Click here to see latest video thoughts From our senior chaplain

My Dear Friends,

I hope you are feeling OK, and that staying at home is bringing a range of new Blessings into your life. It is certainly making me evaluate the things that are really important, and I am loving the sense of stability of staying at home. 

Thank you for all the positive feedback we are getting as we try to hold our church family together. Your comments mean a great deal to us, as we are all learning new ways of doing being church.

Isn’t it interesting how we grow in different ways when huge changes come our way.

I would like to share three little thoughts with you.

The first is about contentment. I have been in touch with literally hundreds of people this last week or two, and everyone is going through the same thing. What I love is the fact that no one is moaning, but rather people are doing their best to cope, and make do with the situation, and managing with what they have, and looking out for one another.
Folk are discovering ways of being together at home all the time, and finding that they have space to talk about the things that matter.
Yes we miss being outside, and walking in the mountains, and gathering together for worship, and being with our family, but at least at the moment we are learning the virtue of patience, and that is a good thing.

The second is about how incredibly everyone is working so hard to look out for each other. Checking up on neighbours, family and friends, and doing whatever is possible to help.
And there is such a powerful feeling of support for the Healthcare Professionals, and those who are working to keep us safe.
Every evening people are gathering on their balconies and applauding the Key workers who are putting themselves at risk to keep us safe, and to care for the most vulnerable. 
It is such an expression of love and gratitude, and something we can all get involved with.

Sandra and I have been doing it on our balcony, but there is no one about, and it felt a bit weird. But then last night, someone up the road joined in with the clapping, and then someone else stated to whoop and cheer. 
Isn’t it amazing how important these things have become.

My third is the wonderful sense of humour that is freely flowing across social media, but also in human interaction. People are being very creative and trying to bring a smile to others.
Today I went to the Farmacia for one of our members who needed some medicine. She had given me her medical card, her prescription and a passport picture of herself so that the Chemist would know who she was.
The Chemist took them documents, picked up the picture, looked at it and me, then laughing showed her assistant, and together they said that the medicine was obviously doing me good.
I was much better looking in the photo!

It was such a lovely moment of fun, and I felt so moved that they were finding the energy to bring just a tiny amount of cheer. It brought tears to my eyes.

We still have no idea how things will pan out in the coming weeks, but one thing is for sure. There is a real sense of community and fellowship building in this place.

Blessings Abound,

Until next time. Keep safe, keep in touch, and keep the faith.

As ever,

Fr Marcus. 

Click here to read +David’s post regarding the invitation from the Pope for all christians to join together at mid-day on Wednesday, saying the Lord’s Prayer.

From Fr Marcus – https://youtu.be/hSYvYkUUG-w.

From Fr Rodney

Greetings all!
This Sunday (Mothering Sunday) I will attempt to stream (broadcast) a short Service of Holy Communion from our home in Orba.It will be streamed on Face Book Live at 11am CET (i.e. Spanish time: 10am UK/Ireland time.) You will need to be on Face Book (obviously!) to access this, and to be a Friend of mine. For those of you already on Face Book I think this will be easy for you. For those not, maybe you’d like to give it a try! Do make me a ‘Friend’ if I’m not already: I promise I won’t refuse you! I realise Face Book isn’t for everyone, but at the moment it’s an easy medium (for me!) to use.Even if you can’t join us ‘live’, remember we will be remembering you at that time on Sunday, so you might just like to sit quietly at that time, knowing that our worship continues even when we can’t meet together.
Stay well and keep safe.
Every Blessing.
Fr Rodney

