Freiburg. The Anglican Church BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF GRACE. Minister: Rev. Christopher Parsons Address: The Nations Rejoice

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The Anglican Church BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF GRACE Freiburg May 2017 The Nations Rejoice The Nations Rejoice is just part of the language used in the lyrics for the song The King of Glory Comes,

1 The Anglican Church BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF GRACE Freiburg May 2017 The Nations Rejoice The Nations Rejoice is just part of the language used in the lyrics for the song The King of Glory Comes, written in the 1960 s by Willard F. Jabusch, a Roman Catholic priest. One of the gifts of God that comes to the foreground in the Anglican Church in Freiburg is the wide range of nationalities that make up the body of Christ in this small corner of our green planet. While Church of England was synonymous with Britishness and Englishness the global community of Anglican Churches, which are part of what is C h a p l a i n s M e s s a g e called the Anglican Communion, is far from being entirely British, or English. Some have reported that the average Anglican in the world today is a young African widow living with the complex concerns of AIDS while raising a family of small children. I believe a thriving Anglican Church tries to represent the wider community in which it is located, and it seems that this is the case in Freiburg. Interestingly, as the demographics of the Church of England changes, English is no longer a defining point. Many Provinces (or Countries) in the Anglican Communion produce their own hymns and song books that reflect a diversity of languages. As a Canadian, I know that the most recent Anglican song book in Canada has lyrics that represent not only the two official languages of French and English, but also many songs with alternate lyrics from Inuit, Métis, Spanish, and Latin. While the great majority of our music and liturgy are conducted in English, we frequently sing songs that represent the mother tongue of many of our worshipers. Along with the diversity in song, we also have a diversity in style as we are gifted Minister: Rev. Christopher Parsons Address: Lorettostraße Freiburg The Anglican Church in Freiburg (ACF) receives no funding from the Diocese of Europe, nor German Kirchensteuer. We rely solely on contributions from members and friends of the ACF. Bank Details: Anglican Church in Freiburg: Sparkasse Freiburg IBAN: DE BIC: FRSPDE66XXX (Konto Nr.: BLZ: )

2 The Nations Rejoice (continued) Services in May: 7 May 11:30 All-Age Worship 14 May 11:30 Holy Communion 21 May 11:30 Morning Worship 28 May 11:30 Holy Communion Activities in May: 2 May 19:30 Council Meeting 2 May 18:00 Men s Prayer Meeting 4 May 19:30 Roots and Shoots followed by Compline 4 May 19:30 Women s Prayer Meeting 16 May 18:00 Men s Prayer Meeting 18 May 19:30 Roots and Shoots followed by Compline 30 May 18:00 Men s Prayer Meeting Groups. German/English Conversation Group every Thursday at 17:30. Please contact Rafaela Furtado rfurtado_01@yahoo.com Women s Prayer Group meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 19:30. Please contact Lauren Warnatz, warnatze@t-online.de Tuesday morning Women s Bible Study Group is taking a break until after Easter. North Freiburg home group. Please contact Julia or Malcolm for details. ml.maclaren@web.de Young Adult Group. Meets first and third Fridays in the month, at 7:30. Please contact Debbie at debora.niermann@gmail.com. Men s Prayer Group meets every other Tuesday evening. Please contact Josef Brockmeier: fjbrockmeier@googl .com or / 7417 The Wise Ones Group for those no longer working, usually meets the last Thursday of the month, but there will be no meeting in May. See Linda Sloanecker@aol.com or Keith campbellk@t-online.de for details. Singing Practice In May our singing practice will be on the 7th and the 21st at 13:00. with many talented musicians who offer their skills and abilities as a music ministry. You may also, in worship, recognize diversity of languages in our congregation when the very intimate Lord s Prayer is introduced with the words: As our Saviour taught us, and in the language of our hearts As such, our songs, and our prayers represent the nations, as the King of Glory Comes. Christopher How Wise are the Wise Ones?? Did you know that Anne Jarvis, to whom the creation of Mothers' Day is attributed, spent the end of her life trying to have her efforts undone? Appalled by the commercialization of the holiday, she ended her days in a mental institution. Or did you know that women in Germany under nazi [sic!] rule were awarded with honors depending on how many children they had? You probably also didn't know that Keith Campbell is one of 10 children...and his mother always knew who called on Mothers' Day. Yes, Mothers' Day or Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday, this was the topic of the recent get-together of the Wise Ones. Once a month, on the last Thursday, we gather in the church for tea, coffee, cake and good conversation - often around a topic - and, most importantly fellowship. "We", that's anyone who is "no longer working", i.e. retired. While there is no firm minimum age, the significant thing is that there is no maximum age. And while our discussion is in English, all are welcome, even those whose English is a bit shaky. Generally there are of us coming from, as do the rest of the congregation, all corners of the world. That's what makes it fun, learning about carneval or lent traditions...or Mother's Day customs, and especially finding out about and coming closer to one another. There will be no meeting in May, but if you'd like to join us and want to learn more, talk to Keith, me (Linda), Sabine H. or Margaret. Linda Sloan-Ecker Weekend Away 2017: May We are going to the same place as last year in the Vogesen mountains in France. For the first time we are offering a 3-night retreat for those who would like to get away for a bit longer. There is the option to come for either 2 or 3 nights depending on work, school schedules, etc. Since there are still places available we are taking late registrations. Please Lauren if you are interested: warnatze@t-online.de

