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As I write this, we appear to be on the brink of a US attack on Iraq. If that happens, the consequences throughout this region could be considerable. By the time this is published, we may be in rather different days from now. In spite of the threat, the Diocese is in good heart, and this is so of both the chaplaincies which are most likely to be affected by any action. There is preparation but not panic.

One consequence is that I have been asked to postpone my visit to Kuwait, which was due to begin in early March. So far, the visits that follow that in the Gulf are still expected to take place.

Bahrain Cathedral's Golden Jubilee

One of my planned visits is to Bahrain, where St Christopher's Cathedral will celebrate its Golden Jubilee. So much has happened over the last fifty years in Bahrain as the community has grown and diversified. Only relatively recently in its life has St Christopher's been a Cathedral. In many ways, the church developments in the lower Gulf have sprung from the life and ministry of St Christopher's over the years and this will be an opportunity to give thanks to God for those initiatives among so many other things.

From Bahrain, we shall go briefly to Abu Dhabi in order to welcome and license Clive Windebank as the new chaplain there. We are delighted that Clive is able to return to the Gulf after an absence of many years. Bishop Len ordained him when he was working in Kuwait and it is a great joy that he will once again be part of the fellowship of the Diocese. After further wanderings in the Diocese (let the reader understand!) I hope to be in Qatar. Plans are going ahead fast for the building of the new Church in Doha and it is hoped that work can begin in April.

As I mentioned in the last edition of "Bible Lands", the second of the series of Muslim/Christian Dialogues begun by Archbishop George Carey and Prime Minister Tony Blair, will be held in Doha. This will be at the beginning of April. We look forward to welcoming the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams and to his laying the foundation stone of the new Church. We just hope and pray that nothing will have happened by the time you read this to prevent these things from taking place.

Wheel chairs for Aden

Recently I visited Aden for the dedication of the new Eye Clinic. This new facility is already making quite a difference to the work of the Clinic as well as providing additional accommodation where the English teaching is now taking place. Just before the dedication, eighteen wheelchairs from Kyrgistan, which had been long awaited, arrived. I was able to present one to an Adeni man during the celebrations at the time of the eye clinic dedication. These will bring new hope and opportunity to a number of disabled people within the area.

Sadly, at the time of writing this, the British expatriate staff, Colin and Irene Noyce, and Gail the English teacher, have had to leave Aden for security reasons. We hope that there will not be a long delay in the situation improving so that they can return. Meanwhile, the work of the clinics goes ahead with our loyal and devoted Yemeni staff. An Ophthalmic surgeon from Ethiopia, Dr Aseefa, had just arrived. Sadly, he too has been advised to return to Ethiopia for the time being, until the situation becomes more settled.

Within the Chaplaincy of Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, Jim and Carol Wakerley have moved from Ras Al Khaimeh to take charge and start to build up the congregation at Christ Church, Jebel Ali. I am most grateful to them for being ready to undertake this move. Derek and Hennie Hamblin (ex-Larnaca) are taking their places. They bring life and enthusiasm wherever they go. We are also looking forward to utilising Derek's past experience in the further development of the prison ministry.

Developments in Cyprus

Work has begun on the extension and development of St Andrew's, Kyrenia. During the time - almost a year - that this will take place, the congregation is meeting at the Cheshire Homes. This is proving a good and practical temporary base for worship.

In November, the first Cursillo in the Diocese took place at the Ayia Napa Conference Centre. This promises, as it develops, to be a significant initiative for the spiritual life of the Diocese. We were particularly grateful for the 'gifting' of Cursillo by the Diocese of Exeter and the work of the Conference Team. Marvin Bamforth and Jane Price of Paphos put a great deal of thought and work into making the first meeting a success. They will have an important continuing role.

Happy Diocesan Synod in Larnaca

The Lordos Beach Hotel near Larnaca, which many will remember, was the setting for three successive conferences at the end of January and in February. The first was our annual Diocesan Synod, which again was a very happy occasion, attended by even more observers this year. We must have been about 130 people altogether. It was a great joy to welcome Canon Sam Culin, to address us and lead the Devotions on our Quiet Day. He is a former General Secretary of the Anglican Consultative Council, and still linked with us, particularly through his role at All Hallows by the Tower.

As last year, the Quiet Morning was combined with seeing a small part of the Island. We have found in the last few years, that an outing like this increases our sense of fellowship, as well as our understanding of a part of the Diocese, and forms a background for our knowledge in prayers. We went this time to a lovely little monastery, and then on to the old Church at Athienou where the Devotional addresses took place. We were particularly grateful to Bishop Vasilios of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus for arranging this.

Mr Tom Hornsby, with his wife Tricia, joined us for Synod. Tom is the Architect of the new Church in Doha. He gave a most interesting and stimulating illustrated address on Church Architecture. In a lighter vein, David Hardacre, the Diocesan Secretary, entertained us on two successive evenings, talking about aspects of Cyprus Church history. Danny and Kay Borkowski led us in line dancing.

Next the Church Mission Society held a conference for its Middle East partners, and it was a great joy to welcome friends old and new.

The third conference was that of the Anglican World Missions Organisations. This brought together Anglicans from the whole worldwide Communion. It was quite a logistical exercise and probably would never have happened had it not been for all the time and hard work put into it by my Secretary, Mrs Georgia Katsantonis. It was a way in which we could play our part in the wider life of the Communion.

The tragedy of Palestine and Israel

Who knows what will have happened by the time this letter appears in print? We hope and pray for the right solution to the situation in Iraq without resorting to war. Synod agreed a statement about this, which was sent to Government leaders and the United Nations. The tragedy of Palestine and Israel is constantly on our minds and in our prayers. There is a real sense in which that is an ingredient in every Middle Eastern situation, and until justice is done, it will continue to exacerbate situations throughout the region.

