Feast of Apostle Andrew

On 30 November we celebrate the Feast of the All Praised Apostle Andrew, the patronal feast our neighbouring Church of Apostlos Andreas in Birmingham.  The community have invited us to join them to celebrate in their festivities:

27 Nov, Saturday: Vespers at 6.30pm.

29 Nov, Monday: Vespers at 7pm.

30 Nov, Tuesday: Matins and Divine Liturgy at 9.30am.

Feast of Great Martyr Barbara

On 4 December we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Glorious Great Martyr Barbara, the patronal feast of our neighbouring Church of Saint Barbara in Chester.  Our church community has been invited to join them to celebrate in their festivities:

3 Dec, Friday: Vespers 6.30pm

4 Dec, Saturday: Divine Liturgy with Bishop Raphael of Ilion presiding, 11.00am

Saint Nicholas Festival

On the 5 December we will be holding our annual Saint Nicholas Festival after the Divine Liturgy in Telford.

Festive crafts for the children, a visit from Saint Nicholas, Hamper Raffle, Soup and bread, mulled wine.

Help for the homeless

During the Nativity Fast we will be having special collections for the Shrewsbury Ark. The Shrewsbury Ark Provides ongoing support and day centre facilities for the homeless and vulnerable in our community.  Please give generously!

The children of the Varangian Guard Youth Club make gifts to the vulnerable children of the Shrewsbury Ark each year.  If your children are not members of the youth club but you would still like to contribute please let Presvytera Catherine know.

Carols at Oak Street

There will be carols and festivities after the Divine Liturgy on 12 December at Veronica’s house: 15 Oak Street, Shrewsbury, SY3 7QR.

All are welcome!

New Book for Wednesday Scripture Study

We will be starting to study a new book in our weekly scripture study via zoom on a Wednesday evening as we have now finished reading the life of Luke of Simferopol.

From Wednesday 8 December at 7pm we will start to study The religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century by Father Stephen de Young.  You can order the book from our bookstall – please speak to Veronica Davies.

Father Dr. Stephen De Young traces the lineage of Orthodox Christianity back to the faith and witness of the apostles, which was rooted in a first-century Jewish worldview. The Religion of the Apostles presents the Orthodox Christian Church of today as a continuation of the religious life of the apostles, which in turn was a continuation of the life of the people of God since the beginning of creation.

About the Author: Father Stephen De Young is the pastor of Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church (Antiochian) in Lafayette, Louisiana. He holds a PhD in Biblical Studies from Amridge University and is the host of The Whole Counsel of God podcast and co-host of the Lord of Spirits podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. He is also the author of The Whole Counsel Blog on the Ancient Faith Ministries website. For years Fr. Stephen has been teaching the Bible by taking ideas current in biblical scholarship and explaining them to laypeople to make both those ideas and the Scriptures more accessible.

It is essentially a one-volume Orthodox Biblical theology, giving an overall framework for understanding the Scriptures.

Join the Scripture Study via Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81629854019?pwd=UzN5b3NTL1h0STJMd2E2ZW1kSHlJZz09

Meeting ID: 816 2985 4019
Passcode: 926265

Memory Eternal!

Ioannis Papagiannidhs’ funeral took place at the Church of the Apostle Luke in Glasgow on 24 November with the burial afterwards in Auchinleck close to where Effie and the children live.  Bishop Raphael presided at the funeral.  There was much sorrow mixed with joy – sorrow for the family left behind. Joy because Iaonnis was very strong in his faith in God, had an unwavering hope in the resurrection unto life, and was a wonderful example of great love and sacrifice.

Effie has been granted great strength.  She has not driven for ten years but got straight into the car and has been driving the family to church into Glasgow which is a a great maize of fly-overs and spaghetti junctions.

Thanks goes to those who went up to Scotland to represent our community.  The family were very grateful.   Six of us travelled up together on the train.

We continue to collect money for the family so that we can help them at this time: Give via PayPal

Thanks to all those who have given so generously!!!