St Andrew's Chaplaincy Newsletter February 2022

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Newsletter February 2022

Looking Forward...

It is springtime! A time to cast off the gloom of winter – and we’ve certainly had some gloom. I think this last winter has been one of the coldest and the last couple of years have certainly been gloomy.

But look around, the green shoots are bursting, the almond trees are in blossom and where I go dog walking the asphodels are lining the route. My house is filled with the scent of some freesias that I picked this morning

After the misery of the last two years our lives are starting to return to normal as the restrictions that bound us are eased so that we too can blossom.

But how and in what way shall we blossom and grow? The choices are as diverse and varied as we are.

Consider simple human interaction. Because we can now walk the streets unencumbered by masks – we can greet passers-by with a smile – so much more positive and cheering than wiggling an eyebrow or fingers. I wonder how long it will be before we can greet friends with a hug and a kiss?

As we journey through Lent will our faith blossom as we come closer to Jesus, perhaps through the Lenten studies? In times past Lent was seen as dark and sombre, of giving things up for Lent (chocolate, wine etc). But times have changed and now the emphasis is on a time of spiritual growth, of starting rather than stopping. The exhortation of ‘Don’t be Negative, do something Positive’ is a call to start a something, a new habit that will add something, no matter how small, to the people around us.

‘Peace be with you’. What a nice greeting. So much better than ‘Hi’ or ‘How are you’. One of the things that I have missed is the ‘sharing of a sign of Peace’ during the communion service. Whilst turning around and waving to people is a good and safe alternative, I have missed the physical contact of gripped hands and the greeting “Peace be with you”. It doesn’t have to be the mass scrum and hug-in that often develops – a simple clasp of hands, a smile, and a greeting, “The Peace of the Lord” or “Peace be with you”. Perhaps I’m being overly optimistic, but it would be nice, especially as we now have a better understanding of how infection is spread. So instead of infection why not spread Peace?

So, in the spirit of doing something new and positive, how about when you pass a stranger you wish him or her, silently, Peace. Not with spoken words, but with words in your mind from your heart. You won’t know if it has any effect on them, but it will certainly have an effect on you. As with anything we give away, be it a rose, a thought, a wish, some fragrance sticks to the giver. So let us try tomorrow, or even today, to wish everyone we meet, silently in our mind, from our heart Peace or Love or even both.

From me to you “The peace of the Lord be with you”.

Peter Hammond

Vacancy

The Church Council met on Saturday 19th February to begin to prepare the paperwork necessary in the process for finding a new Chaplain for St Andrew's.

We spent a very productive four hours looking at all the necessary documents. A lot of work had been done in advance of the meeting and there is still much to do so we are grateful to all our Council members for giving their skills and time during this process.

Due to the current situation, it has been agreed that we shall be seeking a Part Time Chaplain to serve us here. Diane Bloor and Juliet Hird were elected as representatives who will be involved in the interview process when the time comes. We are grateful to them for taking on this responsibility on our behalf. Please understand that the process is confidential so they will not be able to share anything with us along the way but I am sure they would be grateful for our prayers.

There is still a long way to go but we will aim to keep you updated with the process as far as we are able.

Caroline Macfarlane

Dates for your diary....

World Day of Prayer

We are invited to participate in the World Day of Prayer, taking place just around the corner from St Andrew's, Los Boliches. If you can make it, it would be good to see as many of the Chaplaincy congregation there as possible.

Palm Cross Making Workshop

This year’s Palm Cross Workshop will be held at the home of Peter and Linda Hammond in La Cala de Mijas, from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Friday 25th March 2022.

Come along and help to make the palm crosses for our services. Palm leaves and refreshments provided, but please bring a pair of scissors

For more details contact Linda Hammond: 609 47 10 58
To request a map email peterwhammond@aim.com

Annual General Meeting

This year our AGM will be held on Sunday 3rd April at St Andrew's Los Boliches
Joint Chaplaincy Service at 11.00am will be followed immediately by the AGM.

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Oficina 1, Edificio Júpiter,
Avenida Nuestro Padre Jesús Cautivo 44,
Los Boliches 29640 Fuengirola, Málaga

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