Category Archives: Ecumenical activities

Contacts with other churches

Annual Church Meeting: a Summary

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The Annual Church Meeting was held on Sunday 15 April 2018.   Here is a summary of the discussions and decisions which took place :
  1. Fr Mark, who was installed as St. Alban’s Priest-in-Charge on 10 December 2017, outlined his five priorities for ministry in the coming year – strengthening of the newly-formed Ministry Team, children and youth, stewardship, ecumenical activities and strengthening communications;
  2. In respect of ecumenical activities, Catherine Emezie presented a report on a meeting in Lyon (2-4 March 2018) between the Eglise Protestante Unie de France and the Church of England congregations in France. The gathering, attended by herself and Rev Christine Bloomfield, took place in view of deepening relationships between the two bodies within the framework of the Reuilly Agreement. To read the report, click here ->  Lyon Reuilly Agreement
  3. With regard to communications, it was agreed that there needs to be a better flow of information on the activities of the Chaplaincy. This includes actions and decisions taken by the Chaplaincy Council (publication of the agenda in advance and invitation to Chaplaincy members to propose topics for discussion). Reports would be published in summary form on the website and/or in Sunday morning notices. Efforts would also be made to communicate via email lists, while respecting data protection guidelines.
  4. Both the accounts for 2017 and the budget for 2018 were presented by Treasurer Rufus Folaranmi and Co-Treasurer David Cowley. The accounts had been examined and declared satisfactory by Independent Examiner Lionel Hilaire;. With the appointment of a priest-in-charge, expenditures in 2018 would be considerably higher than in recent years, as will contributions to the Diocese. A stewardship campaign would be initiated shortly to ensure that sufficient income is raised to cover recurrent expenses.
  5. The meeting took note of the reports about the activities of St. Alban’s – these reports are available through the Church office.
  6. The two church wardens, Pauline Dif and Denis Le Moullac,  were re-elected and a new Chaplaincy Council elected (see page “About us” );
  7. We concluded with a prayer for our way forward in the coming months.
Lord God, you call your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden; give us faith to go out with a good courage, not knowing whither we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; to the glory of your name. Amen.

 

 

En chemin vers la communion : à la découverte de l’anglicanisme

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A study weekend at the Abbaye Notre Dame des Dombes, 01330 Le Plantay, from 9 to 11 March 2018, with a number of illustrious speakers, including Ephraim Radner and  Annette Brownlee, Episcopalian theologians  and professors at  Wycliffe College in Toronto, who recently spent a sabbatical year at the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, and joined St. Alban’s in worship.

For more details: https://www.france-catholique.fr/En-chemin-vers-la-communion-a-la-decouverte-de-l-anglicanisme.html

Autour de la Table – Around the Table

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Un temps de rencontre et de partage entre nos paroisses de voisinage
Dernier Appel!! Des groupes se forment avec la participation des différentes paroisses pour se retrouver autour d’une table (apéro, déjeuner, goûter …) afin de faire connaissance et d’avoir une occasion de partager la façon dont chacun(e) vit sa foi dans sa tradition d’église.  Ça vous intéresse? Contactez Mark pour plus d’information.  Groups are presently being formed, drawn from different neighbourhood churches, that would meet from time to time for a drink, a meal etc. to get to know one another and to share how we each live out our faith in our various church traditions.  Interested?  Contact Mark for more details.
Flyer: Autour de la Table0001

 

2 March: World Day of Prayer : Journée Mondiale de Prière

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The  World Day of Prayer is over one hundred years old and is celebrated in almost all the countries of the world.  This year it has been prepared by women from Surinam, and their motto is: “Voilà, cela était très bon!”.
On Friday 2 March at 15h an ecumenical service will take place at the Église méthodiste SION, Place Benjamin Zix in La Petite France (Bus n° 10, Arrêt St Thomas-Finkwiller, Tram A ou D, Arrêt Grand’rue).   This service in Strasbourg has been prepared by women from Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran and Reformed churches and from the Salvation Army.
All women and men are welcome to attend the service and stay on afterwards for a “verre d’amitié” to meet fellow-Christians from other churches.
For more information: WDP 20180001

 

La Justice Est-Elle Possible?

