Taizé service on 12 March Culte de Taizé le 12 mars

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A group from St Alban’s, Saint Pierre-le-Jeune and the Catholic diocese is planning a trip to the Taizé community from 23. to 30. April.

Taizé in Burgundy is a place for spiritual renewal and the affirmation of our common faith in Christ across denominational lines. It also has a distinctive and simple style of music and prayer which includes Bible readings, time for silent reflection and chants.

On 12 March at our usual time of 10.30h there will be a Taizé-style service at the Dominicans, to which we welcome members of the Taizé group from St. Pierre-le-Jeune who will lead us in our worship.

Do join us!

Un groupe de St. Alban, St. Pierre-le-Jeune et des catholiques prévoient de se rendre à la communauté de Taizé du 23 au 30 avril.  Taizé est un lieu de renouvellement spirituelle et d’affirmation de notre foi commune en Christ à travers les lignes confessionelles.  Elle a également un style simple et distinctif de musique et de prière, avec des lectures bibliques, des temps de réflexion silencieuse et des chants.

Le 12 mars, nous accueillerons les membres du groupe de Taizé de St. Pierre-le-Jeune, qui animeront notre culte aux Dominicains à 10.30h.

Tous sont bienvenus !

 

 

 

 

Reflections during Lent: Forgiveness

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Forgiveness 
Reflections on the art of letting go
le Pardon et l’art de lâcher prise

The season of Lent is a good time to reflect on aspects of our Christian life which we often find challenging. Beginning on Sunday 26. Februar we meet every Sunday in Lent after our 10.30h service at the Centre Mounier, 41 rue de l’Université, in the ground-floor meeting room, to think and talk about forgiveness and the art of letting go.

Christians talk a lot about forgiveness.   However, genuine forgiveness is not so easy!  Letting go of the past and moving beyond anger and resentment can be difficult. In this series of reflections, we will explore stories of the healing power of forgiveness and how it sets us free to become the children of God.

 

Les chrétiens parlent beaucoup du pardon. Pourtant, la véritable pardon n’est pas si simple ! Lâcher prise du passé et aller au-delà de la colère et du ressentiment peut être difficile. Dans cette série de réflexions, nous allons explorez des récits qui présentent le pouvoir guérissant du pardon et comment il nous rend libres de devenir enfants de Dieu. 

Les séances auront lieu toutes les dimanches de Carême à partir du 26 février après le culte de 10.30h dans le Centre Mounier, 41 rue de l’Université, dans la petite salle au rez-de-chausée.

Extraordinary General Meeting Sunday 20 November

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On Sunday 20 November after the service there will be a special General Meeting in the Centre Mounier, in the “salle” on the first floor. All those listed on the Electoral Roll of St. Alban’s are invited to attend and vote upon on a very important issue: to establish a shared ministry agreement between St. Alban’s Church and St. Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant Church in Strasbourg.

The Anglican and Protestant churches in France agreed in the Reuilly Accords to encourage the mutual recognition and shared ministries of our respective communities. As Anglicans we are committed to taking steps toward greater cooperation in as many areas of life and ministry as possible, to advance together to a more visible unity.

The idea of a shared ministry in Strasbourg  has been under consideration for the past 5 years.  Over the last 18 months St. Alban’s Church Council has discussed at length the possibility of of such a partnership, and there have been many meetings between the pastors and councils of both churches. It is now time to ask the members of St. Alban’s to give its informed consent to continuing the pursuit of this relationship.

For further information read here

This meeting marks a significant change in the life of St. Alban’s.  Please come and take part, ask questions and express any hopes and doubts you might have, as we all need to know what this new committment is going to involve.

25. September: Jubilee Service at St. Pierre-le-Jeune

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On Sunday 25 September there will be no service at the Dominican Chapel!  Instead at 10.00 am we will join the congregation of St. Pierre-le-Jeune to celebrate the 700 year Jubilee of the building of the nave at St Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant Church.  The church is in the centre of town, at place St. Pierre-le-Jeune, off place Kléber (tram to Homme-de-Fer, routes A, B, C, D, F).

St. Pierre-le-Jeune, Archi-Wiki 2010.

 

Il n’y aura pas de culte à la Chapelle Dominicaine le 25 septembre! A 10h00 nous nous joindrons à la célébration  du jubilé de 700 ans de la construction de la nef à l’église protestante St Pierre-le-Jeune.. L’église se trouve au centre de la ville, place St. Pierre-le-Jeune, près de la place Kléber (tram au Homme-de-Fer, lignes A, B, C, D, F).

Back inside the church again!

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As from this coming Sunday, 7th August, we will be able to celebrate our Sunday worship back in the church of the Dominican brothers again. Since Whitsun, nearly two months ago, the church has been closed and emptied for restoration and cleaning. Both the Dominicans and Anglicans used the upper room in the Centre Mounier as as provisional chapel. However, last Sunday, 31st July, frère Francois of the Dominicans joined us at the end of our service and announced the good news that from the coming Sunday on we would be able to worship in the church again.  He invited us to visit the church after the service to experience it as we would never see it again: completely empty.

A unique view of the Dominicans’ chapel.

It really was a revelation; all the soot and accumulated dinginess of past decades on the stonework has disappeared, the church is much lighter now. The space feels generous and welcoming.  It is a remarkable building because it is a prefabricated concrete structure, designed by the architect Alfred-Jacques Nasousky (1864 – 1943) and completed in 1930 for the Dominican community which was re-established in Strasbourg in 1927.  Read more http://havraisdire2.canalblog.com/archives/2018/06/03/36441118.html

The organ loft will remain untenanted until Christmas, when – if all goes to plan – the new organ will be installed.

ACAS AGM Assemblée Générale 26 March

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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

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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

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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.