In Cyprus, we continue to pray for a settlement that will end the division of the Island. We pray for all the leaders involved both in Cyprus and elsewhere, particularly in Greece, Turkey and the United Nations.

Thank you for all your support and especially for your prayers, not only for Cyprus and the Gulf but also for the whole of the Province. In so many ways the Lord has richly blessed us, and we pray that we may have the grace to rise to the opportunities that he sets before us, for His Glory.

Clive

MESSAGE TO CHAPLAINS

Message from Bishop Clive to Chaplains in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, 26 March 2003.

As we continue to watch with sadness the unfolding situation in Iraq, I thought that the following information might be helpful.

All our people within the Gulf region are safe and well and in most places life is going on as usual. Canon Steve Wright and his family in Kuwait are among those most affected by what is happening. Jo Wright and the children moved to Dubai two weeks ago when schools closed and a number of western expatriates moved out of Kuwait temporarily. Steve has remained in Kuwait but is currently visiting the family in Dubai. He plans to return to Kuwait later this week or early next week. He has not felt in any danger, but clearly there is a good deal of stress being felt by those who are in Kuwait.

Colin and Irene Noyce were advised to leave Aden and did so earlier this month. They are currently in England. The work of the clinics continues each day under the local staff. Colin is in daily contact with them, principally through e-mail. Valentina, the Russian midwife is still there, but the newly arrived Ethiopian Ophthalmic surgeon, Dr Aseefa, thought it wise to return to Ethiopia.

Many will know Roz and Ray Trudget of the Mission to Seafarers in Aqaba, Jordan. They were advised to leave about four weeks ago and are also currently in England.

I know that a number of the chaplaincies are concerned about being able to provide some aid to help the humanitarian situation which is developing in Iraq. I have been in touch with the Middle East Council of Churches, our natural channel through which to send help. They have an office in Baghdad and also in the surrounding countries. They will be well placed to see that aid gets to those who most need it. I would suggest that any chaplaincies that wish to help should send their contributions to the Diocesan Office. We will see that it is passed on without delay.

We shall continue to keep in our prayers all people, of whatever nation, in any way involved in this tragic situation. Please be assured of my continued prayers for you too.

Clive

Readers in the UK may send contributions to the JMECA office, earmarked 'for Iraq' and Gift-aided if possible.

AROUND THE CYPRUS AND THE GULF CHAPLAINCIES

Welcome in Paphos

When Hilda and Norman Wilkinson joined the Ministry to Visitors, he welcomed people and Hilda offered free drinks, leaflets on the church's history, and sold postcards. "What a pleasant surprise and a good start to the day when fourteen visitors from Pennsylvania call in, all very interested in the church's history and grateful for a refreshing drink and a seat in the shade."

A young couple came enquiring about wedding arrangements. The bride-to-be bought notelets for use as wedding invitations. The Wilkinsons are delighted to be part of the team offering fellowship and forming friendships with visitors to Paphos.

Limassol expansion and Mothering Sunday

Attendance at St Barnabas has grown steadily over the past few years, so plans have been drawn up and approved to extend the Church westwards to accommodate another 32 seats.

Pamela Caulfield remembers her first Mothering Sunday there, in 1995. "Here I was, 2000 miles from my family, sitting in a Church with no children! Seven years on, the thought of Mothering Sunday this year brought a smile to my face. A wonderful Family Service, arranged by a thriving Sunday School, followed by a Pot Luck Lunch with the children acting as waiters - so good at the job that they were even given tips!"

"It has not been an easy path, but together we have gone forward. I have received so much from my involvement with these children that it more than makes up for being far from my own grandchildren. I am truly part of the Family of God. My knowledge of the Bible has increased too - you have to be at least one step ahead of kids these days."

Theft at St Andrew's, Kyrenia

A year ago, a large area was paved around the church to accommodate the overflow congregation on a Sunday. Four large umbrellas, each four square metres in size, were provided to give protection from the elements. A couple of months ago the Church storeroom was broken into and these large umbrellas, together with the vital tea and coffee equipment, were stolen.

At the following Church Council it was decided to take all prudent steps to prevent theft, but "as the only fully functioning Church in Northern Cyprus, we should keep our Church doors open every day for those who may wish to spend a period in its quiet peace."

New chaplain for Larnaca

Margaret Judson wrote: "When we heard that an American had been appointed to be Chaplain here at St Helena's, there were a few misgivings. How would he cope with a largely British congregation? What about hymn tunes - would we have to change and learn all the American ones? Fortunately we had the opportunity to get to know Danny and Kay Borkowski before he took up his appointment, so any doubts about their suitability were laid to rest."

"We ask your prayers for Danny and Kay and all of us as we seek to work together to extend the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Celebration cakes in Oman

A church member, Sara Khorakiwala, returned from Florida full of pride and joy, after attending her son's graduation from University. She came to the morning Service with 50 cakes from her husband's bakery as a thank-offering. A visiting couple from England were heard to comment, "What a great idea. Do you give cakes every Friday after church? What a grand church-growth technique! We'll be back!"

Alpha in Abu Dhabi

Alpha Courses have been held at St Andrew's, with many people finding it a great experience. A Youth Alpha Course brought the following comment: "We enjoyed the fellowship and look forward to having more events specially designed for teenagers, so that the love of Christ may be shared with others who have very little knowledge about our Lord and Saviour. It is our humble request and desire to invite all our friends to go for a picnic with Jesus!"

Congratulations to the Revd Canon Dennis Gurney, Chaplain of Dubai and Sharjah with the Northern Emirates (1984-2001) who received the OBE from her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 26th March 2003.