Our leisurely walking group, the Church Wanderers, is meeting again. On 3 October, we’ll be walking through Wohldorfer Wald from Ohlstedt station (meet at P+R car park opposite the station to start at 11 o’clock). Please let Jo Dawes know if you plan to join and haven’t already said so: mail(at)dawescom.de or 01724058736.
Author: Jo Dawes
Bazaar update
Despite the difficult times we are all currently facing, the chaplaincy council has decided to go ahead with preparations for our annual church bazaar which we plan to hold on Saturday, 21 November 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have to be very flexible with the management and organisation of the bazaar this year.
Eric Lord has been so kind to once more offer his assistance as Chief Organizer. Madeleine Herring, Wendy Sprock, Emma Richter and Valerie Müller will assist him as well as they can under the circumstances.
Eric has made a start on planning the bazaar without any open food and drink on offer (according to the current regulations) but this is an ongoing planning exercise as we move forward in time, and this may change. At the bazaar we may also have to come up with alternate fundraising ideas due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so we are grateful for any new ideas on items, stalls or activities we could offer to raise more money. Therefore, please support us and we will do our very best to keep you informed at all times. Should you have any further questions, or if you would like to organise something new this year or can donate any handicrafts, please do not hesitate to contact the team. We are open to new ideas and suggestions.
The final bazaar date will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Church to reopen on 5 July
St Thomas à Becket church will reopen on Sunday 5 July for a short service of Morning Prayer at 10.30 a.m.
As a result of the ongoing crisis, churches are required to offer shorter services for a greatly reduced number of people so that hygiene and safety regulations can be strictly observed. Full Holy Communion services are not yet possible.
Until our locum arrives, Morning Prayer will be led by members of the congregation. If there are too many people for the 10.30 service, it may be possible to offer a second service at 11.15 a.m.
Please read this message from the wardens and council for full details of hygiene and safety regulations.
Church reopening: when and how?
The Chaplaincy Council met on 6 May (via Zoom) and discussed the reopening in the context of the guidance received from our Bishops and what is permitted in Hamburg. Although churches may open, there are very strict conditions set. The Council therefore decided that the church will stay closed until the beginning of June to allow for proper preparation.
Fr Pete Wright is still our locum until the end of May, however, and will continue until then to film services together with members of the congregation and post them here: see church online.
There is a small group of people working on what we need to do to reopen the church. We will let you know as soon as we can when that will be and how we are going to do it.
Arts Society from your own home
The Arts Society London are running a series of free lectures – one every two weeks – accessible anytime during the two-week period via this link.
The current lecture is by Sarah Dunant on “Venice: Dressed and Undressed” and is available from 21 April. Thanks to Pat Pledger of the Arts Society Hamburg for sharing this news with us.
Flowers for Holy Week
Every day during Holy Week, starting on Monday, BBC Radio 4 is broadcasting a 15-minute programme on wild plants and flowers associated in history and folklore with the key moments of Christ’s Passion. Broadcast daily at 10:45 (9:45 in the UK), ‘The Passion in Plants’ can be found on BBC iPlayer Radio.
April edition of Becket News out now
The latest edition of our parish magazine, Becket News, is fresh off the virtual press. You can download it here or find it on the Becket News page of the website along with back issues. Happy reading!
Our locum returns to LA
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.
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