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St Mary's Church - 7pm - 9.30pm - 9th February 2012

Focus on the Middle East

An evening of presentation and discussion from three Christian leaders with extensive experience of the Middle East

Cannon Andrew White
Vicar of Bagdad

Cannon White has been beaten, threatened with death and had his church bombed five times but despite the dangers he has no plans to leave Iraq. He is president of FFRME

FFRME

Andy Dipper
Chief Executive of Release International

Release International supports persecuted Christians worldwide

Release International

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali
President of OXTRAD

The Oxford Centre for Training, Research, Advocacy and Dialogue has a mission to prepare Christians for ministry in situations where the Church is under pressure and in danger of persecution.

OXTRAD

abalze logo

St Mary's Church SUNDAY 5TH FEBRUARY
10.am

This service is designed to be informal, fun and child-friendly and will include songs, stories, prayers and activities for all age groups. When we break into small groups, the adults will have their own talk and teaching session.

We hope that you will have fun joining in and worshipping God together as a church family

Lent Course

The lent course will begin on Tuesday 28th February at 7.30pm in the St Mary's Church. It will take the form of a reflective service and it will continue every Tuesday eveing thoughout lent. We hope to see you there.

Let light shine out of the darkness this Lent.

Global Village Challenge

A team is already booked to go to Malawi, one of Africa’s poorest countries, in May 2012 to build with Habitat for Humanity. After the successful build in Kenya in 2009, Richard Jones will lead a joint church team to work with local builders to provide a home for a needy family. Further details and an application form are available from Richard Jones via the Parish Office

Current Parish Mission :FFRME

FRRME is an organization founded by Canon Andrew White, affectionately known as ‘The Vicar of Baghdad’. Its Iraqi base is at St George’s Church, in Baghdad’s Red Zone. It serves an Iraqi congregation of some 550 families and has a Sunday School of over a thousand children. Most are bused in to church, not because they cannot walk but because it is unsafe to do so—hostages have been taken from the congregation. Sidespersons’ duties include something which is not usual here—they have to frisk congregation members to deter suicide bombers from entering church. On one occasion, one slipped through but was evicted by a vigilant officer before the vest could be detonated. Regular worship is led by Canon Andrew White and lay pastor Faiz Jerees. In addition to the regular ministry of St George’s Church, there is much that goes on both in the local community and wider afield. Andrew White’s own background (see over) has prepared him for ministry here in a way that is clearly of the Spirit. Experience of the Middle East and politics are both well used here.

LOCAL RELIEF WORK

Sunday worship in complemented by vital weekly relief. Around 4000 Iraqis receive supplies on a regular basis—without those supplies many families would not survive. In addition, the St George’s Clinic located next door to the church, provides free treatment for around one hundred daily patients, or 2000 patients each month. They receive free medical and dental treatment whatever sector or faith they come from. In a church where all the previous leaders were killed in 2005, it is no mean task to lead the church today.

RECONCILIATION In addition, Andrew works mainly with governments and agencies in the UK, USA, Israel and Palestine, His aim is to bring peace and reconciliation, and to build new bridges to peace and reconciliation, justice and respect, wherever possible.

The St Mary's Stained Glass Window Project is unique.

2012 is the 75th anniversary of St Mary's Church and to commemorate it we are replacing the plain glass of the West window with stained glass. What is unique is that the window is being designed and made entirely by church members. To keep up with progress visit our stained glass project facebook page.

The design is based on Ezekiel 47 and will contain the words : "wherever the river flows it gives life to everything".

Orpington Food Bank

From now on, the Parish will be supporting Orpington Foodbank with food collections alternate months on the 2^nd Sunday. The next collection will be on Sunday 11 December.

As it is nearing Christmas, the Foodbank are asking for more festive donations.

So please help local people in crisis by buying extra items in your shopping and giving them to Orpington Foodbank. The most necessary items are as follows:

· Milk (UHT or powdered) · Sugar · Fruit Juice (carton) · Pasta Sauces · Vegetables/Potatoes (Tinned) · Sponge Pudding (Tinned)	· Tomatoes (Tinned) · Cereals · Rice Pudding (Tinned) · Tea Bags/Instant Coffee · Instant Mash Potato · Tinned Meat/Fish	· Tinned Fruit · Jam · Biscuits or Snack Bars · Toilet rolls · Ladies’ personal wear
Christmas puddings · Crackers	Christmas cakes Festive biscuits / sweets	Anything festive that people wish to donate

The Foodbank gives three days of emergency food to individuals and families in crisis. Local care professionals refer people to them using a food voucher which they exchnage for food supplies. They also receive a cup of tea or coffee, a listening ear and signposting to other professionals who can help them out of their crisis. The Foodbank is supported by local Churches in Orpington and surrounding areas. The Foodbank allows the general public to contribute to, and support local wellbeing in a simple practical way.

SMASCH ART

St Mary's Art Group have a new web site.

See the Creative Arts page for more details