Author: Jo Dawes

Just in case you wondered, here is Busted Halo's take on electing a Pope from Rev. Bosco Peters website on Liturgy.

Choral Evensong is one of the treasures of the Anglican tradition!
We are pleased to continue the regular monthly Choral Evensongs which we commenced during the 400th anniversary year.

This Saturday the St Thomas Becket Consort will sing at the Service

Introit: C. Hylton Stewart, Psalm 23
Psalm: Plain chant
Canticles: Orlando Gibbons, Magnificat and Nunc dimittis from the Short Service
Anthem: Orlando Gibbons, Almighty and everlasting God

Everyone is very welcome for a restful and spiritually uplifting hour!

And if you feel like singing yourself, rehearsals for John Stainer's Crucifixion to be performed 23 March will commence 5 March. Please contact the Choir Director if interesed (click on link to the right).

Pause for Thought has been updated to get you in the mood for Lent.

Readers might also like to consider the Thought of the Bishop of Massachusettes on the connection between Lent and St Valentines day – Table for Two.

The resignation of Pope Benedict has caught the world by surprise. Readers of this website might like to read Bishop David's comment on this event on his blog here. Bishop David saw the Pope only last week.

This week we will start the season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, 13 February there will be two services of Holy Communion with the
Imposition of Ashes one at 10.30am and one 7.00pm. Do try to make one of these to kick-off Lent which can be a hugely rewarding period of spiritual development.

A Lent Bible Study will commence 20 February.

And those who are wondering really what all this is about, but never felt there was the opportunity to ask, there is a 'Heretics' Dinner' on Sunday, 17th February 5-7pm. You can share you doubts and opinions over some food with Nathan, Yotin and others. Click here for further information.

As reported on Bishop David's blog, the Diocese in Europe Mothers' Union has a new president – Carol Johnston. Carol succeeds Barbara Woods and was formally commissioned by Bishop Geoffrey 1 February. The Diocese in Europe MU has its own website where you can find out more about its actvities.

STB has an active MU, and this is a good opportunity to congratulate Debra Zeni on her recent election as Chair.

Lent starts early this year folks. Hardly put away the Christmas tree and those silly Rhinelanders are in carnival mood!
There will be two Ash Wednesday services to accommodate both those who work and those who do not like travelling after dark, so no excuses! A Eurcharist with imposition of ashes will be held at 10:30 and at 19:00 on Wednesday 13 February.

A Lent Bible Study course will be held every Wednesday evening 19:00 from 20 February. You are most welcome to join.

The next outing for the Wanderers is Saturday, 9 February for a wander from Krempe to Glückstadt via Borsfleth and the Deich (ca 12km). We muster In front of Reisezentrumat Hamburg-Altona Fernbahn station at 10.15 am to catch the 10.37 train. We shall buy one or more Schleswig-Holstein tickets and divide the cost equally.

Please let Cicely know (Tel: 0162 635 93 98) by the evening of Thursday,7th, if you plan to come. Please wear suitable clothes and footwear and bring a picnic lunch. Eileen knows a good place for Kaffee u. Kuchen

Return by train from Glückstadt to Hamburg. Trains dep at 39 and 49 mins past each hour

On 4 February, Justin Welby ceased to be Bishop of Durham, and instead takes up the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. At a ceremony, known as the ‘Confirmation of Election’, which took place in the context of an act of worship in St Paul's Cathedral, Justin Welby became the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. He will be officially enthroned in Canterbury Cathedral 21 March 2013. The Order of Service from today's service is available from the website of St Paul's Cathedral.
We offer our prayers of support for Archbishop Welby, for what must be considered one of the toughest assignments the world has to offer!

In the meantime, his predecessor now Lord Williams is settling back into academic life. The debating chamber of the Cambridge Union was full to hear Williams and Dawkins debate the proposition 'religion has no place in the 21st Century'. The motion was defeated 324 votes against, 138 voting for the motion, with 85 abstentions.

We welcome Fr Matthew back from a well earned holiday (assuming snow has permitted his return travel!).

The Chaplaincy Council meets for the first time in 2013 on Thursday 24 January. This is a dedicated and important group of people and we thank them for the commitment to ensuring the smooth running of the church.

Next Sunday offers two contrasting styles of Service. At 10:30 the The Parish Eucharist will be in traditional language as is our custom once a month.

At 17:00 there will be a new contemporary style worship service. See flyer here.