News 2021 Archive
Reverend Vincent's Retirement - 26th December 2021
Rev. Canon Vincent's final service took place on St. Stephen's Day at St. Pascal Church, Mojacar. After almost four years of service to the chaplaincy he is retiring but has decided that this is the area that they would like to spend their retirement in. Due to the COVID pandemic the last two years have not been an easy time but he kept together with zoom services and pastoral phone calls when we couldn't meet due to various lockdowns. Both he and Robyn Anne will be greatly missed by all three churches in the chaplaincy and we wish them a long and enjoyable retirement.
Special Services this Christmas - 21st December 2021
Aljambra started the Christmas services with their Advent Eucharist & Carols with a special performance by Flautist Ann Moir, all around their hand knitted Nativity scene.
There was a joint Anglican & Catholic Service in Mojacar Pueblo, presided over by Rev Vincent and Mojacar’s new priest Fr Victor. It was so pleasing that this year we were once again able to come together with our Roman Catholic Spanish brothers and sisters to hear God’s words and sing our praises to Him.
Llanos Church enjoyed two wonderful services this Sunday with huge support from our local community. The worship in the morning was a Christmas Communion with Father Alan. The evening saw the church candlelit for a lovely service of Carols by Candlelight. Thank you to all who came and supported us. More photos can be seen at the Llanos Facebook Page
A Big Thank You from the Llanos Food Bank team
Through the generosity of the Church congregation and friends of the congregation through direct donations, raffles we have had 645.50€ donated, this has been in line with food donated at the church and at C.A.T.S. Office.
The above has led to the following
164 bags of dry goods.
17 bags of fresh fruit, veg and chocolates
Several bags of toiletries
6 boxes including 3 on the last delivery stuffed full of Christmas food treats.
Hazel, Peter and Keith would like to thank everyone who has donated in anyway for their kindness and generosity to bring much needed relief to those in need in the Zurgena area.
Remembrance Sunday - 14th November 2021
All three churches in the Chaplaincy marked Remembrance Day, through reflective worship.
Aljambra@Albox's usual monthly Eucharist fell on the 11th November, giving a fitting opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice made by so many to achieve peace. Mojacar Remembers took place in the Open Air Church in Mojacar Playa on Remembrance Sunday and drew quite a crowd. It was lovely to see so many joining the usual congregation for this time of reflection. Llanos church was full for their Remembrance Sunday service with John, a veteran, leading the time of remembering which included poems and a rendition of Ave Maria on the flute. All were lovely services to honour the fallen and those who returned.
You can see more images and videos from our services on the our Facebook pages for Llanos and Mojacar.
RBL Armistices Day Service at Llanos - 11th November 2021
The Royal British Legion celebrated their 100th Anniversary at Llanos Church for their Armistices Day Service. The service welcomed folk from the RBL, MBLV, and all who wanted to honour those who had given their lives over 2 World Wars and present day conflicts. Zurgena Town Hall sent representatives too.
A truly beautiful service. More HERE.
Jasmine's Coffee Morning - 4th November 2021
This morning Jasmine held her first Coffee Morning since COVID and raised a staggering 325€ for Chaplaincy Funds. There were all her usual stalls attracting the bargain hunters, plus a raffle and coffees, teas and lots of chatting. Robyn Ann won the first raffle prize. It was such lovely fellowship in a relaxed easy atmosphere and fundraising a long the way - what a good day! Thank you Jasmine for all your hard work, jams, cards, crafts, just so much!
More photos can be found on Margie's Blog, catching the enjoyment of the morning.
Llanos Service of Thanksgiving for Pets - 25th October 2021
I hardly know where to start about our wonderful Service of Thanksgiving for Pets! We enjoyed the company of 9 wonderful dogs, who behaved impeccably and accepted their blessing with gentleness and grace.
The service was wonderfully written by Tony, who also preached on animals' place in our world and we, as good stewards, caring for them. He also gave a lovely general blessing whilst Margie had the joy and privilege of going round and asking God for a personal blessing for each dog. Axle is a huge gentle dog who gave his head readily for a blessing. Arthur, Pedro, Tom, Jerry, Poppy, Tanya, Bumble, goodness too many to name! All pets both present, and with the Lord, were then named and blessed from their photos. Such a joy!
This is the blessing given to our dogs and sort of sums up the worship.
"Dearest God, Heavenly Father maker of all living creatures, we ask you to bless (pet's name), who brings so much joy into our lives. By the power of Your love, enable him/her to live according to your plan. May we always praise You for all Your beauty in creation. Blessed are You, God, in all Your creatures!"
