Liebfrauenberg Weekend 11th – 13th March 2016

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Sarah Palmer

A weekend retreat on the topic “Love bade me Welcome: the priest and poet George Herbert expresses the Gospel in poetry”.

Leader: The Venerable Colin Williams, Archdeacon of Eastern and Northern Europe and Germany.

Liebfrauenberg, a former pilgrimage site and monastery , is a retreat centre on a hill with woods and wonderful view near Woerth in northern Alsace. Every springtime, generally in Lent, members of the Anglican chaplaincies of Strasbourg, Heidelberg and Stuttgart meet here for a residential weekend. As well as study and discussion of the given topic there is time to enjoy the company of friends and to make new ones, to worship together, walk in this beautiful area and enjoy rest and relaxation. All are warmly invited to come and join in. Children are always welcome.

The weekend starts with supper on the evening of Friday 11th March at 6.30pm and finishes at teatime on Sunday 13th March at about 3pm. It is possible to come for just part of the time if you cannot make it for a whole weekend. If there are four or more children coming there will be a programme especially for them. And on Saturday evening there is a long-standing tradition of visiting the local village for “tarte flambée”.

The leader this year, the Ven. Colin Williams, was recently appointed Archdeacon of Eastern and Northern Europa and Germany. Colin has been a parish priest in Liverpool, Lancashire and Shropshire, Archdeacon of Lancaster and was the General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches until 2010.

George Herbert (1593-1633) was a poet, orator and Anglican priest; some of his poems are familiar as the texts of hymns including “King of Glory, King of Peace”, “Let All the World in Every Corner Sing” and “Teach me, my God and King”.

Colin will spend a session on what George Herbert teaches us about the Church of England. We will look at some of his poetry and what it has to say about our understanding of what is means to be a follower of Jesus Christ – for example, in our prayers and our sense of the sacrament of the present moment. We shall see how in his poetry George Herbert widens our understanding of our incarnate, crucified and risen Lord.

Costs:

Every effort is made to keep costs as low as possible but unfortunately this year it has been necessary to make a small increase. The price is all inclusive with full board. All the rooms have ensuite bathrooms.

Adults: €75 each day

Young people 13-17 yrs €54 each day

Children 4-12 yrs €40 each day

Children under 4 yrs no charge.

If you would like to come but find the price difficult to afford please speak to the local Strasbourg organisers, John and Diane Murray (email: john.murray67@googlemail.com).

If you are going to come please use the booking form and let the organisers know by 28 February.

Booking form Lbfrberg 20160001 Email to: john.murray67@googlemail.com

For more information about Liebfrauenberg see http://www.eglise-autrement.com/

Locum priests at St. Alban’s

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Sarah Palmer

Since our last Priest-in-Charge left in February 2013, we have been blest with a succession of locums, that is, priests who come for anything between 3 weeks and 3 months, lead our worship, inspire us with their sermons, care for those in need and generally make an important contribution to the spiritual life of St. Alban’s .
We are very grateful to our resident clergy, the Revd John Murray and the Revd Christine Bloomfield, who undertake locum duties themselves and, very importantly, support those locums who are new to St. Alban’s. Our Reader, David Cowley, is another pillar of strength and leads the Early Call Prayer Breakfasts on the third Sunday of the month. And we always appreciate the ministry of Bishop Venuste whenever his arduous work schedule makes that possible.
The Revd John Murray has very generously covered the services over the summer. His tenth and last Sunday was on 6th September.
From 13th September until 4th October we welcome back the Revd Roger Wikeley, who was with us last in May. It will be his third visit and we are glad that he is coming.
From 11th October until 1st November our locum is the Revd Robert Ferguson, a native of the Isle of Man, who will be coming straight to Strasbourg from Fontainebleu where he will also have acted as locum.
From 8th November until 27th December the Revd Peter Jordan and his wife Barbara will be with us, and we are very grateful to them for agreeing to spend the Christmas festival at St. Alban’s, in spite of having a large family back home near Liverpool. Peter was Chaplain in Barcelona for many years.
In the meantime the search for a new Priest-in-Charge continues. A new permanent appointment is important to ensure continuity and sustained development, and to help St. Alban’s grow and flourish.

Sarah Palmer.

ACAS Dorlisheim Brocante

Posted on June 13, 2015 by mark

a record year

Our ACAS Charity Association will this year have a bumper display as people have been exceptionally generous. We had to use 11 full car loads to transport it all to Dorlisheim.

On Sunday 14th June, the whole village of Dorlisheim is organising a massive brocante, with lots of food stands and fun rides for the children. You can wander round the village to your heart’s content, looking for the elusive plate or cup you would like to complete Grandma’s service !! Or yet another gnome for your garden collection!

Why not decide to come over and visit after church? The ACAS core team, Anny, Johanna, Maryline, Pauline, Victoria and the Youth Club members have worked very hard to set everything up and they would love to see you there.

Especially this year, we are extremely grateful to Diane and John Murray for letting us use their yard and outbuildings again. Your Charity Association needs your support.

tout va toujours beaucoup mieux en chantant

sorting bags, essential but tedious

The hard working ACAS team