Dear Friends
Christ is risen!
How many of us want Church to be for people like us? We like to meet those who share similar interests—tips on the best shop to buy certain ingredients, discussions on football results, debates about politics—but always with others who have the same worldview, who basically agree with us.
The Church spread out from Jerusalem due to those escaping persecution. They sought safety further away from Jerusalem where the Temple authorities would not be able to seize them as they had seized the first martyr Stephen. Some would only speak to others of the same worldview, to Jews, while others were willing to speak to everyone—the book of Acts calls them “Greeks”. We will hear about this in Sunday’s epistle reading.
In those days, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11:19–30
We face the same problem in our community in Eastleigh. Unless we are welcoming to everyone we will not be the Church. All are welcome, all belong with us.
May we continue to show hospitality to all who wish to encounter the risen Christ.
Your prayers!
With love in the risen Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]
News
Services this week
Friday 28th May
Discussion on the book of Genesis, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 29th May
Vespers, 3.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Sunday 30th May
Liturgy, 9.30 am
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
You must register in advance before attending services because of Covid regulations, we are presently limited to 10 families (bubbles) being present for each service (see below).
Online session is via Google Meet, please get in contact for the details.
Attending Church
We will be meeting at St Francis’ Hall, Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 9JA. You must register beforehand. This is for two reasons, we must limit the number of people in the hall and this will facilitate NHS Track and Trace. We will restrict attendance at any service to 10 families (bubbles) and ask that you stay together in the service. Registration by email to [email protected] (please state to which services you would like to go and the names of those in your family). I will send confirmation of your registration by email: regretfully it is possible some may not be able to attend if we have reached the maximum number.
There will be a signed one-way system, entrance by the car park. You must wear a mask at all times when inside unless you are exempt. We must ask that we do not socialise at all inside in the current regulations, though we may do so outside in groups no larger than 6 (or containing only 2 bubbles). On entry we ask that you sanitise your hands and there will be sanitiser available for your use.
We do not yet have banking facilities. Please do not give cash as a donation nor for candles. When we have the details we will circulate the details and ask that you give by bank transfer or standing order.