Author: Jo Dawes

Sad news: Sir Jeffrey Tate, chief conductor of the Hamburger Sinfoniker, has died aged 74. Sir Jeffrey was a good friend to our church, last visiting in March to hear Clare Hammond play. Together with Daniel Hope and Sebastian Knauer, Sir Jeffery gave a gala benefit concert at the church in February 2012 during our 400th anniversary. Further details in English can be found on the websites of the BBC and Deutsche Welle.

The latest edition of our parish magazine Becket News is out. A lot has been going on in the past few months and there are exciting things happening. Enjoy the read!

The Stuttgarter Hymnus Chorknaben will be singing music by Schütz, Lassus, Brahms and more at St Thomas Becket on 6 June. Please see the events section for details or download the flyer.

A Youth Club for the over-11s kicks off in June, with meetings alternating between a weekday evening and a Sunday. It will be launched after the Sunday service on 4 June. Please see the website events calendar for further details.

A prayer by Father Leslie Nathaniel:
Almighty God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, the violent assault in Manchester has brought pain, tears, and anger to people across Britain and beyond. We grieve with a nation in shock at the loss of so many innocent lives, both children and adults. We ask you to receive the souls of those who have died, and we pray for the gifts of healing and peace on all those who are injured. We remember before you those tending to the injuries and pain in body and mind of those affected by the attack.
Grant peace, comfort, and patience to all the grieving families, friends, colleagues and loved ones at this difficult time. We ask you to bring security and peace to the people in the city of Manchester and to all in Britain. Safeguard and strengthen the bonds of unity and friendship between the diverse communities that they may work together against the forces that would sow division and hatred.
We at the Anglican Church of St Thomas Becket also pray to you, the source of all life, that you bless us with the light of your presence in our midst, and we look for your mercies. May we be blessed with your protection through all the changing scenes of life and with the resolve to make peace.
Lord make us channels of your peace. Where there is hatred let us bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair in life, let us bring hope. Where there is darkness, only light. And where there is sadness, ever joy (after St Francis of Assisi 1181–1226).

global.gerecht.gestalten, the church alliance for the G20 summit in Hamburg on 7 and 8 July, has published material that can be used by churches as a basis for their prayers for peace on Friday 7 July at 1800 hrs. It includes a suggested format prepared by our own chaplain, Revd Canon Dr Leslie Nathaniel.

The material can be found on our website or downloaded from the alliance’s website: global-gerecht-gestalten.de

The alliance was founded to accompany the summit with prayer and action and to participate in peaceful activities before and during the summit. Its goal is to campaign for sustainable, viable development and draw attention to the churches’ standpoints on the issues addressed by the G20 summit.

The British Honorary Consulate in Hamburg is taking part for the first time in the Lange Nacht der Konsulate on 16 May from 6 pm to 10 pm. Some members of our congregation and others in Hamburg’s British community are supporting the event. You can find further details on the event flier.

…and so the Church Wanderers are doing just that on Saturday, 13 May: a 11.5 km stroll along the Baltic Sea coast from Timmendorfer Strand Promenade via Niendorf and over the Brodtener Ufer cliffs to Travemünde beach and harbour. Meeting point: in front of the DB Reisezentrum, Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (north end of station) at 10:45 prompt to buy tickets for the 11.04 train to Lübeck. Stuart Cooke will be leading the walk, so please let him know before 2pm on 12 May if you’re coming: stuart (at) cooke.de

Good quality, clean and pressed clothes are still needed for the clothes stall at the church fleamarket on 6 May (see events below and our Facebook page). Also welcome are scarves, handbags, shoes/boots, toys, bric-a-brac, small furniture, sports items, etc. and cakes. Please contact Yotin (0176-72364865) to arrange a time to drop things off. Also, Lottie would welcome help setting up on 5 May. Please contact her if you can help: 0174-5682759/ info (at) b2h-scout.com

Our Annual General Meeting, at which the churchwardens and chaplaincy council are elected, will be held on 23 April after the Sunday service. All those on the electoral roll are eligible to vote. Please note that the Hamburg Marathon is on the same day. Come by public transport and allow extra time for the journey.