3 Unity in Diversity Ecumenical Evening Service on Pentecost Saturday H.O.P.E. The Conversation Group had a very lively discussion last Thursday, based on an article Rafaela had read in the Guardian which discussed why the human race is heading for the fire, that the future for humanity and many other life forms is grim, and that there is nothing much we can do about it. The article claimed that we have to live through it, if we can. We wondered if that is true, or do the small things we do like having mainly organic products at the Women's Breakfast this morning help in any way. H.O.P.E s plan is to stick with the causes, believing that our actions may not be totally ineffectual, and that something is better than nothing. Desmond Tutu said "without God we cannot, and without us God will not." To celebrate Pentecost together, inner-city congregations (St. Martin, Methodists, Anglicans, Old Catholics, Ukrainian Catholics and Salvation Army) will be gathering for an ecumenical service in St Martin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, 3rd June. Like the description in Acts that people who spoke different languages all understood the Pentecost message, this service is enriched by the different liturgical traditions represented. All interested are warmly invited to attend. Serving the church with pasta How spaghetti was food for thought for the council As your church council, our aim is to come up with ideas and make decisions that benefit the whole ACF. In order to do that effectively, we work on becoming a team rather than a random collection of churchgoing people. During the recent council retreat on April 8th, led by Pastor Christopher, we dedicated the better part of a day to just that. Building structures out of spaghetti was just one exercise that stimulated our understanding of teamwork. We appreciated the opportunity to become better acquainted with each other, and we hope to build on this foundation for the next years together as a church council -- serving you in the ACF joyfully and effectively! Simon Göppert Thy kingdom come on Earth as in Heaven. Margaret, for H.O.P.E. Contact: Revd. Canon Christopher Parsons freiburganglican.pastor@gmail.com / / His day off is Monday. Please visit our website: June 2017 Newsletter If you have any items for the June newsletter, would you please send them to Cindy by May 24th. Thanks. cindywyneken@gmx.de

Passover As in previous years, I again really enjoyed cooking the Passover Meal for our church community.

We had a starter salad (based on the traditional Jewish Seder plate), a soup, and as a main course some local lamb cooked in a Middle Eastern style, served with cous cous.

) To guide through the meal Chris had prepared some Bible passages on the Passover and we finished off the evening with sharing the bread and wine.

Nick Ghinn Easter Season Celebration Easter Sunrise Service At 6:30 a few of us gathered up on the Kanonenplatz to celebrate the risen Lord.

) to reflect on the resurrection and the empty tomb.

A True Family Celebration The memories of Easter Sunday 2017 will stay with us for many many years to come!

4 Passover As in previous years, I again really enjoyed cooking the Passover Meal for our church community. On Maundy Thursday about 25 of us spent a wonderful evening of fellowship, spiritual input, and a three course meal. We had a starter salad (based on the traditional Jewish Seder plate), a soup, and as a main course some local lamb cooked in a Middle Eastern style, served with cous cous. (And yes, the vegetarians were also appropriately looked after.) To guide through the meal Chris had prepared some Bible passages on the Passover and we finished off the evening with sharing the bread and wine. Thank you to all who attended and helped before and after the meal! It was a great evening and I m looking forward to next year. Nick Ghinn Easter Season Celebration Easter Sunrise Service At 6:30 a few of us gathered up on the Kanonenplatz to celebrate the risen Lord. Standing above the sleeping city at dawn is always special and it provides a contemplative and yet joyous time (this year with some rain!) to reflect on the resurrection and the empty tomb. We sang some songs, read the passage from John, proclaimed our faith, and then descended the hill to get ready for the main service later. A True Family Celebration The memories of Easter Sunday 2017 will stay with us for many many years to come! Not only was our daughter Miriam baptised that day, but also four more (little, and not so little) wonderful people of our congregation. It touched our hearts to see how warmly and joyfully all five of them were welcomed as God's children. Once again we felt those strong family bonds among our amazing church community. Thank you all for receiving Miriam into your midst and for making our family feel at home and loved. Nick & Christine Good Friday At 17:30 we gathered at the church to remember the crucifixion of our Lord. This meditative service included music, some liturgy of Good Friday and the story of the Passion read out as a narrative by several members of our congregation. It was a meaningful time of reflection and a good preparation before the joy of Easter Sunday.

