Visit of HMS Ark Royal

HMS Ark Royal is paying a last visit to Hamburg before being decommissioned. The Chaplain and members of the ship's company will be joining us for the Advent Sunday Service. The Chaplain, the Revd Martin Evans will preach the sermon and the Revd Simon Holmes will lead the intercessions.

We look forward to welcoming them all

Advent Course starting 25th November

Advent is a time for reflection and it is good to do so before Christmas kicks in! A course of study is being offered by the Chaplain on four Thursdays in Advent, commencing 25th November 7.00 p.m. in Church with a shorter Monthly Eucharist. No need to make all the sessions.

Poems for Remembrance Sunday.

In his sermon for Remembrance Sunday, the Chaplain read some war poems including some written by soldiers and civilians about the war in Afghanistan. Here is a link to a website dedicated to War Poetry, including poems about the current conflict in Afghanistan.

Helmand

Night on the cold plain,

invisible sands lift,

peripheral shadows stir,

space between light and dark

shrouding secrets;

old trades draped grey.

Here too poppies fall,

petals blown on broken ground,

seeds scattered on stone

and this bright bloom,

newly cropped,

leaves pale remains,

fresh lines cut;

the old sickle wind

sharp as yesterday.

John Hawkhead
2009

Podcast for Remembrance Sunday

As churches around Europe prepare to mark the season of Remembrance, culminating in many special services on Sunday 14th November, the Diocese in Europe website has posted an interview with an army chaplain about his pastoral work and mission on duty in Afghanistan.

Padre William Lister speaks about working with service personnel under fire, ministering to the dying and giving comfort and guidance to people making tough decisions under pressure.

He asks for prayers for himself and fellow chaplains working “on the front line”.

The interview with the Diocese Communications Officer, Paul Needle, can be heard
here.

This week 7th-13th November

Tuesday 9th November 18:30-20:00 Choir Practice – getting ready for the carol season!

Thursday 11th November is Armistice Day.

Saturday 13th November Church Wanderers outing to Schwerin – see note below and on Wanderers page under activities.

Please note next Sunday is Remembrance Sunday. There is a said Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. followed by Remembrance Service at 10:30 and wreath laying at Ohlsdorf at 12:15.

This is a week in which the German Chaplaincies are remembered in the Diocese shared prayer cycle, including this one on Wednesday, 10th November.

Launch of 'No Anglican Covenant' website

For those who track church politics a new website has been launched by a group from across the Anglican Communion opposed to the adoption of the Anglican Covenant. It gives a comprehensive overview of the background and why in the view of the supporters this is not an appropriate measure for the Anglican Communion.

The site has been launched on 3 November 2010, the 410th anniversary of the death of the Anglican theologian Richard Hooker, best known for his appeal to three authorities—scripture, reason, and tradition—often described as his “three-legged stool.”

The Anglican Covenant is very much on the agenda of the forthcoming General Synod commecing 23 November.