Following their election at last month’s AGM, Anny Samuels and Grace Egesi were installed on 29 May as Churchwardens for the year 2022-2023. Félicitations !
Anny Samuels & Grace Egesi
New Churchwardens
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ACAS AGM Assemblée Générale 26 March
The Association Caritative Anglicane de Strasbourg (ACAS) exists in order that members of St. Alban’s may contribute to organisations that help people in need. This is so as to comply with French law which does not permit “associations cultuelles” (i.e. churches) to give any of their income away. All those who attend services at St. Alban’s are invited to come to the Annual General Meeting of ACAS this coming Saturday, 26 March, 15.00h at Café Rivier, 40, rue de l’Université, Strasbourg, and put forward any suggestions for causes which ACAS could support. ACAS usually contributes to CASAS and CIMADE, two organisations in Strasbourg which for many years have provided aid and advice for asylum-seekers and refugees. Through our Malgache members strong links have also been established with the Anglican church in Foulpointe which has repeatedly been ravaged by cyclones. All ideas are welcome ! Also welcome are ideas for fund-raising during the coming year, so that ACAS can continue to respond to calls for help.
Bishop’s Lent and Easter Appeal for Aid to Ukraine
This year the Diocese in Europe is asking for donations to a special appeal fund for the crisis in Ukraine. This fund will be managed by the USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), the Anglican mission agency that “partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice” (https://uspg.org.uk/ )
Bishop Robert writes: “There are now over a million refugees in Europe and thousands of internally displaced in Ukraine. They have left everything behind to escape the conflict. Christian Charities and our Churches need our help as they support these people in all aspects of their lives. … We are calling this a “Lent and Easter Appeal”. Partly that just reflects the timing. But more profoundly, we want to signal that our donations are a sign of hope. The Christian story ends not with crucifixion but with the hope of resurrection.” For more see https://europe.anglican.org/main/latest-news/post/1784-ukraine-appeal-to-churches ´
You can donate to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal through ACAS (Association Caritative Anglicane de Strasbourg). For account details go to “Activities” on this website and click on “Solidarity with people in need”. Cheques should be made out to ACAS and marked “ACAS 2022 Lent Appeal”.
Every Wednesday in Lent at 5pm (GMT), the Diocese in Europe is putting time aside to pray for peace in Ukraine. See https://uspg.org.uk/communications/news/prayers-for-ukraine-during-lent.php
How else can we help:
The following items can be brought to the mairies du quartier during regular opening hours. These will be transported to Ukraine and to neighbouring countries by the Protection Civile.
- Logistics: cots, sleeping bags, survival blankets, electrical equipment (spotlights, lights, extension cords, generators)
- Hygiene: body gels and soaps, toothpaste, toothbrushes, nappies and baby formula, non-expired medicines, razors, shaving foam, sanitary napkins
- First aid: single-use gloves, surgical masks, suture materials, medical gowns, elastic bandages, tourniquets, blood glucose meters, dressings, antiseptic solutions
Also…
If you can volunteer your time or you are able to host an individual or family fleeing from Ukraine, tell fr Mark or contact solidarite.ukraine@strasbourg.eu
World Day of Prayer at the Dominicans
World Day of Prayer is an international movement of Christian people in many different traditions who have a continuing relationship of prayer and service. People from various denominations gather in one another’s churches to celebrate, using a Worship Service prepared by women of a different country each year. This year’s service on 4 March was prepared by women from England, Wales and Northern Ireland and was held in Strasbourg in the Dominicans’ church. Grace Egesi from St. Alban’s helped prepare the service with its theme “Un avenir à espérer” based on Jeremiah 29, 11: “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” This theme resonated particularly in view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine a week earlier.
Confirmation with Bishop Richard Chartres
Sunday 27th February was a joyful occasion at St. Alban’s. We celebrated the confirmation of five young people and adults: Roman Demptos, Chinomso Egesi, Louise Koenig, Nkechi Onwuzurumba and Ahayana Pollonais. Bishop Richard Chartres, a former Bishop of London, conducted the service and conferred the sacrament of confirmation through the laying of hands. The families of the newly confirmed celebrated the occasion with a wonderful feast. Bishop Richard gave a talk afterwards on “Europe and the Church: a view from Westminster” (he has a seat in the House of Lords, and is responsible for ecumenical contacts with Orthodox churches), in which he described how the relationship between the Church and civic society has evolved and changed over the years.
Ahayana is confirmed
Bishop Richard and Roman, Chinomso, Louise, Nkechi and Ahayana.
Nuit des Religions – Evensong at the Dominicans
De nombreux événements sont organisés dans le cadre du Forum des Religions pour découvrir des traditions spirituelles différentes qui existent à Strasbourg. https://www.forumreligions.fr Within the framework of the “Forum des Religions” in Strasbourg a number of events take place every year to explore the many different spiritual traditions which exist within the city. One of these events is the Night of Religions (Nuits des Religions) which took place on 26th February. The Anglican Chaplaincy joined the Dominican community in their church, our place of worship for the past 50 years, for the service of Evensong. A small group of singers from St. Alban’s contributed Anglican hymns and a setting of the Magnificat by Thomas Morley in Anglican chant to the service, while the Dominican brothers sang their traditional settings of psalms and prayers. There is a distinct musical bond between both traditions, and it was a welcome opportunity to share the rich heritage of Anglican music with visitors from all over the city. For St. Alban’s it was also another opportunity to explain the “middle way” that Anglicanism holds between the two major Christian denominations.
