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Dear all,

All being well, I shall return to ministry this coming Sunday. Almost the whole family contracted COVID and it has taken quite long to recover. In the Church, we continue to follow the local health authorities advice and current restrictions, paying attention to the Diocese’s COVID guidelines as well. Wearing masks and taking vaccines, if one is able to do these, is a good way to fulfil the command “Love your neighbour”. Masks do give some protection to the person wearing one but masks are especially designed to protect others. Vaccines, though not preventing the virus from spreading, do help in making the pandemic more manageable.

I have the opportunity to preach in Finnish after a long time, having been asked by The Revd Kati Pirttimaa to give a sermon in Tuomasmessu this coming Sunday, 23rd January at 18:00. Due to current restrictions it is recommended to attend the service by following it online at tuomasmessu.fi

Today, 21st January, the Church of England together with other churches, commemorates Agnes; a child martyr who is believed to have died at the age of thirteen on this day in 304AD as a victim of the last major Roman persecution under the emperor Diocletian. Her feast has been celebrated on this day ever since. I wish to pray today for all children; for their right to grow in a safe environment, surrounded by people who love them; for their right to education; for their hopes and dreams and that those could be fulfilled, for their right to have faith and express it. I wish to remember also those children who live under fear, persecution and violence; that they are brought to safety and peace, and that we would not close our eyes from the injustice in this world.

Eternal God, shepherd of your sheep,
whose child Agnes was strengthened to bear witness
in her living and her dying
to the true love of her redeemer:
grant us the power to understand, with all your saints,
what is the breadth and length and height and depth
and to know the love that surpasses knowledge,
even Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

In Christ,
Tuomas

SERVICES

23rd JANUARY 2022 - THIRD SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY

10am Eucharist
Celebrant & Preacher: Tuomas Mäkipää
Click here for Order of Service

Readings:
Nehemiah 8.1-3, 5-6, 8-10
1 Corinthians 12.12-13a
Gospel:
Luke 4.14-21

Please note there is a limit of 30 persons at each service and no coffee time until restrictions are lifted mid February.
Services in Espoo are suspended until the covid situation improves.
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Baptism of Christ, by Daniel Bonnell

SUNDAY SCHOOL & YOUTH GROUP

See you on Zoom!

Sunday School and Youth Group takes place online this Sunday at 10am and for the remainder of the month. A zoom link will be shared by email with parents.
Last Sunday we discussed Jesus' first miracle at the Wedding of Cana and what the miracle of turning water into wine can reveal to us about Jesus. We also talked about how miracles are different to magic tricks and what purpose they serve! Below are some salt dough pots!
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES
If you have a child aged 7 or over who would be interested in taking first Holy Communion classes then please contact Sarah at office@anglican.fi for more information. Classes will begin soon on zoom.

CHOIR

Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, all choral activities for January 2022 are cancelled.

FEATURES & NEWS

Happy Birthday to our fantastic churchwarden, Arne,

who turned a youthful 70 years of age last week!


Thank you Arne for your unfailing devotion to our community, your energy in serving the mission of the Church, and for bringing a touch of sunny California to our lives!
We are blessed to have you at St Nicholas'.
70 years young

Remembering Joan Eriksson - on Tuesday 8th March (not February as previously stated)

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You are welcome to meet us outside Espoo Cathedral on Tuesday March 8th at 5pm to say prayers at Joan's grave and light candles. March 8th is also Naistenpäivä (Women's Day) so this is a fitting day to pay tribute to a wonderful woman who did so much for our Church, and was a dear friend to many.
We had hoped to hold a memorial service at Mikael Agricola to coincide with Joan's anniversary of death this month, but sadly due to the pandemic this has to be postponed.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 18-25 January

You can follow our facebook or instagram page for daily prayers and reflections, as well as visiting the Helsinki Ecumenical Group Facebook Page

Please send in any contributions or ideas for the newsletter to office@anglican.fi!

SAVE THE DATE!


18th-25th January
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
30th January
Candlemas
Sunday 27th February
Evensong at Töölön Kirkko
Wednesday 2nd March
Ash Wednesday
Sunday 13th March
Evensong at Töölön Kirkko
Sunday 27th March
Mothering Sunday
Thursday 14th April
Maundy Thursday
Friday 15th April
Good Friday
Saturday 16th April
Festival of Easter at St Nicholas,
An evening of readings, music & hymns
7pm in Mikael Agricola Church
Sunday 17th April
Easter Day

SUPPORTING US

Your continued support is greatly appreciated, please consider donating towards our ongoing costs via our Donate buttons on our website or by means of a bank transfer using the details below:

Suomen Anglikaaninen Kirkko (The Anglican Church in Finland)
IBAN: FI73 3131 1000 3282 07
Ref:1009

You can also use Mobile Pay to make a donation, using number 95789.

PRAY WITH US

Please keep in your prayers the people of Tonga, following a devastating volcanic eruption. We also pray for the troubled places of our world, and especially at this time for the situation in Ukraine.

Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Porvoo Prayer Calendar
Church of England: Diocese of Birmingham, Bishop David Urquhart, Bishop Anne Hollinghurst
Church of Ireland: Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Bishop Paul Colton
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark: Diocese of Elsinore, Bishop Peter Birch

CONTACT US

Chaplain:tuomas.makipaa@anglican.fi
Father Tuomas Mäkipää (050-3099132)

Urdu Language Ministry: parvez.gill@anglican.fi
Father Gill Parvez

Churchwardens:churchwardens@anglican.fi
Arne Laitinen
Johnson Samuel

Council:council@anglican.fi
Lara McCoy
Ameena Noel
Ron Peake
Henry Rawstorne

Director of Music: erik.riekko@anglican.fi
Erik Johannes Riekko
Sunday School Team: office@anglican.fi
Jane Mayhew-Smith
Jayawin & Tino Jayapal
Sarah Tahvanainen

Safeguarding officer:safeguarding@anglican.fi
Arne Laitinen
Sarah Tahvanainen ( Safeguarding Assistant)

Office Manager: office@anglican.fi
Sarah Tahvanainen

Deanery Synod reps:
Linda Jämsen
Humaira John

[Please use the contact emails provided]


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