We’re back in church:
With Covid numbers down in Hamburg, we’re resuming services in church, ending the closure of the church building.
In addition to the 10.30 a.m. Sunday Eucharist in church, we meet on Wednesdays at 8.30 a.m. for morning prayer on Zoom. A group continues to meet for compline or evening prayer every Saturday at 6 p.m., also via Zoom.
Details of all services and Zoom links are on the weekly sheet. Please see News for the latest edition.
For other online resources, please see Church Online and below.
Why such a fuss about a virus?
Covid-19 is a highly infectious disease that in severe cases causes acute breathing problems and even death. Although older people, especially those with existing medical conditions, are most at risk, Covid can hit younger people badly, too. Not everyone with the virus develops symptoms, but they can still infect other people without realising it. If we’re not careful, a church service could become a way of passing the virus on to lots of people. It’s up to us to do all we can to keep others safe.
Some people don’t believe Covid-19 is that serious, comparing it to seasonal flu, and there is a lot of misinformation and conspiracy theories on the Internet. If someone asks you for a source of reliable information about the virus, you could recommend the public health information from Hamburg’s health ministry (in English). If they’re interested in learning about the science, you can refer them to insidecorona.net, a website operated by the University of Hamburg’s Coronavirus Structural Taskforce.
Feeling anxious or lonely?
If you are feeling anxious or are in isolation and need to talk to someone, please get in touch with either of the churchwardens, Susanne Hergoss or Madeleine Resühr. They are supported by a team of volunteers who are available for a chat. You can find their phone numbers on our contact page. They are also available via email at covid (at) anglican-church-hamburg.de
Other church services online
BBC Radio 4 broadcasts Sunday Worship in English every Sunday morning. To find it, go to bbc.co.uk and search for “Sunday worship”. It can also be found on the BBC Sounds app. Radio 4 also broadcasts the Daily Service on weekdays.
Services are also being live streamed on the Church of England website and many churches are streaming services regularly. For example, Canterbury Cathedral is offering Morning and Evening Prayer daily as well as Sunday services online.
Resources from the Church of England
The Church of England provides a range of worship and prayer resources, including prayer and reflection apps and a booklet of daily reflections to support good mental health.
Making a Spiritual Communion
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.
Public health information for Hamburg in English
Public health information from Hamburg’s health ministry in English can be found here, though the daily press release updates are available in German only.
There is a telephone hotline set up with the following number: 040 / 428 284 000.
If you suspect you have been infected with COVID-19, call 116 117.
Corona Hardship Fund Appeal
We are aware of a number in our community who are experiencing extreme financial hardship at this time. We are appealing to those who can, to make a special donation to the church account so that some financial support for the purchase of basic necessities can be provided.
Donations made to the church account marked ‘Spende – Hardship Fund’ will be used to provide provisions for those in very urgent need.
For anyone who donates regularly to the church, this amount will be added to the annual donation for the annual tax (Spende) certificate. For others, a Spende certificate can be provided for amounts >€100 if name and address is provided.
Questions about this appeal can be sent to covid@anglican-church-hamburg.de.
Thank you for your generosity.
A prayer for all those affected by coronavirus
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Source: Church of England website)