If you want to avoid turning up an hour early to church tomorrow and maybe finding yourself with an unexpected job to do, you shouldn’t forget to put your clocks back by one hour tonight (at 3 am on 25 October to be precise). On the other hand, this could be your chance to sing all the verses of the opening hymn.
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Anglicans push for action on climate change
As representatives from almost 200 countries conclude their final round of negotiations in Bonn, Germany, this week, ahead of December’s UN-led international conference on climate change in Paris, a number of leading Anglicans and Episcopalians have put their name to a statement calling for an ambitious climate agreement. For full story see the ACNS website.
Advent Study Group
Clifford Poole has kindly offered to run an Advent Study Group over the coming weeks. The Study Group will meet in the Chaplain’s Flat on Tuesday evenings over the period 1930-2100 hrs. The first meeting will be on 3 Nov and the final meeting will be on 15 Dec. If you wish to attend the Study Group, then please make contact with Clifford and let him know that you wish to take part.
New Diocesan Synod elected
In elections to the new Diocese in Europe Synod, which begins its term next year, half the House of Clergy are new to the Synod and 14 of the 20 lay members have already served on Synod. Read the full story on the Diocese in Europe website.
Could you help at our bazaar?
Our annual bazaar will be held on Saturday, 21 November 2015, from 10.30 am to 4 pm. Helpers are still needed for various jobs and stalls. If you think you might be able to spare a couple of hours, please contact Daniel Loarte or Norbert Schoen (see the back page of Becket News for contact details).
Raffle tickets are also available for just €2 each. If you would like a book of 50 tickets to sell, please let Norbert know. There will be an extra prize for the person who sells the most tickets.
The bazaar is the event that raises the most income to help keep our church running, so please give it all the support you can.
We’ve updated our website
Seven years since the Anglican Church of St Thomas Becket first went online, we’ve redesigned our website. You should find it better to use on smart phones and tablets. You can now comment on posts and you should find it easier to switch to our Facebook page (button at top right). Please let us know what you think. If you’re missing things you liked on our old page, tell us. We haven’t thrown anything away! We’re very grateful to John Heaven of Heaven & Weps who has kindly taken care of the design and development of this site.
Reconciliation in our DNA
Reconciliation seems to be in the DNA of Anglicanism, says the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. “Despite our own differences, we seem to find ourselves doing this stuff.” Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington on 13 October, the Archbishop said a majority of Anglican provinces were facing persecution or were in actual conflict or post-conflict. He also said that the mainstreams of all faiths must “challenge and subvert” radicalisation and religiously-motived violence within their traditions. Read more on this story and watch a video of the interview with Justin Welby on the ACNS website.
Huge trees and river views
The Wanderers' October walk is on Saturday 10th – yes, this coming Saturday! This is the walk from Tesperhude to Lauenburg which we enjoyed in spring two years back. It’s a lovely walk whatever the season, about 9 km on good paths with huge trees, river views and even little beaches closer to Lauenburg. So do put on your walking shoes, grab a couple of sandwiches for a picnic lunch and join in. Because of weekend work on the S21 railway line, travel will have to be by bus, leaving ZOB on the number 31 bus at 08:51. Please let Nicki Schiller know by Friday evening if you plan to come. She can give you further travel details (Landline 04104 695537; mobile 0176 30393063 or Nicki.Schiller (at) gmx.de.).
New edition of Becket News
Issue 64 of Becket News, our parish magazine, is out. It's packed with interesting articles and news from the chaplaincy, so why not pick up your copy in church or read it online here?
Blessing of pets postponed
Next Sunday, 4 October is our harvest festival. Please come and join us giving thanks for the fruits of the earth. It's been decided to postpone the blessing of pets that was planned for the same date.