Our locum chaplain, Fr Pete Wright, and his wife Penny have unfortunately had to return to Los Angeles, since the US State Department ordered the return of all citizens who normally reside in the USA. We hope still to be able to provide some opportunities for the congregation to participate in shared online services with Fr Pete. Please also see the information on this website, particularly the Covid-19 update section.
Author: Jo Dawes
Making a Spiritual Communion
Our church services are currently suspended because of the coronavirus. However, we can still make a Spiritual Communion at home.
The term ‘Spiritual Communion’ is used to describe the means of grace by which a person, prevented for some serious reason from sharing in a celebration of the Eucharist, nonetheless shares in the communion of Jesus Christ. The Book of Common Prayer instructs us that if we offer ourselves in penitence and faith, giving thanks for the redemption won by Christ crucified, we may truly ‘eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ’, although we cannot receive the sacrament physically in ourselves. A form of words for making a Spiritual Communion can be found on the Church of England website.
Want to be on our mailing list?
We have a small mailing list that we use to keep congregation and friends in touch with what’s going on in the church community. We are using it more frequently now that services and events are suspended because of the Covid-19 coronavirus. If you would like to be put on the list, please send an email with your first and last name and asking to be added to the mailing list to webmaster (at) anglican-church-hamburg.de
New Becket News out now
A new edition of our parish magazine, Becket News, has finally been published. Read online or download here, or pick up a hard copy in church.
Don’t miss our wonderful concert!
Tickets are still available for our fundraising concert ‘Magic and Myths’ in the church on Wednesday, 18 September at 19:00.
The concert features the Austrian-born soprano Christina Gansch and bass baritone Martin Hässler, both accompanied by Sholto Kynoch, pianist and director of the now world-renowned Oxford Lieder Festival which he established.
‘Magic and Myths’ celebrates the ‘glittering ballads and expressive songs’ of Carl Loewe, as 2019 marks the 150th anniversary of Loewe’s death. Though perhaps not a household name today, Carl Loewe was in his day a prolific and brilliant song composer with an astonishing gift for storytelling and for composing profound and beautiful lyric songs. He deserves to be better known. The artists will also be performing songs by Robert and Clara Schumann and Franz Schubert.
Tickets for the concert cost €50, which includes post-performance refreshments, and can be ordered by email to konzert@anglican-church-hamburg.de.
Bible study in April
Bible studies will be held on 5 and 12 April at 1730 hrs at the Chaplain’s flat. These studies are geared to Christians seeking a deeper engagement with their faith. Please let the Chaplain or one of the churchwardens — Madeleine Resühr or Susanne Hergoss — know if you are interested.
Monteverdi-Chor on Palm Sunday
‘Passion trifft Weltschmerz’ is the title of a concert on Palm Sunday, 14 April at 1800 hrs by the renowned Monteverdi-Chor Hamburg directed by Antonius Adamske. The programme juxtaposes Antonio Lotti’s ‘Crucifixus’ and the ‘Stabat Mater’ by Domenico Scarlatti with two song cycles: Johannes Brahms’ ‘Fünf Gesänge’ opus 104 and Felix Mendelssohn’s ‘Lieder’ opus 41. Tickets cost €18 or €25 and are available from Konzertkasse Gerdes and other ticket agencies, online from www.eventim.de or www.konzertkassegerdes.de, or subject to availability on the door.
New Becket News published
The latest edition of Becket News, our chaplaincy magazine, is out. Read about our 180th anniversary exhibition and meet a special visitor to our Remembrance Sunday service. Meanwhile, our churchwarden Madeleine goes on a quest to locate Henry Canning’s body. You can read or download the latest edition here.
Advent & Christmas Services at St Thomas Becket
As well as our usual 10.30 service on Sundays, December sees two carol services, the children’s nativity play and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. The first is a service of lessons and carols for Advent with our own chamber choir, the Anglican Consort, this Saturday, 1 December at 18.30. Our traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols is on Saturday, 15 December at 18.00. You can find details on the flyer.
Young Families Initiative meets 2 December
The second gathering of the Young Families Initiative will be on 2 December at the Seemansheim after the morning service. Anyone interested in coming along should contact Gert and Sara van der Jagt (gertvdjagt [at] hotmail.com)