HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, CORFU - PULSE
An insight to the workings and personalities of our church
April 2004
Services in March:
BCP – Book of Common Prayer CW – Common Worship
4th April 1030 Palm Sunday
Holy Communion BCP
1900 Songs of Praise
8th April 1900 Maundy Thursday
Holy Communion
9th April Good Friday
Devotional Hour
Passiontide Music
Service of the Last Hour
11th April EASTER DAY
0900 Holy Communion BCP
Holy Communion CW
18th April 1030 Holy Communion BCP
Easter Praise!
25th April 1030 Holy Communion CW
2nd May 1030 Morning Prayer
Weekly Activities
Monday 1000 Alpha Course (English)
Tuesday 1000 Alpha Course (German)
1000 Library & Coffee Morning
1100 ‘Slimming Together’
Wednesday 1000 Coffee & Kids
(for ages newborn – 6 yrs)
1215 ‘Lunchbox’ – come & join us
1900 Scrabble Club (Last Wed in month)
Thursday 1000 Bible Study - The Book of Acts
Friday Informal Fellowship & Prayer Meeting (please phone HTC to check time &
place)
Saturday 1000 ‘Nearly New’ Sale first Sat every month
- Next one: 3rd April
Sunday School & Youth Group run at the same time as the Sunday services
PARSON’s PARAGRAPH
‘CHRISTOS ANESTI: ADVANTAGE CORFU’
I have a good friend, John , another Church of England
clergyman, with whom I worked for a number of years. Some years ago we were
sharing testimonies, not about how we came into the Christian faith but about
the discovery of the power of the Holy Spirit. John had been a lecturer in
architecture, a churchwarden and a sincere believer for many years. He was anglo-catholic
in his worship style and theology. One day he was spending time alone in prayer
and whilst doing so he felt a presence in the room; one which he said he could
have touched. Without looking up he found himself saying; ‘You really did rise
from the dead didn’t you?’ .
Unlike St. Paul , John didn’t get a reply, nor did he have a
blinding flash or fall to the ground, but it did bring his faith into a new
dimension and a fresh discovery of God’s Holy Spirit guiding his life. Now
reader, you already have a choice. You can believe what I am telling you or you
might think: ‘what strange friends Clifford has’!
Last month I wrote about hope growing into faith. This month
the message is of faith growing to the level of certainty. (See Hebrews 11 v 1
again) What I sometimes call the ‘ladder of faith’ operates like this :from the
1st rung:
no chance, unlikely, possible, probable, very likely ,
extremely probable, virtually certain, no doubt about it. You might like to
refine some of the terms but you have probably grasped what I am driving at.
Faith as it grows will go in the direction of virtual certainty. I didn’t have
the experience that my friend had, but I have had sufficient cumulative evidence
to believe in the reality of the Spirit’s guidance and to trust the written Word
of God. Faith cannot be compelled. You can’t bully people into it, but you can
encourage it ‘up the ladder’ by offering it evidence. This is one of the reasons
the gospels were written. John says ‘Jesus did many other miraculous signs in
the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these
are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
that by believing you may have life in his name.’( Chapter 20v31)
In a few days time we will be gathering with lighted candles
in hand, joining thousands of others as midnight approaches on Easter Eve to
wait for the midnight cry from the Orthodox Liturgy: CHRISTOS ANESTI. Even the
most insensitive person present must realize that something pretty
earth-shattering is being celebrated. When we watch that magnificent firework
display and let something of the thrill of those minutes penetrate us, where
will you be on the ladder of faith? Will you be saying :’This is just part of
Orthodox culture, useful as a tourist attraction, but which will disappear as
soon as the smoke clears’ or will you say like my friend John: ‘You really did
rise from the dead didn’t you.’
HAPPY EASTER………………………………………………….…… Clifford
Many perhaps wonder what can make somebody visit the place of
another Christian denomination. It is true that we Christians have more things
in common, what links us together is more than what keeps us apart. What Christ
gave to us can extend intellectual horizons, strengthen our faith for the
victory of good over evil and renew the love that we have for the Lord, thus
developing us as a Christian society. The Almighty God remains forever the real
leader of humanity and He continues to lead us with the renewing presence of His
Spirit. It is really marvelous, living in a multi-cultural place such as Corfu.
