Lanzarote Relocation

Anglican Church in Lanzarote

A Message from Father Idris:

Making a Difference

This was the theme for the Gibraltar Archdeaconry Synod held recently in Portugal. Clergy and Lay representatives met together for 4 days exploring this theme and sharing ideas and concerns. It is always a fruitful time and one of the few occasions when chaplaincies throughout the Archdeaconry realise they are not “alone”.  One of the problems of such a scattered diocese is that Chaplaincies can feel isolated and out on a limb. The clergy too can feel unsupported. Thankfully the clergy of the Canary Islands meet together three times a year and are always on the end of a phone or email!

When Christian people meet together in prayer and fellowship, they can “Make a Difference”. Christian Unity has been in our prayers and thoughts, especially during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Christians have worshipped together despite some theological differences, and this demands from us all respect and acceptance mingled with Christian charity and love.
Ecumenical services are a good way of sending a clear message to the world that we are united in the service of Our Lord.  Sadly so often we allow denominational differences to divide us and this is not a good witness to those who may be looking from the outside and wondering, “Shall I join them?”

This is why I have always believed in “All Inclusive” churches where no one is turned away, but embraced as a child of God, just as Jesus embraced the outcast and the marginalised. This did not always go down well with the “religious” people of his day, yet he did not cease responding in love to those who called out to him, saint and sinner alike.

Sometimes we are tempted to think that we cannot make a difference as an individual and so give up trying. Through our daily offering of ourselves through prayer, reading of the scriptures, meditation and sacrificial service we can make a difference.  Imagine you are a small pebble. Thrown into a pond, the ripples are far reaching. This is true of our meagre offerings. God can send out ripples of love and healing to others.

Lent is always a yearly opportunity to “give up” something. Instead of alcohol, chocolate or puddings, why not give up “apathy” and have a determination to “do something” for God?  The 14th March is Mothering Sunday, and the 28th is Palm Sunday which leads into the wonderful festival of Easter. Please come along. We would love to see you.
You can “Make a Difference”   God Bless you.   Fr Idris

Meetings and events to be held in March include:

Mothers’ Union:   On Monday 8th March at 2pm the Mothers’ Union will meet at the home of Marilyn Forder in Puerto del Carmen.  The speaker will be the Rev Idris Vaughan, continuing our theme on the “Cost of Relationship”,

Apostles Lunch:   The next Apostles lunch, which is a monthly informal social event, will be held on Tuesday 9th March.  The venue will be announced later at Sunday services.  If you would like to attend, please contact Freida Burke on 928 524347.

The Annual Parochial Church meeting will be held on Saturday 27th March at 11am at the Chaplaincy.  This will be followed by a Bring and Share lunch.

Bible Study  is held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.  Please contact David Dowdell on 928 834351.
Notices

Volunteers needed.  We urgently need to find volunteers to act a) as our deputy web-master, supporting David in the up-dating of our website, and b) as a member of our Publicity Committee.  If you would be willing to fill either or both of these untaxing, but valuable, roles  please contact any of the persons on the back page of this newsletter.

lanzarotechurch.com.  This is our website. Please visit it if you are able.  We would welcome your comments which should be addressed to David Dowdell at david.dowdell@btinternet.com or on 928 834351

Haiti Appeal.  Thanks to the generosity of our four congregations in Lanzarote, we have been able to send  £700 to our Diocesan appeal for relief in Haiti.

Holy Week and Easter Services.

28th March – Palm Sunday:  Normal services with distribution of Palm Crosses.
1st  April – Maundy Thurday: 12.30pm in Playa Blanca.  Holy Communion
with washing of feet.
2nd April – Good Friday:
12.30pm in Puerto del Carmen.  A dramatised reading of the Passion
6.00pm in Puerto del Carmen. Ecumenical celebration of the Way of the Cross

4th April – Easter Day:  Services as usual.

Normal services during March will be as follows:

Costa Teguise  – “Avecost” Meeting Hall, C/La Fragata.  9.30 am
1st & 3rd Sundays: – Morning Prayer
All other Sundays: – Holy Communion

Nazaret   -  Church of Nuestra Señora de Nazaret      -    10.00 am
1st and 3rd Sundays only: – Holy Communion

Puerto del Carmen -  Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen
in the harbour area of the Old Town   -  12.30 pm
Every Sunday: – Holy Communion

Playa Blanca – Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen – 5.30 pm
Every Sunday: – Holy Communion

Flowers will be distributed at all services on Mothering Sunday, 14th March.

NB:  If you would like prayers for loved ones during intercessions at our Sunday services, please contact Father Idris  (see below).

Principal Church contacts are:

Chaplain:   The Reverend Idris Vaughan        928 514241 Chaplaincy House, Calle Los Sabandenos 37,  35510   Puerto del Carmen
Reader:   David Dowdell                928 834351
Churchwarden & Secretary to the PCC: Linda Davis   928 520803
Churchwarden:   Ken Rees                928 173003
Lay Vice-President:   Michael Norsworthy        928 173052

If you have any ideas, messages or prayer requests for future newsletters, please contact Michael Norsworthy at  mnorsworthy34@yahoo.co.uk   or  928 173052.

Transport to Church Services.  If anyone should wish to attend one of our church services but is unable to do so for lack of transport, please contact Ray Macfarlane-Archer on 928 845818.  Details of the scheme are shown on the website. Volunteers to provide occasional lifts, please contact Ray.

Interdenominational Church in Lanzarote

Welcoming and friendly service for all – 11am every Sunday at the Barcelo Hotel, Avenida del Mar, Costa Teguise, Lanzarote

Norman and Hilary McElroy are back from Donaghadee to Lanzarote for almost all of March. Once more they will host a Wednesday morning fellowship and bible study time in their home in Costa Teguise. All – residents and holidaymakers – are welcome, ‘phone 928 833382 for details.
Norman will also be preaching on Sunday 7th March when the title of his message will be “The Lukewarm Christian”.

German evangelist Anton Schulte will be preaching for us once more on the 14th March and Bob Nichols will continue his series “Going Forward” on the 21st.

Our Palm Sunday message on the 28th March will be brought to us by American Baptist missionary the Rev. Joe Vásquez.

We celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of each month.

Our services are relaxed and informal – come just as you are and enjoy this hour of fellowship with us.

If you have a church in Lanzarote, and would like to see your services and news included monthly on this website – then please contact Elle via the contact us page on this website.

Thanks!

You may also enjoy reading the following:

1. Church Newsletter – March 09 A Message from our Chaplain, the Revd Idris Vaughan: “Has the world gone crazy?” This was a question posed to me by a Christian friend...
2. Church Notices – March 09 Our regular church services are shown HERE.  Other  meetings and events to be held in March include: Mothers’ Union: Monday 9th March:  2pm  at the...
3. Church Services – January 2010 Anglican Church Mothers’ Union:   On Monday 11th January the Mothers’ Union is holding a fish and chips lunch at 1pm at the home of Freida...
4. Church News and Services – February 2010 Anglican Church Services – February 2010 Costa Teguise  – “Avecost” Meeting Hall, C/La Fragata.  9.30 am 1st & 3rd Sundays: – Morning Prayer All other...
5. Anglican Church Newsletter – May / June 2010 Father Idris’s Retirement.  As you may know, Fr Idris is retiring in June and we shall have the opportunity to say au revoir to him...