Archdeacon Jonathan to leave Diocese

The Venerable Jonathan LLoyd, Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe, will be leaving Copenhagen in February to take up a post in Kent in the Canterbury Diocese.

He said his decision to move was prompted by the growth and dynamism of St Alban’s in Copenhagen, “where they need a full-time priest if the church is to grow further in God’s mission”, and that the demands of serving as a priest in a busy church and as an Archdeacon were not sustainable. There was little prospect of immediate relief after the Church Commissioners chose not to help fund a scheme for full-time Archdeacons in the Diocese in Europe.

Read the full story on European Anglican.

Let them eat cake…

…and sing carols!
The Mothers' Union cordially invites you to Carols & Cake – a sing-along of favourite Christmas carols and songs at STB on Friday 6 December at 6pm. Drinks, cake and other sweets will be provided. Admission is by voluntary donation in aid of church funds. You can find the flyer here.

Pause for Thought updated

It's that time of year when acorns are underfoot in all the parks and woods around Hamburg. Acorns are the starting point, too, for a new Pause for Thought on spreading the Gospel. Click on “Pause for Thought” on the left of the page or follow this link.

No S-Bahn this Sunday

There will be no S-Bahn service to Stadthausbrücke and Landungsbrücken this Sunday, 1 December because of engineering works on the City-Tunnel. Trains between Hauptbahnhof and Altona will run via Dammtor. There will be a replacement bus service between Baumwall and Altona. If you usually use the S-Bahn to get to church, allow plenty of extra time. The HVV website has details.

Elvis spotted at STB!

Wax your quiffs, dust off your winklepickers and get ready to rock. “Elvis” and guest Arco Iris will be singing Christmas songs and others at St Thomas Becket on Sunday 1 December from 6 pm (doors open at 5.30 pm). Entry is by donation and 20 per cent of takings will be given to the Philippines Typhoon Appeal.

Thanks for a great bazaar

A big thank you to everyone who helped make yesterday's bazaar a big success, especially to all those from outside the regular congregation who put in so much work every year. And thanks, of course, to everyone who came and bought what was on offer. Apart from raising much-needed money, the bazaar is always an opportunity to meet old friends and welcome new visitors.

The prize list for the raffle can be found here.

Friends of Britain are our friends too

“Friends of Britain e.V.” has donated €2,500 to STB. Fr Matthew accepted the cheque on behalf of the church at a reception at the Anglo-German Club on 11 November. Thank you FoB!

Donations totalling €17,000 were made to Hamburg charities, with €10,000 going to Kinderhaus Mignon (Benita Quadflieg Stiftung) which provides family-based residential care for children and young people. Friends of Britain's main fundraising event is British Flair, held in August. Proceeds from a charity screening of a film of the Queen's coronation, for which STB was the venue, also went into the charity pot.