Please join us on YouTube again, for this second Sunday of Easter:
Category: Congregation
Messages and updates for the congregation
Junior Church: What happened after the resurrection
In this week’s Junior Church episode Miriam and Billy talk about Jesus’ disciples and how they reacted to his resurrection.
#stayconnected: Pray with your hands with Pastorin Anne Smets
“Opening my ears / I listen with my heat / waiting for God”
You know by now that the choir is meeting Saturdays 7pm on Zoom to say Evening Prayer (everyone’s welcome!). We figured in the first sessions that it’s rather difficult to sing together. So I asked Pastorin Anne Smets, who is a good friend of the choir and also a member of the Anglican Consort, to teach us a “Gebärdengebet”, a prayer with your hands. We have been starting our evening prayers with this simple prayer ever since. And at the Dawn Service on Easter Sunday morning we had it after the readings of the vigil instead of the responsorial psalms. Maybe it can also become a simple prayer for you when you wake up or in the moments before you’re about to call loved ones?—Yotin Tiewtrakul, Choirmaster
#stayconnected: An Easter poem by John William Holway
John William Holway reached out to us to share a poem he wrote:
EASTER 2017
Come shout all you people, of every nation and creed.
For HE is risen, HE is risen indeed!
The tomb is empty the stone was rolled away.
This is the miracle of Easter Day.
Our Saviour came for us to save.
HE has conquered death and defeated the grave.
And BY his death He has made us new.
With God there is nothing that you cannot do.For when we die to our selves and give our lives to HIM.
A brand new life we can begin.
HE will guide us and keep us every step of the day.
We need just to stop, to ask HIM and pray.Our Father in Heaven has INDEED set us free,
this is the miracle of Easter you see.GOD says Heed my words, store them in your heart.
Come back to me and make a new start.
Stand up from your misery. Die to sin.
A whole new life with ME begin.
Let me open your eyes, you’ve dwelled too long in the dark.
Feel the JOY of MY presence, a bright divine spark.At the end of the tunnel. There is indeed a bright light.
At the end of darkness I will overcome the night.
Let me fill your body, Let me restore your soul.
The power of my love will make you WHOLE.Are you tired and weary? Come away with me.
Together we will change your history.
The blood of my Son wipes away your loss.
That’s why He came and died on the cross.The door is open. Come back to me.
That is the mystery of Easter you see.Once you were lost, down and forlorn,
but now you’ve come home. You have been reborn.
My child I love you. I am so proud of you.
I am always with you, whatever you do.Just a prayer away, call often my name.
When you walk with me you are never the same.Walk in the Spirit. Walk in my Love.
I am God. I am here. Not far above.
Every day is brand new. Each day with me you can start.
Let me into your life. Let me fill your heart.Come shout all you people of every creed.
Friends HE is risen, HE is risen indeed.Amen
Junior Church: Easter
This week Miriam and her friend Billy talk about Easter in our Virtual Junior Church – enjoy! 🙂
Happy Easter from the Anglican Church of St Thomas à Becket
The wardens, Church Council and Mabel Wulff* wish you a very happy Easter!
*Mabel Wulff was caretaker of the church from 1924 -1964. The church was closed during WWII, but Mabel stayed at her post, saving the church from certain destruction by putting out the fires caused by incendiary bombs. She provided shelter for the homeless and hid the altar painting, thus preserving it for posterity. Her spirit lives on!
This Easter card was created for us by Birgit Kiupel.
Please visit the Church online section of this website for info on virtual services during Holy Week and beyond.
Easter Day – Virtual Service
Please join us this in celebrating this Easter Day with the help of our virtual service, again put together by Father Pete and made possible with the support of his wife Penny and many contributors from the congregation – enjoy and Happy Easter, everyone! 🙂
#stayconnected: A message from Judith, a long standing member of our parish
We received a message last week when we asked how everyone is staying in touch with others. Judith writes:
Telephoning and being able to hear people’s voices feels so very important now. I’m phoning family and friends far and wide, as I expect most of us are doing. Am in touch with the “card-making” team and other church friends, and nearly every day with R. – she had her 100th last week and had a letter from the Bundespresident. I’ve also been able to speak to J. several times and yesterday with H. too.
We were asked about suggestions for staying connected, also spiritually – one of my far away calls last Saturday was to N., an American friend in New Jersey on her birthday. P. may remember her and her husband F. – they were very regular members of the St Thomas Becket congregation before they went back to the States in 1987. I mentioned to her that I hadn’t been able to find an actual Diocesan service – though I’d heard and seen Bishop Robert’s video message. Anyway she guided me to the Canterbury Cathedral website, with morning and evening prayers via YouTube mostly said by the Dean of Canterbury in his garden. We all have different needs but this very much resonates with me – and there’s the cathedral in the background with spring blossom, magnolia, birds singing and so far blue skies. I also sometimes listen to the BBC Radio 4 Sunday morning service – ca. 10.15 German time – or on catchup I-Player – and last Sunday the sermon was about Oscar Romero, (24th March being the anniversary of his death} and connecting his life and martyrdom with St. Thomas a Becket and his 850th anniversary this year, with services and events planned in Canterbury Cathedral. And my other recommendation is BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day for about 3 minutes either on Catchup, or live sometime between 8.45 and 8.50 German time
With love and very best wishes to you all, and keep safe and well,
Judith
Good Friday – Virtual Service
Father Pete invites you to again come together as a community online and attend his virtual service for Good Friday:
Maundy Thursday – Virtual Service
A Message from Father Pete.
Unfortunately, we can’t meet together in the church today. Please use this Youtube link to join us at 07:00 pm today (9 April, 2020). YOU CAN USE THE LINK AT ANY TIME, but knowing that all the Christians at St.Thomas’ are worshipping at the same time adds a powerful dynamic to the notion of “community.”
As you recall, it is on this day that we commemorate Jesus washing the feet of his apostles It was also the day he left us Holy Communion, that special encounter with the Divine. Therefore, I would like to suggest a way to make the Maundy Thursday online liturgy more alive and “hands on,” especially if you have children. Involving children’s senses helps them to more easily understand, feel, and retain what is being taught. And guess what: sensory is also good for adults!
Here’s what to do!
FOR THE WASHING OF THE FEET
1) Before Thursday, get a large bowl big enough into which your foot will fit.
2) Get a pitcher into which you will put some warm water prior to the service.
3) Get a towel.
4) Designate someone in your household who will WASH feet, and someone whose feet will BE washed. Or you can wash each other’s feet!
FOR THE LAST SUPPER REMEMBRANCE
1) Get a piece of bread and place it on a dish.
2) Get a cup or glass for each person who will be present.
3) Get some wine or grape juice (in a pinch, any juice will do)
Since we cannot share in the Eucharist (Holy Communion) that day, we will instead have an “agape” meal, where I will explain what happened at the Last Supper. The elements you will have before you and that you will eat and drink will be a reminder of fellowship and happiness that comes from knowing, loving and serving Jesus.
Fr. Pete Wright, Chaplain