Harvest Festival

During July we said farewell to teacher Mary Ar5neson, a faithful member of the Sunday evening congregation who has left us for pastures new in Oman.  Mary became quite adept at making palm crosses.  Diane and Tony James returned to England where Tony begins a new job in the City of London.
Diane has held a variety of posts in and around St. Christopher's over the last eight years including running the Sunday School and procuring the donkey for Palm Sunday and the palms for palm-cross production.
We shall miss you all.  May God be with you in your new work and homes.

Beginning on Monday, September 15 at 10 am, soul-fit aerobics is conducted by Tracey Carr in the coffee lounge.  The new session begins with the added bonus of new mats.

"Faith Renewed and Confirmed" is the theme of our common-learning programme which will dominate sermons at all our services beginning on the weekend of September 12.  We shall be considering such questions as: how do we know God? What kind of God do we believe in? How can I believe in God when there's so much suffering in the world? 
The book, Faith Confirmed, which accompanies this course is available from the cathedral office at BD.5
 

In September, life at St. Christopher's and Awali gets back to normal after the long summer break.  Our weekly programme of worship is back to normal, too, as much as it can ever be described as normal.  But watch for new things that are happening:

Sunday school
For children, aged 5-11 years, Sunday school resumes at 4 pm, Sunday, September 14 in the cathedral and afterwards in the coffee lounge.  The dean promises that you'll be made very welcome with exciting things to do after a hard day at school Sessions last about an hour.

Youth Group
For all young people, aged 11 and over, this group is just for you, every Wednesday from 6 to 7.30 pm in the coffee lounge.  Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, September 17.

Parents and Toddlers
An open invitation to parents with toddlers and small infants to join us at 10 am, Wednesday in St. Christopher's coffee lounge plus a short service in the cathedral designed for tiny tots.  This is an ideal follow-up for those who've had their children baptised as infants to learn that going to church is fun.

God at St. Christopher's
We now have the God Channel piped into the compound for any groups which wish to use it.  The TV can be set up in the coffee lounge or the Alun Morris Hall.

Harvest Festival takes place the weekend of October 3-5.  However, that Friday is the pet service at 9.30 am as we celebrate our sharing with all animal life in God's creation.  Bring your pets along.  The harvest supper will be held on the evening of Sunday, October 5.  Tickets will be available at BD.2.5 each over the next few weeks.

A forum meets at 6 pm on Monday, September 29 in the committee room.  Have you ever wanted to have your say about what happens at our services, about the hymns and music we sing, the way our services are conducted, the times they are held.  Then here's your chance to air your views and throw your ideas into the pot to make our church life, our faith and worship more accessible to more people.  This meeting is open to anyone who takes the life, worship and ministry of our church seriously.

The reunion of Friends of Cyprus and the Gulf last summer at London's All Hallows by the Tower saw many former residents in the Gulf attending as well as scores of present members of the Anglican Community. 

Fred & Coralie Pole in front of Wells Cathedral

Bishop emeritus John Brown and Rosemary were there as well as Father Derek and Val, Father Barry Simmons and Barbara, Father Keith Johnson and Pat.

Former British ambassador to Bahrain Hookey Walker, was also in attendance at the eucharist and luncheon afterwards.  Who remembers all other past parishioners at St. Christopher's: Coralie & Fred Pole (seen above) Helen and Peter Preston, Sarah and Richard Warnes, Eleanor and Philip Smith, Shrimathi and Ravi de Silva, Elaine Campion and the Rev'd Ian Thurston?  (cont'd on next page)