St. Andrew's United Church of Cairo

A special offering collection was taken this past weekend at St. Andrew’s to benefit St. Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS).  Due to the continued ramifications of the global financial crisis and exchange rate fluctuations, StARS was forced to delay the start of the next school term and temporarily reduce salaries.  Special gifts can be given to StARS by using a special offering envelope at St. Andrew’s or by mailing a contribution to ELCA-Global Mission, Global Gifts, Attn. Twila Schock, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL  60631.  Please label your check with “St. Andrew’s Refugee Services” on the memo line.  Contact st.andrewsrs@gmail.com if you have any questions.  Thanks for your support!

April 14, 2010

Dear Friends,

A continued Happy Easter to you as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus for a 50-day period before Pentecost.  I hope and pray that in the days ahead you can see and experience how God is working to bring us and the world into a new peace and hope.  As faithful people, we believe that Easter is not only about the dramatic Easter resurrection of Jesus, but the smaller and more subtle movements toward peace and wholeness that God brings to our world.

One such event of the new life we celebrate in our church is the baptism of Ezekiel David Wlodarski this coming Friday, April 16th.  Please come to celebrate with us the promises of God given to us all through Baptism: life, forgiveness and salvation.  It is part all part of the continued Easter celebrations at St. Andrew’s.

Welcome to you all.

In Christ,
Pastor Peter

Members and friends of the congregation are invited to come together for a felucca ride (Nile River sail boat) on Friday, April 23 at 6:30.  We will meet at the entrance to Maadi on the Corniche by TGIF.  Please plan to bring a food item to share with others.  All are welcome.

The Church Council will be in retreat on Friday afternoon to discuss how we might move forward strategically within the life and ministry of our congregation. Much of our conversations will assist the congregation in our preparations for a new year of ministry priorities in the fall. We pray for creativity and vision as our congregation seeks to continue its vital contributions to the English-speaking Christian community in Cairo.

Thank you for your generous support of the work of St. Andrew’s.  Together as faithful people, we combine our gifts to further new life and peace in our community.  With the ending of the first quarter 2010, offering received during our Friday and Sunday services totaled an increase of 28% increase from the 2009 first quarter offering income. While this is good news for our congregation’s programs and ministry, supporting members and friends are reminded that St. Andrew’s congregation adopted a deficit budget for 2010.  You are encouraged to continue your faithful support of the church.

Long-time member Martha Roy was honored with a birthday party including chocolate cake during the Easter Brunch on April 4th.  The party honored her recent 97th birthday.  Ms. Roy continues to serve as worship leader on the organ within the congregation and gives to the church a historical perspective based on her decades-long service in Egypt beginning through the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA). We thank God for her faithful service and wish many blessings on the occasion of her birthday.

Martha Roy celebrates her 97th birthday with friends at St. Andrew's.

On Easter Sunday (April 4, 2010), members of St. Andrew’s thanked Anne Shalaby for her faithful service as worship leader within the congregation.  Her musical contributions, especially on the organ, have been gratefully received since 1976.  On behalf of the membership, Pastor Peter presented her with a St. Andrew’s cross pendant.

Pastor Peter and Anne Shalaby after she is presented an appreciation gift of a St. Andrew's cross.

Dear Friends,

As we enter into the Three Days of our Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection, you are invited to share in the story of faith together at St. Andrew’s United Church of Cairo.

On Maundy Thursday (tonight; 7pm), we will join the disciples around the table of the Last Supper and hear again the story of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.  As the service ends, we will be  clearing the altar until it is bare, symbolizing the betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane later in the evening.

On Good Friday, we hold a traditional Tenebrea service (Latin for ‘darkness’) on Friday night at  7pm.  The sanctuary will gradually be darkened throughout the service as we read the story of Jesus’ final hours leading up to his crucifixion and burial.  When we read about his body being sealed in a tomb, our sanctuary will be in complete darkness.  There is no Friday morning service.

On Easter Sunday (Sunday, 10am), we will gather at the tomb of Christ to discover that it is empty.  We will join the disciples as they both struggle to collect themselves at the sight of the  resurrection and then rejoice in the hope and peace of Christ’s victory over the grave.

Welcome to you all.

In Christ,
Pastor Peter

St. Andrew’s is grateful for the Easter greetings from various church leaders in Egypt with whom we share the joy in commemorating the resurrection of Christ.  The following Easter greeting was receivedfrom the Reverend Dr. Safwat El Baiady, the President of the Protestant Churches of Egypt.

Dear Friends,

As an international and interdenominational congregation, we find identity and delight in our diversity.  Indeed, our weekly worship bears witness to this diversity with tens of countries represented.  And, the myriad of Christian faith traditions in our community symbolizes each week the mosaic of the Christian faith.  This diversity is a gift from God to celebrate.

I have proposed that our congregation assemble a hymnal supplement of songs and hymns of the Christian faith that fully reflect the diversity of our membership.  The supplement would be a companion to our current hymnal and both hymnal and supplement would be utilized during worship each week.  I am excited that this idea has been enthusiastically received.  In fact, I have already been receiving songs and hymns to be included.

You are welcome to contribute, too.  If there are songs or hymns from your Christian faith tradition that are meaningful for you, please scan or make a photocopy of them.  I will be collecting and arranging them digitally into a booklet.  These songs should include organ or piano accompaniment.  My hope is that this hymnal supplement would be ready for use in the fall.

Faithful music of the heart is only one way we join together as faithful people.  As we enter into this special season of Holy Week, I look forward to sharing with you the meaningful story of our Lord.  I am grateful for your presence, voices, and prayers as we join hear again the story of the peace and love of Christ.

In Welcome,

Pastor Peter