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Fr Amos Manga had open heart surgery on Monday this week. I have spoken with his wife Charity who says that the operation was successful and Amos is doing well. We pray for him as he now continues to recover from the operation and remains on sick leave for the coming months.
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You may have heard of the tragic incident in Peshawar, Pakistan. The Revd Patrick Naeem and pastor William Siraj, both of the Church of Pakistan, were on their way home after a Candlemas service last Sunday, 30th January, when a gunman opened fire while they were driving. Pastor Siraj was killed instantly and Rev Naeem was taken to hospital and is now out of danger. They are known to Fr Parvez. This is a huge tragedy and a source of concern for Pakistani Christians who remain in our prayers.
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This week has been very exciting! I was invited to chair a panel discussion on “Faith vs Science – religions combating pandemic”. This discussion was funded by The Finnish Innovation Fund, Sitra, and organised by the National Forum for Cooperation of Religions in Finland (CORE Finland). I am on the board of CORE as a representative of the Finnish Ecumenical Council. All agreed that faith and science do not automatically contradict each other. It was also acknowledged that faith leaders have much influence on how people react to information and disinformation. You can find a short article of this on the CORE website.
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Later this week I had the joy of starting a discussion with a couple who wish to be married later this year. It has been a long time since this has been possible as the pandemic has led many to postpone their plans. I am sure that there are also many children who have not been baptised due to COVID restrictions. There are no deadlines or age limits for baptising children. If you wish your child (or yourself!) to be baptised this spring or summer, please do contact me. Baptisms are signs of joy and hope – precisely what is needed at this time!
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The Government has announced that COVID restrictions will be lifted in two phases. Most of the restrictions will be lifted by 14th February 2022 and the remaining by the beginning of March. We encourage people to use face masks for the time being and continue to take good care of hygiene. As in normal times, we continue to respect people’s personal space, and remember that if we have any symptoms of respiratory infection we must stay at home.
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The Bishops of the Church of England have given the incumbents the power to restore the use of Common Cup as they see best. After discussion with the Churchwardens, we have decided to start by using intinction. This means that the priest “dips”, or intincts, the bread into wine and then gives it to the communicant’s hand. It is possible to continue to receive the bread only; The Church has always taught that both elements, bread and wine, are full Eucharist and that we receive the same grace even if we receive it in one kind only. You may indicate your preference by simply asking for bread only when you approach the altar.
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Today, in the Anglican Communion’s cycle of prayer, we pray for The Diocese of Kapoeta in The Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan Eastern Equatoria Province.
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by whose grace alone we are accepted
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and called to your service:
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strengthen us by your Holy Spirit
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and make us worthy of our calling;
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through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
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who is alive and reigns with you,
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in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
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one God, now and for ever.
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SERVICES
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Our Services can be viewed live on Facebook, or you can click this link to
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6TH FEBRUARY 2022 - FOURTH SUNDAY BEFORE LENT
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Celebrant & Preacher: Tuomas Mäkipää
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Click here for Order of Service
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Please let us know if you can help serve coffee after our Sunday Services!
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Image: Miraculous Draught of Fishes, by John Reilly (1928-2010)
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SUNDAY SCHOOL & YOUTH GROUP
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See you on Zoom!
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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.
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Last Sunday we crafted snowdrops for Candlemas, also known as Candlemas Bells! Snowdrops are a sign of hope as the light flowers bloom from the dark soil after a long dark winter. In Helsinki we have rather a lot of snow at the moment but we trust that the snowdrops will appear as always, the first sign that spring and lighter days will come in abundance. And when we get to see them we can be reminded of Simeon's joy at seeing God's son, after a long and hopeful time of waiting. May we, like Simeon and Anna, recognise God's light in the world and share it with joy.
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You are welcome to sing in the choir on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM, preceded by a rehearsal at 9:00 AM, at Mikael Agricolan kirkko. For more information about our Choir please contact Erik at erik.riekko@anglican.fi
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FEATURES & NEWS
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'Anglican Treasures' lecture series
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Our friends at St Alban's Copenhagen are hosting a wonderful lecture series. You can join some of them live on zoom. Here is the link to a recording of Bishop David Hamid's lecture on Anglican Identity
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We hope to share more recordings as they become available.
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Accession of Queen Elizabeth II, 6 February 1952
This Sunday is Accession Day, marking the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen taking the throne, and the beginning of her Platinum Jubilee year. As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, we pray for the Queen and give thanks for her life of faithful service:
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O GOD, who providest for thy people by thy power, and rulest over them in love: Vouchsafe so to bless thy Servant our Queen, that under her thy Church may serve thee in all godly quietness; and grant that she being devoted to thee with her whole heart, and persevering in good works unto the end, may, by thy guidance, come to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
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Jubilees have religious origins; in the Old Testament a jubilee was marked every seven years. Initially jubilees simply provided a practical structure for land management as every seventh year, land was left to lie fallow. Over time though, jubilees took on a greater significance, with the belief that the jubilee year was a special one when God would be particularly bountiful. Jesus described himself as having come to "preach the year of the Lord's favour" (Isaiah 61: 1-2) in a jubilee year. In the Roman Catholic Church, jubilees began to be celebrated formally in 1300 AD and were seen as years of forgiveness of sins and reconciliation. (www.royal.co.uk)
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Can you help us organise a Platinum Jubilee party for Saturday 4th June? If you have ideas to share, or are willing to bake, decorate, entertain... then please get in touch with Sarah or Linda. We want to make this a fun and fitting event for everyone in our church and in the wider community!
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Joan Eriksson's Memorial Plate
We are hoping to raise 800 euros for a beautiful collection plate in memory of Joan. If you would like to make a donation towards the purchase of a collection plate (similar to the one pictured), in Joan's memory, then you can do so using Mobile Pay number 58785 (Anglican Church’s Memorial gifts)
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You can also make your donation via the account number below, but please include the reference/message "Joan Eriksson memorial plate" so that we can identify what the donation is for.
FI19 3131 1000 3283 06
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(Anglican Church in Finland, Handelsbanken)
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Please send in any contributions or ideas for the newsletter to office@anglican.fi!
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SAVE THE DATE!
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Evensong at Töölön Kirkko
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Evensong at Töölön Kirkko
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Festival of Easter at St Nicholas,
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An evening of readings, music & hymns
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7pm in Mikael Agricola Church
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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:
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The Anglican Church in Finland
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You can also use Mobile Pay to make a donation, using number 95789.
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PRAY WITH US
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Lord of the hosts of heaven,
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our salvation and our strength,
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guard us from all that harms or hurts
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and raise us when we fall,
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through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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Church of England: Diocese of Worcester, Bishop John Inge, Bishop Martin Gorick
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Church of Norway: Diocese of Hamar, Bishop Solveig Fiske
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Father Tuomas Mäkipää (050-3099132)
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Sarah Tahvanainen ( Safeguarding Assistant)
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[Please use the contact emails provided]
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