For more photos and videos visit Margie’s Blog
Margie Gall
Aljambra Harvest Festival - 14th October 2021
This morning 14 of us gathered at the Centro de Adoracion Cielos Abiertos in Albox to celebrate Harvest Festival. We sang traditional harvest songs with great gusto. The church looked beautiful, decorated with the food that had been brought as generous donations. The food will be given to the South American Church for their foodbank. helping to support needy families in the area. Aljambra Chapel support this great work every month with donations of unperisable foods.
David Blake
Mojacar Harvest Festival - 26th September 2021
Today was very rewarding to a well attended congregation for Harvest Festival with joyful hymns especially welcome to the recent arrivals who have been starved of singing hymns at Churches in the UK.
The Sermon by Gavin on a “blank sheet” of paper as an aid memoir reminded us all of our Blessings and Responsibilities. WE GIVE THANKS
Grenville Leesing
Llanos Harvest Festival - 26th September 2021
It was more than we could've imagined! The abundance of fresh fruit and veg and other food items was amazing and we can't thank our church family and friends enough for their generosity and kindness. As soon as people knew the fruit was for the school children, well, we filled a staggering 17 bags, plus yummy chocolate treats, all delivered to the Zurgena Town Hall Food Bank.
The service was beautiful, led by Tony with Margie preaching. It is a service specially written for harvest with all the favourite hymns, ending with the classic, "We Plough the Fields and Scatter", timeless! It was a little bitter/sweet singing "Sing to the Lord of Harvest" as the last time it was sung it was by Llanos Choir, all of whom, bar Tony and Margie, have now left us: so sweet memories of much loved family.
But out came our centrepiece Harvest Sheaf, a treasured donation from Patricia Norman, beautifully made by her own fair hand. It will now grace the altar for the Harvest Thanksgiving Service at Aljambra on the 14th October.
Ron read the "Thoughts of a Church Mouse" in a way only he could do, and everyone was smiling. Ron also shared the Old Testament scripture, while Gill shared the New. Margie preached about our relationship with wealth and possessions and how, by putting God first, we can rejoice in the harvest and be generous, as our Father is generous, caring for all our needs. But this needs to be worked out globally, so resources and wealth are shared and our planet respected.
I could wax lyrical about this lovely time of year but will just thank Kath again for her beautiful playing and for "Fields of Gold" as we settled into the service. Thank you to Jasmine and Kate for their jams and preserves, Jasmine raised a further €50 for church funds.
And to our two Ann's for the most abundant after church fellowship, and to Freya and David for the lovely cakes to celebrate Freya's birthday. Some will go to the children tomorrow as there were too many even for our hungry fellowship! So much to give thanks for and such a wonderful harvest of goodies to share with others. And as always a huge thanks to Jackie and Hazel for their untiring hard work, setting things up for us.
Apologies that the mic wasn't switched on for the sermon, for those of you who have asked you can read it HERE.
Photos from Richard and John, with thanks.
Zurgena Food Bank Delivery - 10th September 2021
24 bags of food were packed by the intrepid trio, Hazel, Peter and Keith then delivered into the grateful hands of Jose at Zurgena Town Hall. Many thanks to all that donated both food and money from the congregation and friends.
Announcement of Canon Rev. Vincent's Retirement - 3rd August 2021
In December I will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of my being made deacon and 40 years in ministry. After much prayer and thought I believe it is a good time for me to retire and have told Bishop David and the PCC of my intention. Please pray for us in this new beginning in our lives and especially for the Chaplaincy Warden, Council and Ministry team as they make plans to find my replacement.
Tony Noble's Licensing as Reader - 31st July 2021
Well dear friends, the big day at last! Tony is now a Licensed Lay Reader with his blue stole of office! It was a lovely service of Evening Worship with Tony's Licensing in the middle. The church was as full as we were allowed to be and all thanks and gratitude to the hard work of Hazel and Jackie, without whose efforts the service could not have gone ahead. Heartfelt thanks to two wonderful servant hearts.
Kath played so beautifully and, would you believe, the first hymn was "I the Lord of Sea and Sky!" We also sang "Brother. Sister. Let me serve you";and Tony chose "You shall go out with Joy" to end and everyone just clapped and moved to the music, we didn't want to stop!
It was a wonderful service with Archdeacon David and hearing Tony make his vows was long awaited, and quite emotional.as he received his blue stole: it was the perfect moment.
After the service we all went to La Vida who put on a lovely spread and we thank them so much. Tony's speech was very moving and the whole day was just a wonderful way of showing the love and fellowship in our church family, all 3 churches. And celebrating Tony's calling, which he has grasped with such dedication.
Richard took these photos and we thank him for capturing such an important, wonderful, and joyous afternoon.
I hope you enjoy them and feel part of this wonderful event.
MARGIE GALL
