedford Modern School. Councillors and teachers are encouraging people from right across the local community to attend.
HOPE 2008
Don’t forget Hope 2008 events and ideas for activities throughout the year to help turn Vision into Action. www.hope08.com
ASCEND
The award-winning project for adult literacy and training attached to All Saints, South Oxhey is looking for a volunteer administrator 2 days a week. Contact Christine Wyard, 202 8420 1364.
Event of the month
St Paul ’s Church Bedford. The Chapel Choir of Christ’s College Cambridge in concert on Saturday 23 rd February at 7pm. Tickets £8 from 01234 343477, Bedford Central Box Office, 01234 269519 or on the door.
This months events can be seen here
Debt. Do you know someone who needs help?
A new Church of England resource to help people worried about debt, called a matter of life and debt can be found at www.cofe.anglican.org/debt . It includes a post Christmas debt-check, prayers for those worried about debt and household budgeting material.