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Trois soirées de conférence de d’échange en collaboration avec d’autres églises du voisinage: les paroisses catholique de l’Esplanade, de St-Maurice et St-Bernard et la paroisse protestante de St-Matthieu.
Jeudi 15 février: Dieu est-il juste ? La justice selon la Bible. 
Jeudi 22 février: Juger selon la justice ?
Jeudi 22 mars: Juger, restaurer, guérir: la justice restaurative.
Plus d’information: La Justice 2.180001

18 – 25 January 2018 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed annually, beginning on 18 January (Confession of St Peter) and concluding on 25 January (Conversion of St Paul). For this year churches in the Caribbean have prepared resources on the theme: “Your Right Hand, O Lord, Glorious in Power,” taken from Exodus 15:6.

On Sunday 21 January at 10h30, we will join in an ecumenical service with other neighbourhood churches at St Maurice,

41 avenue de la Forêt Noire (just on the other side of the Observatory).

THAT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE THAT DAY FOR THE ST. ALBAN’S CONGREGATION AT THE DOMINICAN CHURCH !

More pictures of a joyful occasion

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With the institution of St. Alban’s new Priest-in-Charge, the Revd. Dr. Mark Barwick, on 10 December, the Anglican church in Strasbourg was able to welcome the Bishop of Europe in Gibraltar, the Rt. Rev. Dr.Robert Innes and a whole clutch of Strasbourg clergy to celebrate the occasion with the congregation.  Here are more pictures of a memorable service taken by Maryline William-Smith.

Left: Philippe Aviron-Violet, curé of St Maurice and St Bernard, Bishop Venuste Mutiganda, John Murray and Mark Barwick. Right: Fr. Hervé of the Dominicans.  Bishop Robert at the lecturn.

The churchwardens, Pauline Dif & Denis Le Moullac, present St. Alban’s choice of Mark Barwick as pastor and priest.

Representatives of St. Alban’s – here Catheine Emezie and Richard Razafindratsima – present Mark with symbols of his ministry.

The Bishop and Archdeacon Meurig Williams give communion, with chalice-bearers Victoria Jacobs and Rufus Folaranmi.

Reader-in-Training Ozichi Baron leading the singing and drumming of the final hymn: “We are marching …”

Commemoration photo with visitors from Roman Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical churches in Strasbourg, churchwardens and St. Albans ministry team.

Good food for bishops and church veterans alike

 

 

 

A Day of Celebration: Institution of St. Alban’s new Priest-in-Charge.

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Flanked by an impressive array of robed clergy from near and far, on Sunday 10 December the Revd. Mark Barwick was formally licensed as Priest-in-Charge of St. Alban’s Strasbourg by the Rt. Revd. Robert Innes, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, to give him his full title.  It was Bishop Robert’s first visit to the Strasbourg church and the occasion could not have been more joyful.  After a long vacancy of 4 years St. Alban’s at last has a new Priest-in-Charge.  The Revd. Mark Barwick, his wife Corinna and their two children Madeleine and Elias, moved to Strasbourg  from Brussels in September and have been warmly welcomed by the congregation.  With the official institution Mark is now officially “en poste” for at least the next three years.

As the Bishop pointed out, in many ways Mark’s previous career has almost predestined him for the post of Priest in Strasbourg. He was ordained into the Episcopal Church and previously  was  assistant priest  in Waterloo, Belgium. He speaks French and German, has worked with political institutions in Brussels and for many years was involved  in conflict resolution with the Pax Christi organisation. During the instititution he was asked to affirm his loyalty to the Church of England and presented with a licence bearing an impressive red seal.

    Bishop Robert, right, reading out the licence, to Mark Barwick, right, and Archdeacon Meurig Williams, centre.

Among the visiting clergy were Jean-Georges Boeglin, Ecumenical officer of the Diocese of Strasbourg , Frère Hervé, Prior of our hosts the Dominicans, Philippe Aviron-Violet, curé of St Maurice and St Bernard,  two representatives of the President and Vice-President of the Union des Eglises Protestantes d’Alsace et de Lorraine, Pastor Daniel Rivaud, representing the Entente Evangélique de Strasbourg and David Fieldsend, Reader from the Pro-Cathedral in Brussels. Mary Talbot from All Saints’ Geneva represented our former Priest-in-Charge,  Alex  Gordon, and his wife Geraldine.  Their presence was an indication of the importance Mark  attaches to tending the ecumenical relations already established by previous priests at St. Alban’s.  The congregation turned out in force;  the Malgache Chorale sang a Gloria, and the last hymn, “We are marching”, was accompanied by an enthusiastic  group of  drummers and singers.

  The Malgache Chorale, led by Worship Leader Voahangy Ramananjatovo

In true and traditional Strasbourg fashion the institution was followed by one of St. Alban’s unforgettable feasts – conjured up by Victoria Jacobs, Anny Samuels and their helpers. It was a wonderful day with plenty of nourishment for mind, body and soul.

