Author: Jo Dawes

Carnivalling comes to an end folks. Wednesday, 9th March is Ash Wednesday – a chance for you to get into gear for Lent.

19.00 Eucharist with Penitential Rite.

How about giving up Facebook for Lent? See
The Local.

This month's walk on Saturday 12th March will hopefully take the Wanderers to Schwerin – locomotive driver strikes permitting.

Rendezvous outside the Reisezentrum at Hamburg Hbf by 10.05 to catch 10.26 train to Schwerin. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Group tickets will be purchased and costs shared. Do be punctual – it is school-holiday time and the train will probably be busy. Anyone arriving late should go straight to the platform.

The walk will be approx. 10 km. Please bring a picnic lunch, and the sun!

Note: due to the train drivers strikes, arrangements will be confirmed by Cicely on Friday, 11th by email and posted on this website, so if you are planning to come please let Cicely know – contact details on 'Wanderers' under 'Activities'

The latest Diocese in Jerusalem Newsletter provides further news of projects being undertaken by this brave community.

Rather less positive news is given in the Press Release sent out with the Newsletter revealing the fact that the Israeli authorities have revoked the right of Bishop Dawani and his family to reside in Jersusalem.

Please keep them in your thoughts.

Since our friends in Cologne are busy carnivalling, this can only mean one thing – Lent will soon be upon us.

This year's Bishops' Lent appeal focuses on prayers and fund raising efforts for Uganda to raise awareness and money for three projects in the Ugandan Diocese of Luweero, on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, which has firm links with the Diocese in Europe.

For other ideas on how to tackle Lent visit the
CoE website on Lent.

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For those of us living in the security of Northern Europe, the turbulence in North Africa may seem far away. But the conflict involves real people, many of whom are now fleeing their country to neighbouring regions.

Many from Libya have fled to nearby Malta, where the people are having to cope with a huge influx of refugees.

Bishop Geoffrey has sent out a letter requesting prayers for the victims and for those involved in having to deal with the humanitarian crisis. Let them be assured of our prayers.

A new Pause for Thought has been added – reflections from Locum Chaplain Tony Rutherford's last weekend with us on the subject of Working Together.

A reminder that the deadline for the next edition of Becket News is 16th March.

Also to note is the AGM to be held 3rd April.

A Lent course 'A Rich Inheritance' is planned. Please let a Churchwarden (see About US – Contact page) know if you are interested in joining (in order to order the right number of texts).

On Sunday we bid farewell to Tony Rutherford who has been the locum Chaplain since 15th January, and on Sunday we welcome our next locum David Ratcliff.

Tony Rutherford's ministry has been much appreciated. Even in just a few weeks he has managed to get to know many people in the congregation and City. He has instigated the habit of a group post-eucharist Sunday lunch, which may well continue!

David Ratcliff, who arrives this week joined by his wife Gillian, is no stranger to St Thomas Becket, having been our Archdeacon until his retirement to Kent.
We look forward to welcoming them both to Hamburg. David Ratcliff will be serving as locum Chaplain until 14th March.

Hot news from the Eurobishop Blog, the announcement of the launch of a new website for the Mothers’ Union in the diocese. It is intended both to raise the awareness of the work and witness of the Mothers’ Union worldwide and to reflect the development of the MU within our own diocese.
Click here
to access the website.

A Secondhand Clothes Sale is being held on Saturday 26th February from 9.00 am – 1.00 pm in the Mariä- Himmelfahrt Church, Hamburg-Rahlstedt, Oldenfelder Str. 23 (Train station Hamburg Rahlstedt and follow signs to church).

Good Secondhand Clothes will be sold for 1-2 Euros per piece with the proceeds going to one of Pater Hillen's mission projects in South Africa.

Good place to pick up a bargain and support a worthy cause.