These have been difficult days, for so many very sad days and they continue. We pray for all those who are serving communities in the many countries around the world where the Corona Virus is striking people down and for family and friends of people undergoing treatment. We especially remember front-line workers who have put themselves in danger and all those who have died, may they Rest in Peace.
Spring and early summer is a beautiful time in Cyprus and many Friends, regular visitors and tourists will have missed joining in fellowship at St Andrew’s Church both at Easter and the weeks that followed. The lockdown in North Cyprus was strict, rigorously enforced but very effective. By the beginning of July there had been no cases of Covid-19 for two months, but everyone remains cautions of a second wave. So, on 5th July the doors of the Church opened with great caution for the first time since the Thursday service on 12th March. A restricted gathering joined a said Holy Communion service with no singing and seating spaced to ensure Social Distancing. The days ahead are unknown but we pray they will continue to bring freedom and the possibility of travel to and from the island. The deepest wish of us all, is that the day will soon be here when we can come together with freedom in our beautiful church once again to worship our Lord in fellowship and song.
Each week the service sheet is posted on the Church web site and there are details of how to receive the Thursday Praise service prepared by Steve Bishop and sent out with encouragement for you to sing to music on Youtube.
Of course, the closure of Church and the absence of visitors has left St Andrew’s without the normal generous Easter and spring collections. If you wish to make a donation from wherever you are to support the work of the Church, full details are available on the website giving page. Details of how to make payments to the Church UK Charity Bank account by Cheque or bank transfer are listed. Regular monthly Standing Order donations enable budgeting of church finances. Donations can be gift aided. Contact the gift aid officer at giftaid@standrewskyrenia.org
We have recently introduced a new simple method of small SMS donation to St Andrew’s for UK mobile phone users, similar to that used for appeals on TV in UK.
Text KYRENIA to 70085 to donate £10 to St Andrew’s
With a UK mobile phone in the UK, or anywhere you are able to roam with your UK mobile including North Cyprus, Text KYRENIA to 70085 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 donation plus the cost of one standard rate message. The charge will appear on your telephone bill. Repeat donations are possible to a maximum of £30 with up to three messages in one day.
SMS donations can also be Gift Aided.
A reply message acknowledging and thanking you for the donation will be received inviting you, if appropriate and you are able, to send us your Gift Aid details to enable St Andrew’s to make the GA application on your behalf.
You may ask what we do with your financial donations. In addition to keeping the church alive, in recent years the St Andrew’s community have made generous donations to local charities including Tulips, The Women’s Refuge, The Sarioğlu Foundation, Karakum Special Needs School and internationally to The World Day of Prayer.
Thank you so much for your support.
