Please pray with us tonight for our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Jerusalem and for all the people of this region: for protection and peace; for de-escalation and ceasefire; for humanitarian and medical teams; for generosity and compassion.

Keep watch, dear Lord,
with those who wake, or watch, or weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick,
give rest to the weary,
sustain the dying,
calm the suffering,
and pity the distressed;
all for your love’s sake, O Christ our Redeemer.
Amen.

​PARISH MORNING PRAYER
We meet for Morning Prayer on ZOOM each Tuesday and Thursday at 9.00 am for 20 mins. This an opportunity for members of all three ACP churches to pray together.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81835740721?pwd=WXJLSC9NYkQyblhaSzRKVWR0aXVGQT09
Meeting ID: 818 3574 0721
Passcode: 695196​

Bishop Sean is pleased to announce the appointment of Stella Lail Perrin as Community Outreach Coordinator in Cyprus with effect from 1 October 2024.
Introducing herself, Stella writes:

Greetings in the name of Christ! My name is Stella Lail Perrin and I am humbled to be serving in the role of Community Outreach Coordinator, Cyprus (formerly Social Concerns Officer, a role previously held by the Revd Anne Futcher. I am originally from the US but have been living and working in Larnaca, Cyprus for a year working as a mental health educator for All4Aid (formerly Oasis). My education includes a Master of Divinity and a Master’s in Counseling, having served as an Associate Pastor and School Counselor in the past.

I will be working with Bishop Sean to coordinate efforts with other humanitarian organizations in Cyprus to be prepared for an influx of asylum seekers from the escalating conflict in the region, should an influx occur. I also want to dialogue with parish leaders to help churches be prepared to respond in a way that honors Christ and our call to love our neighbors.

A few practical things you can do to begin preparing yourself and your congregation for a sudden rise in asylum seekers includes:

1. Prayer - use the intercessions during Sunday services to prayer for those who are in danger and for those who may have to flee, and encourage parishioners to pray daily for refugees. Pray for open hearts to receive asylum seekers and to meet them where they are. I will soon be sending out a prayer guide if you would like to use it or distribute it among congregants. It's easier to love and serve those for whom we have prayed. 

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Mark 6:34

2. Assess your strengths and your assets-What is it that your church might have to offer? Time to volunteer? Space for persons or organizations to use? What skills might your congregants have to offer that could be needed (Including simple language teaching, making hats/scarves/blankets) 

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

3. Become familiar with resources in your area. What nonprofits or humanitarian aid organizations are in your area? What services do they offer? Have you introduced yourself to them? How could your congregation offer support to them? We are stronger more effective when we work together.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

For such a time as this we have been called to this little island of Cyprus to be the hands and feet of Christ. May Christ find his faithful!

Grace and peace!
​
Stella Lail Perrin

Bishop Sean led the congregation of St Helena Larnaca in bidding a fond farewell to the Venerable Christopher Futcher, Archdeacon in Cyprus, and the Reverend Anne Futcher, assistant priest and Social Concern Officer, at a service of Evening Prayer on Saturday 14 September, ahead of their retirement at the end of the month.

Amongst many responsibilities Archdeacon Christopher carries, he is also Diocesan Director of Ministry and Cyprus Vocations Adviser. During the service, Bishop Sean presented accreditation certificates to five new Lay Worship Leaders who have recently completed training led by Christopher.

The Futchers began their ministries in Cyprus in 2019, arriving from our link diocese of Exeter, in England.

Bishop Sean thanked Anne and Christopher for their ministries on the island, and their work for the wider diocese.

Please join Sean in holding them in your prayers.