To view the message click here – https://www.bigradiospain.com/a-message-from-british-consul-sarah-jane-morris-to-uk-nationals-in-spain/?fbclid=IwAR2-blWLehu0FpPBzviN75MMyFH2C8UhYS52Kk8LxVGoUX0i4UgfzeYTqQk

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s New Year message –
https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/speaking-writing/articles/archbishop-canterburys-new-year-message

Click this link to read the Archbishop’s 2019 letter – https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/speaking-writing/articles/archbishop-canterburys-2019-ecumenical-christmas-letter

We have just heard of the death of Fr John Dewis. An English priest in the Roman Catholic church, he served the ex pat community in this area for many years. He worked with other church leaders, including our own Fr Eric Lewis and later Fr Robin Carter, to extend the work of ecumenism.
Marcella Doran of the Local Roman Catholic congregation writes, “My beautiful friend Father John Dewis has become an angel. 93 years old and so many memories of the most beautiful man. RIP and thank you so much for being such an amazing person.”
May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.

The Queen has approved the nomination of the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell as the next Archbishop of York, Downing Street has announced.

Bishop Stephen, currently Bishop of Chelmsford, will succeed Dr John Sentamu who retires in June of next year.

A renowned preacher, author and communicator, he will be the 98th occupant of the see of York – in a line of succession dating back to St Paulinus in 627AD. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury with the Archbishop of York designate.

As Primate of England and Metropolitan of the Province of York, he will share in the leadership of the Church of England in partnership with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at a time of change and challenge for both the Church and the country.

He said: “I am humbled and excited at the prospect of becoming the 98th Archbishop of York.
“I will receive the baton from Archbishop Sentamu. These aren’t just big shoes to fill, but a big heart and a big vision.
“However, I am not daunted. Archbishop Sentamu and I have worked together in mission on many occasions and I hope to build on the work he has pioneered. Working alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, I hope to help the church be more joyful and more effective in sharing the gospel and bringing hope and unity to our nation.
“Although I was born and grew up in Essex, I lived and served in Huddersfield for nine years. I know and love the north of England. Two of our children were born there.
“I now look forward to returning and being a voice for the North, sharing the liberating good news of the gospel and helping to address the discrepancies of wealth and opportunity that too often favour the South.”

Speaking at this event:
 Her Majesty ́s Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott
 The British Consul, Sarah-Jane Morris Event details:
Wednesday 18th December
Sala Polivalente
Avenida Trenc d’Alba, 2 03730 Javea
(Between local police and the Oficina Atención al Ciudadano in Javea)
12:00pm
Come along with your specific questions and residency paperwork and you will be able to speak to one of us individually.
Local English speaking support associations will also be represented at the event.
You do not have to be resident in Javea to attend; the event is open to anyone who is interested.
For more information about this event or guidance on living in Spain, visit www.gov.uk/living-in-spain

The Chaplaincy provides regular services of healing and wholeness. At the Forum in Alfaz del Pi on the second Thursday of each month and occasionally at the men’s refuge (known as the hospice) at Palma de Gandia.

The next two are this Thursday (December 11th) conducted by Fr Don Witts, at the Forum Mare Nostrum, in Alfaz, starting at 11am, and on Wednesday the 18th December at 3.00pm in the chapel of the Franciscan Hospice, Palma de Gandia, conducted by Father Rodney Middleton, assisted by Father Robin Pettitt.  

All are welcome to pray for healing either on behalf of themselves or others.

Richard’s father, John has been ill for sometime and we know that many of you have kept him in your prayers. Revd Richard Horner has been a regular part of our summer worship, following several years where he, Debbie and their family were here to support the Chaplaincy over Christmas.

This afternoon John passed away. This followed a fall on Friday, in which his hip was broken. He had surgery, but was not strong enough to recover. Richard and Debbie were with him at the end, following 24 hours of reading to him, praying With him and playing him music. The family are exhausted, but blessed by much love.

Do please pray for the family.

This is a note to thank you all for your help and friendship during the last 20 years. 

You might have heard that the Paterson’s have just sold their apartment in Javea. It only took 23 days to find a buyer and the last 12 days in it were spent in a rush trying to sort and pack 20 years of our life in Spain!  We actually flew out to Javea on the 1st October and it was due to health reasons that we thought it was time to try and sell – not knowing it would be so quick and leaving us without time to see friends and all the congregation members before we left!  Although the contract has been signed, the new owner still has to complete the purchase and go to the Notary as she needs to obtain a mortgage but we’ve put the conclusion of the sale in the hands of our ‘power of attorney’ – Miguel who was the lawyer who took us to the Notary 20 years ago when we bought it!  This is not a ‘goodbye’ though and depending on health have already agreed to come back and rent an apartment in the same block and on the same floor at Urbatenis in the Spring!

      Historically, when we arrived out in Spain in 1998, it was just after Robin had taken retirement from his last parish and met up with   James Williams who said he needed help but at that time I was still undergoing treatment but we agreed to go out in early January 1999 to assist him!  In those days it was always two services in the mornings and either Orba Parish Church at 5.30 p.m. or Calpe  also at 5.30 p.m. that was before it became the Parish Church and some of you may remember that it was freezing in the winter. Then there was the service at the Benidorm Clinic on a Thursday morning so life was pretty hectic.  After the first 12 weeks and taking 19 services we realized that we were being called by the good Lord to help with the ongoing ministry and decided that if we could afford it we would buy a small ‘bolt hole’ to lay our heads on our own sheets and pillows!  The result was our acquisition of our wee apartment in Urbatenis in Javea which we loved as Robin could sit and do his sermons in his study looking out onto the             blue of the Mediterranian, and from the naya looking across up to the Jalon and Benitachelle!

       We did not take on residencia as we wanted to remain with the Scottish Medical set-up in Perth so just stayed there for the maximum 183 days in a year.  At first we would drive/ferry out and when that became very expensive we bought a small Escort  car which was fine except in not having any aircon which come the warmer months I did not like.  We finally upgraded to our present car which does have aircon so then our trips became easier just flying out from Glasgow to Alicante.   The car has been  left with very good friends so that we shall be able to use it – sadly Robin is now over the age of 80 years old so cannot hire a car!

       It’s only been in the last few years that we have not been down to Calpe or La Fustera and of course there are more Chaplains to  handle the work load!  Robin has mainly been taking services either in Denia or Javea but we are still very much involved in helping on the pastoral side what with elderly members who can no longer make it to church and we’ve been blessed in being able to keep in touch with so many of the congregation members – even some who have returned to their families in the UK.

       I might add we only returned to Scotland last Tuesday and after the Advent Service on Sunday he was asked to take the last service of the year at All Saints, Glencarse so he still will have his ‘feet’ under the altar in the Diocese of Brechin and he’s also licenced in the Diocese of St.Andrews.  He always says you can never retire!

       Could I please ask you to give our kind regards to anybody in your congregations that remembers us – our last Sunday was spent with our ‘family’ in the church in Denia! 

      May we wish you all a Happy Christmas and a very Peaceful and blessed New Year – hopefully you will see the Patersons again  next year. Julia and Robin

Last night, at the Ermita in Javea, the Chaplaincy Singers shared their first performance of Advent Jubilate. It was a very Chrismassy selection of music, with strong audience participation in a few pieces (despite the heavy rains!)

The programme of events continues at La Fustera, at 7.30pm on Friday. For full details visit the site – https://costablanca-anglicanchaplaincy.org/events/chaplaincy-singers-pre-christmas-series/