September 2011 Magazine

Dear Friends

August is never as quiet as we expect it to be – nevertheless it is one of the quieter months of the year.  Not so September – that is the month when everything starts up again!  It is good to see more of people and get involved in various constructive activities.

It has been my privilege since February this year to get to know approx. a dozen young adults from Iran.  They are all seeking asylum because of what they have experienced in their home country much as they will want to return as soon as that is possible. Many of them have wanted to become Christians and to date 8 have been baptised. Few of them have been in a hurry making that decision an some are not sure about that. There are many other Iranians both at home and abroad who are at least considering becoming Christians. Iranian Christians in St Thomas’ are usually reluctant to include their new faith as part of their Fresh Claim for asylum.

I think it right to offer these friends an introduction to the Christian Faith.  Every week I lead a discussion of St Mark’s Gospel , with ‘ND’ one of their number interpreting.  You know that they also join us for Sunday worship, with two them in the Choir.  It is quite difficult for most of them because their English is limited. Most of them have also done stints of gardening in the churchyard. Thanks to all who converse with them as best you may, and who pray for them.  It is not easy to seek asylum.

September dates

4th, Sunday at 10.30:  Holy Communion and Sunday School

5th, Monday at 7.30:  ‘Religious Minorities worldwide’ – discussion 

              introduced by the Revd Rana Khan, Lambeth Palace, venue TBA

8th, Thursday 8 pm at 51 Green Ln: home group on Acts resumes

11th, Sunday at 10.30: All Age Morning Worship

22nd, Thursday at 7.30 at St Thomas’:  Oldham Reaching Muslims

                 With Stewart Binns of Word of Life Australia.

25th, Sunday at 10.30: Service of Wholeness and Healing

27th, Tuesday at 7.30: Introduction to Near Neighbours (government grant

                   scheme for local interfaith initiatives), venue TBA

2 October, Sunday at 10.30: All Age Harvest Thanksgiving

                  Holy Communion, followed by bread and soup lunch

                  – see article later in this magazine.

9 October, Sunday at 10.30: Morning Worship – Prayer and the Bible,

                   theme shared throughout the diocese.

Holy Baptism

‘The promise is to you and your children and to all that are afar off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him’ – Acts 2, verse 39

By immersion at Bethel Church on Saturday, 13 August 2011

Seyed Ali Varzandeh, Niloofar Somayeh Balali, Alireza Azghanbari,

and Afsaneh Haghighi.

At St Thomas’ on Sunday, 14 August 2011,

Lucas Douglas, son of Douglas Christopher Sills and Danielle Tanya Jon-Baptiste.

Holy Matrimony

‘Those whom God has joined together let no-one put asunder’

 – St Mark’s Gospel, chapter 10, verse 9.

30 August    Paul Michael Sweeney and Carolann Haywood

TO THOSE OF THOSE OF US

BORN, 1925 – 1970

Continued from August Magazine