SANTA MARGARITA CHURCH, MENORCA

NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 2025

For more information:

Email Carole Brayford at info@anglicanchurchmenorca.com Or talk to the Revd Paul.

NEWS FROM DECEMBER 2024

Christmas Lessons and Carols Services – at the Carmelite Chapel in Ciutadella on Saturday 14 December together with Christingles (see photo above, courtesy of Margaret Jones).  

And then more Christmas Lessons and Carols on Sunday 15 December at 18.00 in church followed by mince pies and mulled wine

Christmas Lunch – 18 December. 

Liz Astley kindly arranged Christmas lunch at Bar Isla, Es Castell.  A very festive occasion enjoyed by all. 

Christmas Eve.  Following the Family service there was the creation of Christingles !  Enjoyed by young and old.

The church looked lovely for all the Christmas services.  Thanks as always to Margaret Ellis for all her creations and to the Guanarias for the Christmas tree

At the New Year’s Eve Service Paul included a Homily, listing those things we might all individually focus and reflect on in our lives as we move forward into the New Year.

New Audio  system (two speakers + mixer and amplifier).  We now have an excellent new system thanks to a very generous donation from the Yallop family. 

JANUARY AND FUTURE EVENTS 2025

January Lunch – this will be on Wednesday 15 January at 2pm at Itanou in Malbuger. Please let Carole or Paul know or use the sign up sheet on the church notice board.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – celebrated with an ecumenical service at Santa Margarita at 17:00 on 25 January (details to be confirmed).

Afternoon worship in the Ciutadella area normally takes place at the outdoor chapel in Cala’n Bosc on the last Sunday of summer months. In January there will be a service at 17.00 on 26 January (weather permitting !)

Chaplaincy Council. The next meeting of the council will be on Thursday 13 February 2025 (to be confirmed).

Lent 2025. Starts with Ash Wednesday on 5 March. Our Lenten studies will probably begin on 12 March using the Diocesan Lenten series based upon the theme of the Trinity. It is intended to coincide with the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed next year.

The Annual Church Meeting has been arranged for Sunday 23 March 2025 after the service. Please make a note of the date. It will be possible to attend on Zoom

GENERAL

Our New Bishop.  On 29 November the name of our new Suffragan Bishop elect was announced – Andrew Norman. Please continue to pray for him as he prepares to take up his new post in February.

Mission Giving to Peru.  Following our previous support for two students, we continue to seek to identify additional students we can support in the current year. 

Coffee after Sunday services.  Liz and Kathy faithfully serve our coffee and tea after each of the services.  Kathy would like to take a well-deserved break.  Are you able to volunteer to help with this on a regular basis or from time to time?  Please talk to Liz or to Paul. 

All the coffee and biscuits are donated free to provide this service each week.   However we do ask for a small donation of 1.50€ per cup of coffee each week – these donations are used to support a number of different aspects of chaplaincy life from aiding the needy with food, to the floral decorations in the church. This year, we were able to provide vouchers for food to nearly 90 people through the Red Cross, and the bulk of this was supported by coffee/tea donations.

Digital Card Reader -  the paperwork has at last been completed and it is now in full use !  

Members of the Chaplaincy Council for this year are David Green, Church Warden, and Liz Astley, Carole Brayford, Colin Guanaria, Suzanne Hodges (treasurer), Heike Pieper, and Margaret and Trevor (the two Archdeaconry Synod representatives.

Church Website !  

Our new web address providing excellent up to date information is : www.anglicanchurchmenorca.net

If anyone is willing to host a future social event – coffee morning, afternoon tea, or simple tapas that would be much appreciated.  Please let Carole know.  

If you would like to support the ministry of Santa Margarita, the Anglican Church in Menorca, then you can do so by clicking the Donate button below.

Your donation will be very gratefully received.