Archbishop reflects on “God moment” at Primates’ Meeting

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written a reflection on the recent Primates’ Meeting in Canterbury, writing of a “God moment” when the Primates “recognised those we saw as those with whom we are called to journey in hope towards the truth and love of Jesus Christ”. You can read the reflections in full on the Archbishop’s website. Meanwhile the Primate of the Episcopal Church,  Michael Curry, has issued a statement concerning the actions of the Anglican Primates at the meeting. “We are part of the Jesus Movement, and the cause of God’s love in this world can never stop and will never be defeated,” he says.

Please sign up for Lent course

Our locum chaplain Tania Witter will be leading a Lent course every Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. during Lent starting on 17 February. The course is called Faith Pictures and describes itself as “a fresh way to talk about things that matter”. Sessions will last about 1½ hours and will be held in the chaplain’s flat (Englische Planke 1A, opposite the Michel). If you plan to come, please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the board in church or e-mail the church: info (at) anglican-church-hamburg.de

All welcome in Diocese in Europe

“Following from the Primates’ Meeting and their communiqué, my office has already received enquiries from clergy and members of the Episcopal Church about whether they are welcome in our Diocese in Europe,” writes Bishop David Hamid. “We need to reaffirm in a strong way our commitment to live and serve the Lord together in this relationship we have developed of loving communion within the Church. The strategy document of the Diocese in Europe is called ‘Walking Together in Faith’. A key part of the strategy is valuing and sustaining a culture of welcome, invitation and hospitality.” Read Bishop David’s full response to the communiqué from the Primates’ Meeting here.

What’s in your cupboard?

The Church Recording group would like to hear from any member of the church community who might be looking after any church items. A lovely vase, which had been left with somebody for safekeeping, turned up some months ago, and there might be other things. As the project’s recording the interior of the church, all such things are relevant and of interest to the recording group. Likewise if anyone has any interesting historical information that might be of use in this project, please contact the project coordinator, Pat Pledger of BRIDFAS.

Wanderers meet on 16 January

Our January walk is a short circular one (probably 7 km at the most) round the Außenmühlenteich in the Harburger Stadtpark. Meet outside the Reisezentrum at the Hauptbahnhof on Saturday 16 January at approx. 9:45 in order to catch the S31 (Harburg Rathaus) which arrives at Harburg Station at 10:15 where the walk starts. If you plan to join in, please let Nicki Schiller know by Thursday 14 – tel 04104 695537 or 0176 30 393 063.

Please pray for the Primates’ meeting

A daily prayer for Christian unity as the Primates meet in Canterbury this week to reflect and pray together concerning the future of the Anglican Communion:

Lord Jesus,
who prayed that we might all be one,
we pray to you for the unity of Christians,
according to your will,
according to your means.
May your Spirit enable us
to experience the suffering caused by division,
to see our sin,
and to hope beyond all hope.
Amen.

Composed by members of the Chemin Neuf community from the prayer of the abbot Paul Couturier.

You can find information about the meeting on the Primates 2016 website.