News

Friday, 10th December the Young Adults invite other members of the congregation to join them in visiting the Christmas Markets!

Meet outside the Rathaus at 18:15.
Please contact Sally (see Young Adults page) if you intend to come.

A chance for a wander in the Weihnachtsmarkt in Stade!

The plan is to take the train to Stade depart HH Hbf at 10:07 arrive Stade 10:55, to then spend time wandering round the Weihnachtsmarkt and then have lunch in the Ratskeller.

Our Advent lunch is always fun, so do come along, but let Cicely know by Tuesday, 7th December so that she can reserve a table.

This year's Bishop's Advent Appeal is to raise funds for two projects, one within the diocese, and one outside.

Inside the Diocese, the appeal is for funds to support the training of younger members of the The White Nile congregations in Oulu, Vaasa and Kokkola in Finland. The White Nile congregations are made up of refugees from the Sudan who have been given asylum in Finland under the auspices of the UN. The aim is to educate the younger generation so that when the time comes they can help rebuild their country.

Outside the Diocese, the appeal is for funds to help rebuild a school in Haiti which suffered that terrible earthquake at the beginning of this year.

For more information please visit Bishop David's blog.

The text of the sermon preached by the Revd Martin Evans, Chaplain of HMS Ark Royal, is available here

It is given in a shorter form as a Pause for Thought for Advent.

The Advent Course continues 2nd December 19:00 in church.

Do visit the LCF stall at the Victorian Christmas Market being held in the Baseler Hof Säle, Esplanade 27th and 28th November.

HMS Ark Royal is paying a last visit to Hamburg before being decommissioned. The Chaplain and members of the ship's company will be joining us for the Advent Sunday Service. The Chaplain, the Revd Martin Evans will preach the sermon and the Revd Simon Holmes will lead the intercessions.

We look forward to welcoming them all

Advent is a time for reflection and it is good to do so before Christmas kicks in! A course of study is being offered by the Chaplain on four Thursdays in Advent, commencing 25th November 7.00 p.m. in Church with a shorter Monthly Eucharist. No need to make all the sessions.

Saturday, 20th November at 16:30 (immediately after the Bazaar), the ACK in Hamburg invites you to a Service of Remembrance at the Klein Michael/St Angsar.

Click here for the Archbishop of Canterbury's message to Christians in Iraq.

In his sermon for Remembrance Sunday, the Chaplain read some war poems including some written by soldiers and civilians about the war in Afghanistan. Here is a link to a website dedicated to War Poetry, including poems about the current conflict in Afghanistan.

Helmand

Night on the cold plain,

invisible sands lift,

peripheral shadows stir,

space between light and dark

shrouding secrets;

old trades draped grey.

Here too poppies fall,

petals blown on broken ground,

seeds scattered on stone

and this bright bloom,

newly cropped,

leaves pale remains,

fresh lines cut;

the old sickle wind

sharp as yesterday.

John Hawkhead
2009

As churches around Europe prepare to mark the season of Remembrance, culminating in many special services on Sunday 14th November, the Diocese in Europe website has posted an interview with an army chaplain about his pastoral work and mission on duty in Afghanistan.

Padre William Lister speaks about working with service personnel under fire, ministering to the dying and giving comfort and guidance to people making tough decisions under pressure.

He asks for prayers for himself and fellow chaplains working “on the front line”.

The interview with the Diocese Communications Officer, Paul Needle, can be heard
here.