Although you may not be able to tell that spring has arrived by looking out of the window, it
apparently has. I wonder if 28th June is going to seem a little early for a “Summer Fayre”,
but there you go.
It brings with it an appeal for saleable goods, raffle prizes and homemade produce as well
as help on the day – the usual stuff which you are now familiar with.
I am sure Kim would appreciate help before the event too for sorting, pricing and such.
If you can hang around after the event and help tidy up and move anything unsold back to
the church, your assistance would be very welcome.
Speak to Kim if you can offer yourself, your expertise or your goods.
The event takes place in the Scout Hall at Dresden on Saturday 28th
.
Come along and support it or we will never speak to you again!
Refurbishing works at Dresden and building up of Funds
We are going to have a little pause in the disruption of life at Dresden for a while.
Both of the side aisles will almost have been completed by the time you read this.
That will only leave the nave and the outside of the building.
The nave ceiling is going to be especially tricky and the West wall of the church is going to
require some work to the plastering where cracks can plainly be seen.
Outside, there may be some woodwork to replace and the drainage may well need
attention.
Now is the time for rebuilding the funds.
The work so far has been done very cheaply indeed – all to exacting Church of England
surveyor specifications as regards the use of lime mortar and special paints. This is due in
no small part to Alban and his team of painters and decorators who have given their labour
at Alban’s expense. Donations have also provided the materials.
There is also the iconostasis to finish and although two additional icons – of the Holy
Forerunner and Baptist John and the Holy Resurrection – have been ordered from Efrem in
Manchester, it will be a while before he has time in his heavy workload to write them for
us. Do make an offering specifically for these icons if you wish.
Meanwhile, if any more of you would consider making your donations to the church
through direct debit, or better still filling in a Gift Aid Form with your details if you are a tax
payer, it would help us hugely. Appropriate forms will be at the back of church in Dresden
and you can easily set up direct debits through your online banking.
Sort Code: 30-90-16 / Account Number: 01961148 / ST MICHAELS ORTHODOX CHURCH
Slowly but surely, our church in Dresden is being made a worthy temple.
More thanks...
A big thank you to all who contributed financially and skilfully to Great and Holy Week and
Pascha in our two churches.
I am not sure what it was this year that made all of our services so particularly moving
again, but certainly the posies, the dressing of the bier and the church with the most
amazing floral displays added to the experience.
Dates for the Diary (days away from the parish) This Month:
21st June
We are invited again to the delightful surroundings of the Pisani Chapel in Derbyshire by
Chris Tsielepi.
The chapel is on the site of the Pisani Marble works just outside Whatstandwell (DE4 5HN
for SatNav users) and while tiny, is marvellously adorned with beautiful marble.
The company which invites us to celebrate services each year supplies marble to luxury
hotels, banks and other institutions around the world and has also been involved in
restoration works at St Peter’s in Rome and St Mark’s Venice.
We serve the Blessing of the Waters at the spring adjacent to the chapel at 11am and after
lunch provided by our hosts, an Akathist at 2pm.
Looking forward...
26th July
Organised by Chris Tsielepi again, this event at Stoney Middleton in Derbyshire coincides
with the village festival of Well Dressing.
A Divine Liturgy is served in the village church dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours at 11am
and immediately afterwards we walk around to one of the larger wells in the village to
serve a Blessing of the Waters.
A light lunch is provided by the villagers and we are finished in plenty of time to get back for
Vespers at Dresden.
2nd August
The first Saturday in August traditionally sees our hosting of the pilgrimage to Ilam.
This is a full day of services which start I think at 10.30am with the Divine Liturgy in the
church adjacent to Ilam Hall followed by a picnic lunch.
After lunch, those who are more mobile take a short trek to the spring of Saint Bertram for
the Blessing of the Waters, while those who cannot make the spring walk round to Saint
Bertram’s Cave on the banks of the river Manifold.
The day finishes with the veneration of the shrine of Saint Bertram followed by Great
Vespers in the church.
Each year more and more people from more and more parishes are attracted to this
wonderful day out.
Already people are asking about the event this year and some members of the Greek
Orthodox Church in Walsall have also expressed an interest in attending.
Ilam is becoming a real centre for the Orthodox as Ilam Hall which is now a Youth Hostel,
also plays host to an Orthodox Youth Camp each year.
Speak to Reader Martin if you require directions or more information on any of these
events.
Chris Tsielepi who organises the Derbyshire events is an Orthodox Christian whose family
are from Northern Cyprus and who now lives in Stoney Middleton.
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