Author: Jo Dawes

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated worldwide from 18-25 January, is being hosted this year by the Council of Christian Churches in Germany (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschland / ACK). As 2017 marks the commemoration of the Reformation, the week of prayer will reflect on the legacy of the Reformation and the current spirit of reconciliation in Christ. You can find more information and material here in English or German.

To mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and John Sentamu, have issued a joint reflection on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In it they call on Christians to repoent of the divisions between the churches and to remember what “the Reformers wanted to put at the centre of every person’s life, which is a simple trust in Jesus Christ”. You can read their statement in full on the ACNS website

The Weltmusik-Chor Hamburg will be giving a concert in our church on 22 January at 5 pm. They are offering a workshop beforehand, from 2 pm to 4 pm. Workshop participants get to join in two of the songs in the concert. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. There will be a potluck buffet afterwards – please bring something. For more information, see the choir website.

Make sure you don’t miss our Carol Service this Saturday or our other services during Advent and Christmas – download our Christmas flier here.

Our choir was in Sülfeld last Sunday to sing and celebrate together with Pastor Steffen Paar “Nine Lessons and Carols” – with hymns and carols in English and in German. It was a warm welcome by the parishioners who joyfully joined in singing. Jochim Trede, our organist, offered accompaniments to German Advent hymns which showed more an English taste for rich harmonies.

We are looking forward to singing and praying and celebrating together with everyone in Hamburg for the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols this Saturday 10 December 2016 at 6pm.

Our new Chaplain, Revd Canon Dr Leslie Nathaniel, has been formally welcomed at the Pro-Cathedral of Holy Trinity Brussels and installed as Canon in the stall of St Henry of Finland. The full story and a photograph can be found on the Diocese in Europe website.

Church Wanderers will be walking in the Sachsenwald on Saturday, 3 December, finishing with a visit to the Christmas Market in Bergedorf. We meet at 12:36 at the S-Bahn Station Aumühle for a circular walk. You can leave the walk at several stages along the way if you have other commitments. For further information and to register for the walk, please contact Nicki Schiller by Thursday, 1 December: 0176 30 393 063, nicki.schiller(at)gmx.de.

The Diocese in Europe has been talking to Christians from around the diocese about their work within and outside the church. Here Dr Petra Osinski from St Thomas Becket speaks about her work with refugees in Hamburg.

Singer-songwriter Judy Bailey will be singing at St Thomas Becket during our 10.30 Eucharist on Sunday, 6 November. Born in London and raised on Barbados, Judy now lives in Germany, where she has attracted a big following with her appearances at the Evangelischer Kirchentag. Judy describes herself as a a world musician and citizen. Her musical journey has led her to ten solo albums, collaborations with musicians from Graham Kendrick to Eddy Grant, into the charts, and onto the official 2010 FIFA World Cup album.

The Church Wanderers will be walking round the Außenalster on Saturday 12 November. We will meet at 11 a.m. in Dammtor station, at street level on the university side. Please let Nicki Schiller know by Thursday 10 November if you plan to come: 0176 30 393 063, nicki.schiller(at)gmx.de.