Hi Folks, I hope you are not being too overwhelmed with all the things coming to your inbox, but it really is good to be in touch, and to strengthen our sense of community and belonging.
I can imagine that many of us have settled in to some sort of order to our new and very different lives, and have moved on from just wishing the hours and days away.
My hero St Benedict has a great deal to say about order and routine, and I want to briefly share a little with you, as it is very fitting.Benedictine Monk take among other things three vows, Stability, Continual Conversion and Obedience to the Gospel.
Stability is about being content with where you are, not wishing you were somewhere else, doing something else. We might think of it as ‘Being in the moment’ or ‘Living in the present’.
I currently find that really helpful. We gain nothing by just wishing things were different, but we gain wonders by being alive to the presence of God now.Continual Conversion is about allowing God to speak to us in the moment, and having an openness of heart, mind and soul, so that we do not block whatever he is saying to us. We all know that God often speaks in the silence.Obedience to the Gospel is about discerning, and putting in to practice what we believe Jesus teaches us.
As we speak, we will be thinking of loving, caring, embracing, including and praying, and we do well to make the most of all that.
Fr Rodney has circulated a brilliant document called ‘Praying in lock down.’ I commend it to you. It has got some great resources in it, and I love the idea of the Labyrinth.I will tell my story about Labyrinth worship another day.
But here are a few more tips from the Benedictines. They pray seven time a day as well as having a daily Eucharist.Vigils: Observed by those who are awake at night. Use the darkness simply to be with God, aware of his Holy Presence in your quiet hours.
Lauds: Wake to thank and praise (laudate) God.
Prime: Take a moment to look over your plan for the day, asking God to be in all you do.Terce: Midmorning break. Deeply breathe in God’s Spirit before returning to you daily tasks.
Sext: It is now mid day. A time to consider the whole world and its needsNone: In the afternoon we close down our work activities. It is a time for forgiving, asking for forgiveness and letting go of the events that are getting in the way
Vespers / Compline. Close the day with peacefulness. Entrust your life to God until you greet him again in the morning with thanksgiving.
Please be assured that our Clergy team are keeping everyone and everything in their prayers, and we ask that you remember us in yours.
Just so that you know, I shall be giving a little order to the amount I share with you.On Tuesdays and Fridays I will send out an email like this one, with any Chaplaincy or diocesan updates.
On Wednesdays and Saturday (for Sunday) I will be loading a video on to youtube, and circulating the link.On Sundays puregold.fm – Costa Blanca 94.1fm -Playing the greatest hits of all time 6-8pm with a special church slot at 7pm
But please feel free to contact me whenever you want to. I am around all the time.
Bless you and yours.Keep safe,
Fr Marcus

Loving God,

We pray for all those involved with and affected by the Coronavirus outbreaks.  

Guide the leaders of nations and all those in positions of authority to take wise decisions for the good of all. 

Inspire scientists and researchers who are trying to find out more about the virus and how best to stop it spreading.

Give strength and encouragement to those who have lost their livelihood through closures and restrictions.

Bless the work of doctors and nurses who care for those who are ill.

Lay your healing hand on those who are sick.Have mercy on the souls of those who have died and comfort their families and friends.

Help us all to work together to defeat this virus.  

May we deepen our love for you and our compassion for others.

We ask all of this in Jesus’ name,

Amen

Click on this link to view the first short video from Fr Marcus – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeEzYgoPlBY

Many of you will know Revd Richard Horner, Chaplain at Rugby School. Richard, his wife Debbie and their family have visited This chaplaincy over many years to assist our clergy during busy holiday periods. You will most likely remember their lovely daughter Lucy with much affection. Richard has posted the following brief video from Rugby School chapel, which we invite you to share –

Good evening all
I hope you are all well, and not yet climbing the walls!As you will be aware, as your clergy we are looking at ways of keeping us all both socially and spiritually sane!There is so much going on in cyber-world, especially on Facebook. I can access some of it; I can even understand some of it! But not being a tech-y I find it difficult to share it once I’ve found it! And not everyone is on Facebook.
I have, however, managed to copy the attached as a Word document, which should make it possible for most people to access. I think it is a very useful resource given our present situation, and I commend it to you – and please, Wardens, could you share this with as many as you have e mail contacts for.I’ve also copied in Elaine as Chaplaincy Secretary, and Andrew as Web Site guru.
The ‘links’ within the text will have to be copied and pasted into your browser, as they don’t link directly to their appropriate sites (as least they didn’t for me!) I think particularly useful is the Church of England site for joining in Daily Prayer. You don’t even have to look up the Readings in a Bible; they are all there!
I share this as one way we can be joined in prayer while we are physically apart.
The Peace of the Lord be with you all (NO TOUCHING!)
Every blessing
Fr Rodney