Bishop John

Bishop of the Egyptian Anglican Church, The Most Rev. Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis writes,

Help us to Help Others

Dear brothers and sisters,

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The past week has been traumatic for Egyptians. We witnessed bloodshed on our streets, vandalism and the deliberate destruction of churches and government buildings in lawless acts of revenge. One of our Anglican Churches was attacked, and other ministries received threats. We praise God that our churches and congregations are safe, but we grieve for the loss of life and for the churches which were burnt over the past week in Egypt.The Anglican Church in Egypt serves all Egyptians, especially the disadvantaged and marginalized, through our educational, medical and community development ministries. We seek to be a light in our society, and we continue to serve our neighbours in the difficult situation which surrounds us. Unemployment is at a record high, there is a lack of security on the streets, the economy is in decline, and poverty is crushing for many people in Egypt.

We need your help

Through your support, we hope to help in the following areas:

• Provide basic needs for the poorest of the poor (food, health care, children’s education).
• Building the capacity of young adults in order to find work through vocational training and small business projects.
• Spiritual ministry.

Helping the poorest of the poor

In many cases these are the most affected by the situation in Egypt. As the church, we want to practically show the love of God and provide for people in this challenging time in Egypt.

Some examples of ways that you could give are;

• Provide a meal for a poor child ($1 US per day)
• Visit to a doctor ($2 per visit)
• Food to feed a family ($5 per day)
• Subsidy for nursery fees for a child ($20 per month)
• School fees for a year ($50 per year)
• Emergency surgical operation ($100 per operation).

Building the capacity of young adults

It is very difficult for young people to find jobs, and the Diocese is empowering young adults (both hearing and deaf) through vocational training and micro-loans.

Examples of this are;

• Vocational training for 2 months ($150)
• Vocational training for 6 months  ($450)
• Loan for a small business project  ($750)

Spiritual ministry

We continue to serve our congregations, and to teach the Word of God. You can;

• Give a Bible ($3 per Bible)
• Transport for children to attend Sunday School ($20 per session)
• Subsidy to attend an Alpha Course ($20)

Please consider supporting us prayerfully and financially. If you would like to contribute financially, please give to one or more of the three categories above. If you send a non-designated donation then we will allocate the donation to the most needed category above.

May the Lord bless you!

+Mouneer

To make a donation

If you are in the US or  the  UK,  please  contact  our Partner Organisations

In Egypt or other countries, please contact the Diocese Partnership Office through Ms. Rosie Fyfe (rosie@dioceseofegypt.org)

Website www.dioceseofegypt.org

If you would like to download a PDF version of the appeal: Special Appeal for Egypt

See also, Bishop’s message of peace while visiting Tasmania last year.

There is a prayer gathering for all Christians at St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart on Monday 2 September, 12 noon – 2.00pm.  It would be wonderful to see many gathered in prayer at this important time for our nation.

You may also like to use the following litany in your prayers in the coming week.

More details http://saintdavids.org.au/event/2013/08/praying-federal-election/

One of the special times I have as Bishop is sharing with my team at the Diocesan Office in our regular staff prayers.

We take turns in leading and during my turn in July I recalled finding myself with my sisters looking through my mother’s handbag following her death. It was an immensely intimate experience which produced its share of tears and treasures.

In Mum’s handbag, positioned between the pages of her small New Testament was a poem with a small wooden cross glued to it: somewhat tattered, well fingered and obviously treasured. The words of ‘The Cross in My Pocket’ are quite remarkable and my sisters insisted that I have it. I treasure it.

I showed this treasure to the staff team and we shared about the physical prompts we use to remind us that we are a Christian, no matter where we may be.  I wonder if you have some form of physical identification that may be hidden away in your handbag or jacket pocket that identifies you with Christ and of the price He paid for us.

One of our team, Ray, recalled the theme of my Prayer Retreat ‘Les Miserables: REFLECTION and LEARNING and LIVING’ and my time sharing some of this with the Howrah Parish.  Ray recalled the paroled convict, Jean Valjean, and how he not only received the grace of God in abundance but how, the very next day, he reverted to his violent human ways. Valjean wept in remorse and throughout his life he carried the bishop’s candlesticks with him to remind him that he belonged to God.

During the team’s discussion, Leonie disappeared and reappeared with her own tiny cross-stitched ‘Cross In My Pocket’ which had been given to her as a gift from a special lady in her parish. It was a cross that she could pass on to someone as a prompt in their pocket reminding them of Christ’s love in a time of need.

For Annette it was the serendipity of that moment – my story, Leonie’s cross, and Ray’s comments – which in itself was an ‘ordinary’ moment and realising that God had a hand in it. We had lived one of those ‘God-incidences’!

Life continually reminds us, and Satan accuses us, of our own sinful nature and so we seem to require ‘reminders’ of God’s grace given to us in Christ.

I enjoy reflecting on these reminders or prompts as we go about our daily life. They encourage my discipleship in a world that appears hesitant, if not actively resistant, to people openly wearing, or carrying, Christian forms of identification, demonstrating our blessings and striving to serve Him better in all that we do and say.

What do you use to remind yourself daily of Christ’s presence in your life? My Mum had a Cross in her pocket.

Click here for the link to the Tas Anglican.

I have received correspondence from a friend who has been impacted personally by the trauma of euthanasia.  She writes:

“I am passionately anti euthanasia and have noted the suggestions for a submission on your website and will do my best to put one together, never having been politically active before.

My last position was for 16 years as night supervisor in an 108 bed Uniting Church aged care facility in Queensland and I estimate I was involved in (although not causing!) around 300 deaths, and actually present at many.  I have been subject to pressure from relatives in the middle of the night to hasten the process, despite the patient being adequately medicated and peaceful, and on one occasion had to face extreme anger at my refusal.

I believe that excellent palliative care is essential, and good support for the relatives equally important.  I am also troubled by an incident where someone I knew well, requested his two medically trained sons hasten his death, when he was suffering from pancreatic cancer.   One son agreed in principle but at the time could not act.  The other did assist and was troubled for the rest of his life, later telling me that he had killed his father.  I open a pandora’s box when I think about euthanasia.”

See also, Distinguishing euthanasia & palliative care  and  ‘35 years of my nursing in aged care and palliative care, I remain convinced’  and  Euthanasia Resources.

The following titles have been short-listed for the 2013 Australian Christian Book of the Year Award:

A faith to live by Roland Ashby | Mosaic Books

Driven by purpose: Charities that make the difference
Stephen Judd, Anne Robinson, Felicity Errington | Hammond Press

Fearfully and wonderfully made: Ethics and the beginning of human life
Dr Megan Best | Matthias Media

Forged with flames: A true story of courage and survival
Ann Fogarty & Anne Crawford | Wild Dingo Press

Paul: A pastor’s heart in Second Corinthians
Paul Barnett | Aquila Press

Preach like a train driver
Tim Hawkins | Hawkins Ministry Resources

Preachers, prophets and heretics: Anglican women’s ministry
Elaine Lindsay & Janet Scarfe (eds.) | Newsouth Publishing

*The awards will be announced and prizes presented during a celebration supper 7.30 for 8pm on 8 August 2013 at St Alfred’s Anglican Church, North Blackburn, VIC. Book seats now on 1300 13 7725 or at: admin@spcka.org.au