Dear all,
in lieu of our regular Sunday service our locum priest, Father Pete, has prepared a recording of today’s Gospel and his sermon for you to listen to online.
The video is embedded below and can also be found here.
News
Want to talk to someone? Please reach out to us!
If you are feeling anxious or are in isolation and need to talk to someone, please get in touch with the locum chaplain Fr Pete Wright or if you prefer to speak German, either of the churchwardens Susanne Hergoss or Madeleine Resühr. They are supported by a team of volunteers who are available for a chat.
All three are available by email through chaplain (at) anglican-church-hamburg.de and Father Pete can be reached at the chaplain’s flat by phone at 040 4392334.
Please find further phone numbers on our contact page:
COVID-19 Coronavirus Information in English
Dear All,
Public health information from Hamburg’s health ministry in English can be found on
https://www.hamburg.com/residents/settle/health/13702364/coronavirus/
Unfortunately the daily press release updates are only available in German.
There is a telephone hotline set up with the following number: 428 284 000.
If you suspect you have been infected with COVID-19, call 116 117.
As Bishop David Hamid did in his blog, we would also like to share this prayer with you that the Jesuits in the US have circled:
Jesus Christ, you travelled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.
Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbours from helping one another.
Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.
Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.
Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.
Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.
Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.
Jesus Christ, heal us.
IMPORTANT: Services cancelled until further notice
Dear All,
following the decision of the Nordkirche and the Erzbistum Hamburg we (churchwardens Dr. Madeleine Resühr and Susanne Hergoss) decided to follow this decision. So there will be no services or any other programmes in our church for the time to come. If there will be a decision later on to open the church again, we will let you know as soon as possible. We are very sorry for this sad news, but there is no other way to keep us safe.
Dr. Madeleine Resühr and Susanne Hergoss
Churchwardens
Englisch Bischöfliche Gemeinde St. Thomas à Becket
Church of England
Zeughausmarkt 22
20459 Hamburg
A big Thank You to the community
Thank you to all of you who so generously donated to the funeral appeal for Sammy Quaye, Uncle Sammy. We raised a substantial amount, more than we thought possible, which will be a big help to Sammy Junior and the family and meant that Sammy could be given the funeral and the farewell he deserved.
The response to the appeal, from members of the present congregation, former members and friends of the church, was really heart-warming and a wonderful example of the solidarity and community spirit which marks our church. And it emphasises the fact that everybody who knew Sammy held him in high esteem.
In fact, the funeral director told us that he was extremely impressed and moved by how the church community had rallied round to help in a time of need. He said he had never come across anything like it before in any other church. We can be proud of our close and inclusive community.
Sammy Jr and his family are overwhelmed and deeply appreciate your generous help.
New Becket News out now
A new edition of our parish magazine, Becket News, has finally been published. Read online or download here, or pick up a hard copy in church.
Father Leslie licensed as Archdeacon of the East, Germany and Northern Europe
On 17 th October our chaplain, Canon Dr. Leslie Nathaniel, was licensed as Archdeacon of the East, Germany and Northern Europe by the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, The Rt Revd Dr Robert Innes.
The ceremony was held in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Brussels during the concluding Eucharist to the annual Bishop’s Council for which members from around the Diocese had gathered.
Father Leslie takes up his new responsibilities with immediate effect.
There will be an opportunity to bid him farewell on Sunday, November 17. He will be the celebrant and preacher at this Eucharist at 10.30 in our English Church, St Thomas à Becket. We hope many friends will be able to be present.
We will miss Father Leslie, but pray for God’s rich blessings on this challenging ministry.
Letter to the community of St. Thomas à Becket – from Father Leslie
Dear Sisters and Brothers
Never have I left a position with more sadness than leaving St.
Thomas à Becket. Julie, my wife, feels the same way.
I went through much soul-searching before deciding to apply for the role of Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe as well as the East. I have done so at the encouragement from persons I respect, and because I felt called to offer my particular international and ecumenical experiences of working for the church to the wider Diocese in Europe. Things happened very quickly between the advertisement of the post and the interviews, the outcome of which was anything but a foregone conclusion. I received the formal confirmation on 2nd September and on 12th the Diocese announced it on its website.
This offers me the opportunity to say how much our community has come to mean to me. As your chaplain I regard you as my extended family with all the joys and sorrows, the ups and downs, the celebrations and the struggles that close and committed relationships involve. Through my ministry here in this great city of Hamburg, and our very special church community, I have learned a good deal more which, no doubt, will inform my future ministry as archdeacon. In this role I look forward to keeping in touch.
Let us take forward the work and witness of our Englische Kirche in Hamburg during the remaining weeks before my departure. I am assured that there are so many of you who will be continuing your engagement in this spirit after I leave as your chaplain. May the next incumbent experience the same excitement and challenge in taking up his or her role among you as I did.
You remain in our prayers. God bless you all.
Leslie Nathaniel
New Archdeacon of the East, Germany and Northern Europe
Post will be based near Stuttgart.
Our Chaplain, Revd Canon Dr Leslie Nathaniel, has been invited to take up the post of Archdeacon of the East, Germany and Northern Europe, which means that he will be leaving St Thomas à Becket this autumn. Father Leslie is a man of many talents, with the knowledge and competence the Archdeacon must have. He speaks several languages and has wide experience in ecumenical matters, developing close relations with the Nordic churches, the Old Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church while serving as the International Ecumenical Secretary at Lambeth Palace and European Secretary at Church House, London. He knows the German context particularly well as he is a member of the Council of Anglican and Episcopal Churches in Germany.
Thus, although we are very sad to be losing him as Chaplain, we welcome him as Archdeacon and know that we will be able to turn to him for help and advice in the future. Fr Leslie has stressed that he has been greatly enriched by our vibrant congregation and the wide ecumenical relationships that we enjoy in Hamburg. So let us congratulate him, wish him all the very best in his new role and continue in the spirit of outreach, inclusion, growth, stability and joy which has marked his time with us.
Wearing his Archdeacon’s hat, Fr Leslie will be with us for the bazaar on 16th November and his farewell service will be on Sunday, November, 17th.
An article by the Diocese in Europe on the appointment can be found here.
Don’t miss our wonderful concert!
Tickets are still available for our fundraising concert ‘Magic and Myths’ in the church on Wednesday, 18 September at 19:00.
The concert features the Austrian-born soprano Christina Gansch and bass baritone Martin Hässler, both accompanied by Sholto Kynoch, pianist and director of the now world-renowned Oxford Lieder Festival which he established.
‘Magic and Myths’ celebrates the ‘glittering ballads and expressive songs’ of Carl Loewe, as 2019 marks the 150th anniversary of Loewe’s death. Though perhaps not a household name today, Carl Loewe was in his day a prolific and brilliant song composer with an astonishing gift for storytelling and for composing profound and beautiful lyric songs. He deserves to be better known. The artists will also be performing songs by Robert and Clara Schumann and Franz Schubert.
Tickets for the concert cost €50, which includes post-performance refreshments, and can be ordered by email to konzert@anglican-church-hamburg.de.