The renovations of St. Andrew’s Center are progressing well. The new building is nearing completion with hopes to be fully functional for the new school year in September. The new building will house the Thrift Shop, administrative offices, cafeteria, as well as many individual meeting rooms for the many who worship at St. Andrew’s weekly. Keep up to date with the progress here as we post photos and keep you informed!

As well as the new building, there will be some other enhancements around the compound. The grounds will get a new look such as prayer gardens, sitting areas, shading, greenery, an inviting parameter fence and more. The Community Center and the church will get a fresh new exterior “cladding”. The Community Center will also receive a more inviting interior paint freshen up.

We are also hoping that we will be able to have renovations done to the interior of the church. While Canon Andy’s sermons make up for the discomfort in them, we hope to replace the benches with cushioned chairs. Also, a glass paneled viewing room, balcony renovations, audio/visual and lighting systems, and much, much more!

Please keep us in your prayers, not only for financial provisions, but also that St Andrew’s Center will continue to provide for the needs of many through prayer, charity and growth within Abu Dhabi.

The St Andrew’s Church presentation given to Synod in Larnaca, February 2013.

Unity in Diversity – St Andrew’s Abu Dhabi from Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf on Vimeo.

Many thanks to Ray Haddad for making this terrific video.

To find out more about the Diocese, and in particular Synod this year, visit http://cypgulf.org/about-synod/synod-2013/

Ash Wednesday (February 13th) marks the beginning of Lent. The very word Lent means spring or springtime and just as in spring it is traditional to plant seeds and bury them in the darkness of the ground, so too Lent is a time when we plant ourselves in God and focus on and repent on the darkness in ourselves and in our world. It is a time of opportunity when through repentance, prayer, study, fasting and reflection that our lives can become transformed both inwardly, outwardly and towards our world and so enable us to become the people God has called and created us to be.

Perhaps you might consider doing something different from the norm during Lent … here’s a couple of suggestions:

Make time to read a Christian book

Here are some suggested titles

Abiding by Ben Quash ~ the Anglican Church recommended Lent 2013 book. It asks the question, what does it mean ‘to abide’ with Christ in the places we live, in our communities, relationships and one’s own mind and body.

Love Set Free by Martin L Smith. Meditations on the passion according to St John.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, martyr, prophet, spy. The biography of an extraordinary man with an amazing faith that stood against the evil of the day. One quote sums up Bonhoeffer’s life: ‘Silence in the face of evil is evil itself. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act’.

Not by Bread Alone by Bishop Robert F Morneau. Daily reflection resource, with scripture reading suggestions, prayer and thought for the day, to use during lent.

All are available to buy and ship, or to download on kindle (just click on the titles to find them on Amazon)

Lent Study Group

There will be a Lent group gathering for study, fellowship, prayer and reflection, looking at the book of Jonah: a Rebellious Prophet.

It will meet at Raha Beach Al Zeina between 7:30pm and 9.30pm on 18th and 25th February, 4th, 11th and 18th March.

Contact Rev. Gill Nisbet for further details and directions: gillnisbet@standrewauh.org

Often our experience of preaching (if we are really honest) can frankly be described as instantly forgetable! This troubles me because I happen to be passionate and excited about the Gospel message and we do the Gospel no service if people do not have their imaginations stirred by our message.

The use of visual aids in preaching is Biblical and part of captivating an audience’s interest. I find that magic tricks are a great visual aid and in my years of preaching I’ve found that audiences are impacted and often remember the gospel message more when I use such illustrations. Many are really simple to learn and have an effective appeal and impact across all cultures and ages.

This new book is a hard copy of something I wrote some time ago and enables anyone involved in sharing their Christian faith to communicate ten Bible based messages, using easy to learn magic tricks and illusions, which the listener will never forget.

Andy

St Andrew’s Service Trip 2013
NEW LIFE CENTER & BOYS HOME
Dehradun, India
April 5-11

For age 14+
Cost: AED 2,999 all inclusive
Click the button to download the application form

Application Form

You can also make a donation to support those who wish to go on the trip but may not be able to raise the entire cost – and to help pay for the materials that will be necessary to carry out the various tasks while they are there – by enclosing your gift in an envelope marked “Dehradun 2013″ and placing it in the collection bag or giving it to any member of the Clergy or Pete Rizzuto, or handing it in to the Church Office.

All gifts will be receipted. Cheques should be made payable to St Andrew’s Church.