Geographically we are on the borders of where Eastern and Western churches
merge. Here, as in other parts of Europe, different cultures coexist in harmony.
Most people are aware of the differences that exist between different churches.
However substantially we are all different branches Of the same spiritual tree.
The tree of unique truth in this world, the tree that Christ himself left to us
in order to cultivate. All these things make us realise that we belong to a
common culture. It is positive that in our times many have realised that
contradictions and differentiations of churches are useless and only help to
remove the world away from the significance of Christianity. What Christ left to
us to build should not be cut into pieces. I have seen a lot of baptized people
in my life, hating and fighting each other. People living their lives according
to their customs and ways that are a contradiction to the Christian teachings. I
have often wondered at the substance of things we follow simply because they are
ceremonial customs. Naturally nobody is perfect. Temptations and imperfections
exist daily around us. I am very pleased that I can come and share a Sunday
Service with you at the Anglican Church, a church with a great history and rich
tradition, a church that is well known throughout the world for its mission that
is found in the service of our God and in the salvation of the world. Nassos (A
Greek Orthodox visitor)
Easter Greetings come from Frank & Janet Holt.
Operation Gideon: God surely works in ways we cannot see
(Isaiah 55: 8,9). Through Jaqueline's vision of Alpha in German becoming
reality, doors have opened and new contacts have been made. At HTC we have had
the privilege and joy of offering hospitality to Karen who is German, serving
with 'Hellenic Ministries' in Athens, and Brigitta, who is Swiss & serving as a
missionary in Albania with 'Nehemiah Organisation'. They came to HTC to give an
Easter talk to the German Alpha Gp. At evening worship on 21st March they shared
with us in English their present mission 'Operation Gideon', a Games outreach
during the Athens 2004 Olympics which includes teams to 80 Greek islands
including Corfu. 'Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim His praise in
the islands' (Isaiah 42:12)
Greeting & Congratulations to 'Little Catherine' & Philip
Adlam who are to marry on Sat 3rd April. (Ephesians 5)
Encouragement for the Weary: TRIUMPH (Colossians 2:
13-15). Praise God who through the risen Lord gives us the strength and power to
rise up out of the ash heap, put on a garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness, makes us more than conquerors never separated from His love,
overcoming our circumstances, giving us the courage to step out for him!
Summer's coming so let's keep going..Mrs Mop
For your Prayers:
Diana - 10 yr old Albanian street girl
For healing - Bertie Hobbs & Lelania
'Operation Gideon'
Stuart & Kathryn in The Congo
Richard, Linda & Jo in Albania
ICS Conference 26-30 April
Testimonies: A
new book of testimonies is being compiled & hopefully will be ready for the
Summer Fayre. If you would like to share your experience of how you came to know
the Lord Jesus please leave your contribution
at church, before Easter if possible.
Your testimony could encourage others.
Dates for your Diary:
HTC AWAY DAY
Saturday, 3rd April
10am to about 3.30 pm
At the home of Roger & Pat Hunstone
Bring a packed lunch
Programme on the HTC notice board
Everyone welcome - come & share spiritual refreshment &
thought provoking discussion in beautiful surroundings.
VISIT OF BISHOP GEOFFREY ROWELL - 9th MAY - CONFIRMATION:
When Bishop Geoffrey comes during the first weekend of
May, there will be the opportunity for any who wish it, to be confirmed during
the morning service. If any of you are interested just to talk about it, I am
happy to receive your enquiry. ………………………..Clifford
Wednesday, 2nd June
SUMMER FAYRE!
A notice will be going up in the Library for stallholders
& helpers - we need 30 helpers + others to relieve stallholders. Please could
you sign.
Also, preserves for the Home Produce stall are needed. jam jars are in the
library if required.
Date of next Church Council meeting:
14th April at 1830.
CHAPLAINCY AGM: Wed. 21st April at 1800
‘He is risen indeed!'
' Αληθος
Ανεστη!'
Items for ‘Pulse’ should be given to Stella & Ron 2661090926 or email
stelnron@otenet.gr
by the last Wednesday of the month
All enquiries regarding church activities should be directed to the office on
26610 31467 (Mon – Fri 10am – 1pm) e-mail
holytrin@otenet.gr
www.holytrinitycorfu.org
Out of hours & emergencies ring Clifford’s mobile 6947287816
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