Back in Izmir

We’re coming to the end of our first week back at St John’s, Izmir. The first reaction is one of encouragement. The church is still flourishing – they obviously have managed without a priest in charge! Mick McCain, who used to celebrate a Communion once a month, has been unwell, so they have depended upon members of the church leading Morning Prayer for the past three months or so. But we had a very warm welcome at the Bible Study on Ash Wednesday - with a rather un-Lenten celebratory tea! (There were eleven participants in all, for our first study on Ephesians.) We have also been recognised in some local shops, and by one of the police keeping watch at the Consulate.

What’s going on in Izmir itself? Despite a terrorist attack in the city last year, the atmosphere is still relaxed. Indeed, there was no visible sign of increased security at the airport in Istanbul where we changed planes. The political situation in Turkey is complex. The President is asking for greater executive power, and for direct presidential elections; a referendum in April is expected to agree to this. Political opposition is muted; but for the majority of people, life is peaceful and safe. Turkey continues to be active against IS in Syria, and to accept refugees from its neighbours.

There is no sign of any kind of enforced Islamisation of the country. In Izmir, most women are unveiled. The church remains open and much visited. Indeed, a promotional DVD about Izmir we were given at the Tourist Office included a brief tour round the Anglican church and a Synagogue, as well as footage of a couple of Mosques, to show the multi-cultural range of the city’s heritage and life.

The Iranian refugees at St John’s are resigned to spending longer in their limbo. The US government’s attitude to Muslim countries has had a wider effect, including reduction of funding for UN refugee programmes (the UN refugee office in Ankara is effectively closed.) This means that these committed and able Christians have less chance of having their applications for other English-speaking countries processed in the near future.

Another rather depressing fact is the insularity of the British Government. There is a lively French cultural presence in the city through Institut Français, which is a co-sponsor of the Jazz Festival now underway, together with the Goethe Institute, and consulates of Italy, Poland, Romania and others. Britain appears to do nothing to promote British culture.

On Ash Wednesday, we went to the Catholic Cathedral for the Mass; it was a rather chaotic start, but the service sheet was in Turkish and English; one reading was in English, and the sermon (in Italian and Turkish) was accompanied by an English hand-out. So, good to see some ecumenism at work; there had apparently been a well-supported service at St John’s for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

And now we have had our first Sunday service. It was in once sense very familiar after our time here last year; but it always takes a little while to attune to the spiritual atmosphere of a different church. It was good to meet some new members, and to see a number of young families present; we hadn’t had that last year. I’m preaching on the Seven Last Words from the Cross.

We’ve been blessed with some sunny days, which enabled us to walk to various parts of the city, and beside the Aegean. It will be a real Lenten discipline, to resist the temptations of Turkish delight and baklava! We had an enforced abstinence from using the lift to our apartment, as it was out of action for two days – but it’s working now.

Please pray:

For continued health, and protection for us.

That we’ll be fully in tune with the spiritual needs of the congregation.

For clear discernment of the future for the church.

For the refugees, as they cope with their disappointment and need for patience.

For the interviews for the new chaplain (in England on March 15th.)