5 Easter Baptism Aaron Solberg Clara, daughter of Jon and Esther Leach Victor, son of Celine and Martyn Rittmann Tilda, daughter of Tobias and Carmen Hoppe

Notes from Our Missionaries Greetings ACF, I am now engaging in my new work schedule- a combination of the admissions department at Youth With A Mission Orlando and the sports and fitness department.

But it is a welcome change, especially as the heat and humidity of the Floridian summer begin to kick in!

It is a very cool process because I get to know the students long before they ever arrive on the campus.

6 Notes from Our Missionaries Greetings ACF, I am now engaging in my new work schedule- a combination of the admissions department at Youth With A Mission Orlando and the sports and fitness department. It is very different working at YWAM without engaging full-time with the Discipleship Training School. I am spending the majority of my time in an office, which is a first for me! But it is a welcome change, especially as the heat and humidity of the Floridian summer begin to kick in! As part of my work in the admissions department, I contact students who are currently in the process of applying to the programs we offer here in Orlando. It is a very cool process because I get to know the students long before they ever arrive on the campus. As the admissions team we work to answer the questions of potential students, offer prayerful support, and collect the relevant documents that we need from the students. It is a very different experience of working at YWAM Orlando, but one that I am very much enjoying. As part of the sports and fitness department team, I am co-leading six workouts and two teachings a week. These times are open not just to the DTS students, but also to the whole community. We teach about topics like the importance of spiritual identity, the success factors of growing in fitness, as well different workout techniques. We also teach outreach teams how they can use sports as a medium to reach people with the Gospel. The sports and fitness department here is being completely restructured, which provides the unique opportunity to pursue God and see how He would like to shape it. We are hoping to do far more local ministry using sports, as well as establish a healthy culture within YWAM Orlando. It seems as though this is a season of sowing for me. I am sowing into our future students in admissions, as well as sowing into the future of the sports and fitness department. I am excited that a harvest will be coming in due time, but I am very thankful for this change of pace after a busy five months, especially as wedding preparations are beginning to take place. Thank you all for your prayers and support! God bless, Alastair All pictures taken are for our website only and not to be posted on Facebook or other social media. Dear ACF family! I am sending you greetings from Cahul, Moldova, where we currently have Snow! The weather has been insane the last couple of months, with non-stop rain and then snow again. I have slipped more than five times here! But the season is changing. Birds are starting to chirp, farmers are starting to work in their fields. My housemates and I got to help an elderly lady in her garden and "turn" the dirt around so she could start planting some potatoes. The culture in Moldova is very different from what I am used to and gets hard at times trying to understand how Moldovans do things. But I have been and still am learning! I have learned to avoid putting too much pressure on myself and just to take everything at my own pace -- which has been very helpful! This country has so many difficulties. I first realized how exhausted I am when I came back to Germany for a few days after living in a country alone where I don t fully understand everything. With my first anniversary of being in Moldova coming up in June, I have decided to take the summer off and come back to Germany so I can get some rest and think about my future in Moldova. The first two weeks of August I will be at SOLA (summer camp run by Calvary Chapel) which is also something that I really love to do. There will be a few changes and transitions when I come back to Moldova after the summer, but I am not yet certain what they are -- so I could really use your prayer! You can pray that I will get clearance regarding which steps I am supposed to take next. I am fully trusting in God and I know he placed me in Moldova for a reason! Thank you for all the support and prayer! Love, Esther Norwood

Freiburg. The Anglican Church BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF GRACE

Freiburg. The Anglican Church BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF GRACE The Anglican Church BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF GRACE Freiburg January 2017 The gifts we have to offer Despite the church beginning the liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent, the calendar year has