“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

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.

Many many thanks for all the hands that came together to make last Sunday’s Concert and mini Christmas market a rousing success.  All proceeds will go to famine relief efforts in south Madagascar.

Ni le froid, ni l’épidémie grandissante ne vous ont tous freiné pour assister joyeusement au magnifique concert de l’Avent dimanche dernier.

Au nom du peuple du Sud en dénuement total et qui a faim, nous Malagasy de St Alban’s vous remercions chaleureusement de la générosité que vous avez manifestée. Que ce soit en amont,  les préparatifs,  que ce soit les prises de paroles, que ce soit dans la confection des gâteaux et spécialités culinaires salés qui étaient bien appréciés, la gestion des recettes, le rangement d’après et surtout votre présence, vous étiez formidables! Merci infiniment pour tous les dons recueillis!

Que notre Seigneur vous rende au centuple et vous garde dans son amour. Bravo!                               Voahangy Ramananjatovo.

The Orchestre des jeunes Guitarristes et Mandolinistes de Schiltigheim played to an enthusiastic audience on Advent Sunday at St. Mathieu in Strasbourg.

For the second time ACAS, the Association caritative anglicane de Strasbourg, is organising an Advent concert together with the Madagascan community in the area.  A number of Malgaches are gifted musicians and play together in the Orchestre des Jeunes Guitaristes et Mandolinistes de Schiltigheim under their conductor Marine Mairet.  What may sound like an ensemble with rather limited appeal is in fact quite the opposite: two years ago the orchestra gave their first Advent concert to a packed hall and swept the audience of its feet with their enthusiasm, skill and sheer musicianship.

This year’s concert will take place on Advent Sunday, 28 November, at 15.30h in the church of St. Matthieu, 97 boulevard d’Anvers, Strasbourg.  Entrance is free but donations are requested to help combat the terrible famine ravaging southern Madagascar at the present.  The Anglican Bishop Gilbert Rateloson Rakotondravelo of the Diocese of Fianarantsoa in the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean warns that at least one million people may be at risk.

“The situation south of the country is not good. Out of our 22 regions, it has been hit the hardest. Some crops have also been destroyed by bandits,” he says, noting that while people want to farm their lands, there is no rain.  Within his own diocese, which was founded in 2003, Rakotondravelo says reports continue streaming in of high malnutrition.  “The situation has worsened since March 2021, especially for our women and children. We need short-, medium-, and long-term interventions,” he says.

https://livingchurch.org/2021/10/26/bishop-cites-indescribable-suffering-in-madagascar-famine/?utm_source=The+Living+Church+Email+Updates&utm_campaign=b189123c98-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_08_26_11_12_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0826f52b83-b189123c98-128519789

All are welcome to this concert; in the interval mulled wine and Bredele will be available and there will also be a miniature Marché de Noel to celebrate the start of the Advent season.

N’oublier pas SVP votre Passe Sanitaire !      Please don’t forget your Covid Pass !

                                                        Let us give with generous hearts – Donnons de coeurs généreux!