The singers.
Fr. Mark & Frère Jean-Francois welcome the visitors.
World Day of Prayer Journée mondiale de Prière
“I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope”. (Jeremiah 29, 11.)
“Un avenir à espérer” is the theme of this year’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 4 March. It has been prepared this year by women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the service in Strasbourg will be held this year at the Eglise des Dominicains, the church Anglicans have been worshipping at for the past 50 years. All are welcome to take part in the service
Join us for the service at 15.00h on Friday 4 March, Eglise des Dominicains, bld. de Victoire/rue de l’Université.
“When you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 29, 12-14.
Peace for Ukraine
“In these days of uncertainty and fear, we pray that each of us might again turn to the Lord and receive God’s gift of peace, work for God’s justice, know God’s reconciliation and love, and choose paths not of hatred or destruction, of violence or retribution, but God’s way of justice, mercy and peace.”
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written a pastoral letter to the clergy and people of the Church of England, calling on them to pray for peace in Ukraine. Read the letter below:
Ukraine Pastoral Letter from the Archbishops
Celebration of Christian Unity Week
Last Sunday 23 January St Alban’s joined with the neighbouring congregations of St Matthew’s Protestant and Christ Ressuscité/ Très Sainte Trinité for the annual commemoration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Anglican, Catholic and Protestant churches came together at St Matthew’s around the theme : “We saw his star in the East and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2.2) The theme for 2022 was proposed by the Middle East Council of Churches, where Christians face many hardships.
The church of St. Matthieu was packed! There was a special programme for children of all ages, and for the bilingual order of service translations were provided. There was a tangible feeling of celebration within the congregation and a real sense of mutual esteem amongst the clergy.
The pastor of St. Matthieu bids everyone welcome
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was first established in 1908 by an Anglican religious order as an eight-day period of prayer (octave) between 18 January (Confession of St Peter) and 25 January (Conversion of St Paul). The octave has since been observed by Christians of all sorts from around the world.
St Alban’s Mark Barwick gives the final blessing.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was first established in 1908 by an Anglican religious order as an eight-day period of prayer (octave) between 18 January (Confession of St Peter) and 25 January (Conversion of St Paul). The octave has since been observed by Christians of all sorts from around the world.
Ecumenical Célébration Oecuménique 23 January 2022
This coming Sunday, 23 January, will feel very different for all those used to coming to the Église des Dominicans for St. Alban’s Sunday worship. Instead of the usual service of Holy Eucharist at 10.30h the congregation of St. Alban’s will be joining its French Protestant and Roman Catholic neighbours for an ecumenical service to mark this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This will be held at 10.30h – same time! – at the Eglise protestante de Saint-Matthieu, 97 blvd d’Anvers, near the F tram stop Place d’Islande. Here we shall also be joining forces with the Catholic congregations of Christ Ressuscité/ Très Sainte Trinité; there will be a special programme for children.
The theme of this year’s service was chosen and prepared by the Council of Churches of the Middle East: ‘We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.’ Matthew 2.2
Our priest the Revd. Mark Barwick writes:
| Christian Unity is not just about getting Christians together under one roof. Nor is it about coming to agre-ment over what we believe. The unity of Christians is part of a much larger project. It is about living consciously the oneness that we already share with all people and with the creation itself. Christians are not an elite class of humanity. We are made of the same flesh and blood as everyone else. We are subject to the same sins and failures as everyone else. This awareness should drive us to greater love and solidarity in these fractious times. Christian Unity is essentially a peace project. It is living the kingdom that Jesus envisioned – and which is urgently needed today .L’unité des chrétiens ne consiste pas seulement à rassembler les chrétiens sous un même toit. Il ne s’agit pas non plus de parvenir à un accord sur ce que nous croyons. L’unité des chrétiens fait partie d’un projet beaucoup plus vaste. Il s’agit de vivre consciemment l’unité que nous partageons déjà avec toute l’humanité et avec toute la création. Le thème pour 2022 a été choisi et préparé par le Conseil des Églises du Moyen-Orient : « Nous avons vu son astre à l’Orient et nous sommes venus lui rendre hommage » |
Please don’t hesitate to come and join us at St. Matthieu, it will be a new experience for everyone and, we hope, the start of good things to come!
Sunday 23 January, 10.30h: Ecumenical Worship at the Eglise protestante de Saint-Matthieu, 97 blvd d’Anvers, Strasbourg.
No Anglican service at the Église des Dominicains that day !
Église protestante St. Matthieu, Photo W. Helmlinger, Archi-Wiki.