The Feast (or at least part of it!) Frère Hervé of the Dominicans on the right of Mark Barwick as he says grace.

The Bishop of Europe was as enthusiastic as the congregation was: here is what he wrote in his blog.

https://wp.me/p7HaMA-cT

 

 

 

Women’s Bible Study Friday 8 December

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Catherine Emezie writes:

I am pleased to invite you to the next women’s bible study and end of year pot luck dinner on Friday 8 December. A big thank you to Murielle Richardson who is hosting us at their home –  16 rue St Louis, 1st floor. (Bus 10 ‘St Thomas’,  Tram ‘Porte de l’hôpital’ or ‘Grand’Rue’). Please bring along a main dish or dessert/drink.

We will begin with an amusing but not serious quiz (we all get to ask a question, I will supply them). We will then listen to a couple of personal testimonies and briefly reflect on some of the studies we’ve done in 2017.

It promises to be a fun and  relaxing evening so I hope to see as many women come along. Feel free to bring a friend along too.

Please save the future meeting dates (2018):

Friday 19 January at 18.45

Friday 16 February at 18.45

Saturday 24 March at 09.00 breakfast meeting.

 

Children Sleepover 29-30 April

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                      Aumônerie anglicane de Strasbourg
                                                                                           Anglican Chaplaincy Strasbourg
                                           Association à but cultuel inscrite au Registre des Associations
                                                                                   du Tribunal d’Instance de Strasbourg,
                                                                      Vol. LXXII, Folio N° 114, Dossier N° 229/1995

                                                                                   15 rue d’Austerlitz, 67000 Strasbourg
                                                                                                                       anglican.chaplaincy.strasbourg@gmail.com
                                                                                                                                                                      Tél. 06 24 33 16 16

 

On a beautiful December day, we went for a trip in the Vosges looking for a chalet site able to welcome our « Children Sleepover » 2017.  After a rather inconclusive first attempt, we finally discovered a chalet fulfilling all our expectations.

It is the « chalet des Amis de la Nature de la Chaume des Veaux » high above Hohwald. At 980 m above sea level, near the « Champ du Feu » ski resort, the house can be reached in all seasons via the Kreutzweg pass. The house offers 80 beds, split between 28 rooms of capacity for 2 up to 6.  There are two big dining rooms, one called Le Ranch seating 35, the other one can seat 70, and the kitchen is well equipped.

It is an ideal child friendly site:  they can play outside without any risk as there is no major road in the neighbourhood.  In case of rain, there are tables for games such as “baby foot” (table football)  and table tennis.

The ramblers will also be delighted as there are plenty of footpaths.  The view from the magnificent terrace and the quiet surroundings alone ma

To get there, please take the Strasbourg-Colmar motorway, take the exit Mittelbergheim-Andlau, drive through Andlau and Hohwald (in the direction of Champ du Feu) after the village, turn to the right at the panel indicating Chalet des Amis de la Nature.

We will be able to spend a weekend devoted to our children and friends, in God’s Grace. ke the trip worth while.

We have confirmed our booking for the weekend of 29th & 30th April.  Their rates enable us to offer even better tariffs than last year.

The weekend will cost 15 Euros per adult, 12 Euros per child up to 18 years of age, accommodation and food included.  We have set up a family offer for 40 Euros.  People joining us only for a day will contribute 5 Euros to the costs of meals and rental costs of the premises.

Please note that you will have to bring your sheets and pillow cases (or a sleeping bag). The detailed programme will be sent out later on.

Registration form

Surname:  ………………………………………………………………………….   first name:…………………………………………………………………………..

 

Number of people: ………………………………..

 

Will come for:                       –        the whole weekend (*)

(*) circle your choice           –       only on the Saturday

–       only on the Sunday.

Is planning to bring the following contribution to the meals (or drinks):

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………..………………………………………………………………………………………………

Is willing to help out on the following tasks: ……………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………..

(Example: preparing meals, washing up, cleaning the reception areas before departure, leisure activities, etc.)

 

Please do register as soon as possible with either Pauline Dif or Anny Samuels.

Chalet details: tel. 03 88 69 36 16 – email: resa@chaumedesveaux.org

website: www.chaumesdesveaux.org (for further information).

 

Chalet details: tel. 03 88 69 36 16 – email: resa@chaumedesveaux.org

website: www.chaumesdesveaux.org (for further information).

 

 

 

www.saintalbans.fr/2017/03/30/