All Saints of Britain

In this email

Message from Fr Alexander — All Saints of Britain
The Apostles’ Fast
Create an online forum?
Covid-19 Response
Live stream information
News of Future Services
Patron
Resources
Saints and Feasts — 18th–25th June
Offer of help

Dear Friends

It is a pious custom on the Sunday after All Saints (this year 14th June) to commemorate all the saints of the land in which we reside: this coming Sunday (21st) we will, therefore, commemorate All the Saints who have shone forth in Britain and Ireland.

All the Saints who have shone forth in Britain and Ireland

You can see a key, detailing who each saint depicted is at this link.

In particular, we can feel particularly close, at least in the terms of geography, to St Boniface of Crediton who spent time at a monastery in Nursling, just outside Southampton, before bringing the Gospel to Germany, St Birinus who arrived and built a Church in Southampton so important that an area of the city is still named after it (St Mary’s), and then the saints of Winchester first among whom St Swithun the Wonderworker.  All these saints, and the countless others who have lived faithful lives and whose names we do not have, serve as a reminder to us that the Christian faith in these islands in the western ocean is deep.  We may also be comforted that the God-given mission to bring the Gospel to all nations has been done here once and can be done so again.

My dear brothers and sisters, friends, if we want there to be a Church for our children and grandchildren to attend where they will be able to worship God together then we must be the Church here and now.  This will require sacrifice on our part — our time, our talents, our energy, and yes too, our money.

If we believe we have seen the True Light,
if we believe we have received the heavenly Spirit,
if we believe we have found the True Faith,
if we believe we worship the undivided Trinity,
if we believe the Trinity has saved us,

then it would be profoundly sinful for us to hold back from building up Christ’s Church.

I invite you now to be working towards the building up of Christ’s Church here in Eastleigh for us, for the town and borough and for the entire region.

Pray.  Pray.  Pray.  And, if you have the strength consider two problems:

  • Where are we going to meet for worship once the Covid-19 lockdown is eased to a certain extent?
  • How does the Lord want you to support this ministry?

Please do get in touch with any ideas, suggestions or offers of help, [email protected].

By the prayers of St Swithun, St Birinus, St Boniface and All the Saints who have hallowed this land, may we too be found faithful servants of the Lord.


The Apostles’ Fast

We have now started the Apostles’ Fast.  This is the once fast of the year which is variable in length as its start is based on the date of Pascha but it always ends on 29th June.

Fasting periods are given to us as a time where we can put our own needs after others.  If you would like to enter more into the beautiful tradition of fasting for this short fast, this year only two weeks, but you don’ know where to start, then get in contact.  Email [email protected].


Create an online forum?

Would you be interested in meeting online?  One-to-one or as a group?  We could make use of technology to create an online community, ask questions, read together, pray together?

Let me know! Email [email protected].


Covid-19 Response

We should follow government advice whenever we can.  We are not being asked to give up or deny our Faith, but many are being told to stay socially isolated and this will last, perhaps, for many months.

How can you respond?  Pray.  We pray because we love and because we know the power of prayer.  We pray not as a last resort but as a first response.

Is there anything you need or anything you can offer?  Let me know — my telephone number and email address are on each of the emails: please get in contact if you are feeling isolated: I am here for you.

Are you willing to contact isolated people via email or phone?  Let me know!  It would be good to match up those who need help with those who can offer it.

Live stream

The Monastery of Saints Antony and Cuthbert, Shropshire, is live-streaming its services for all who are unable to go to their own churches.  These are over YouTube and can be accessed here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfWMaefJYqFEZkYiK2WmeEw

Usually Vespers on Saturday evenings at 5 pm and Matins and Liturgy on Sunday mornings from 7.30 am.


News of Future Services

While the lockdown measures remain in place we are not able to meet for worship: but can we start planning now for what we will do when we’re able?  Please get in contact if you are able to offer ideas, suggestions or help.

Patron

We need to be praying, too, that the patron of our new community will identify himself, herself or themselves to us.  I believe it will not be so much that we choose, rather we need to pray that the choice be revealed to us.


Resources

Have a look at our website —  orthodoxeastleigh.uk
If you click on the “Blog” link, or directly here, you will see all past emails as well as sermons etc.

Our Facebook Page, facebook.com/orthodoxeastleigh, too, has daily additions during the week as well as on feast days.  Please do like and share our page and content so we may reach a wider group of people.

Do you receive the weekly (on Fridays) text message?  If not, then let me know.


Saints and Feasts

Thusday 18th June — Martyrs Leontios, Hypatios and Theodoulos, at Tripolis in Syria (70–79).

Friday 19th — Apostle Jude, the brother of the Lord (c 80).

Saturday 20th — Hieromartyr Methodios, Bishop of Patara (312).

Sunday 21st — All Saints of Britain.

Monday 22nd — St Alban, Protomartyr of Britain (c 209)

Tuesday 23rd — St Etheldreda of Ely (679).

Wednesday 24th — The Nativity of the Holy, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.

Thursday 25th — St Fevronia of Nisibis (c 304).


Can I help you?

I am here for you, you need only ask.  Is there a way I can support your life of faith?  Get in touch.

Can you help the mission?

Yes, absolutely.  Offer yourselves to the Lord: pray!  Make available to him all your talents and ask him how he would like you to use them — listen for his reply.

I ask your prayers for me.

With love in Christ

Fr Alexander
[email protected]