June St. Alban s Church Newsletter Copenhagen

Transcription

1 June 2010 St. Alban s Church Newsletter Copenhagen

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3 JUNE 6th 1st SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Sung Eucharist Kings Galatians 1 11 end Luke th 2nd SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Sung Eucharist Samuel , Galatians 2 15 end Luke Evensong th 3rd SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Sung Eucharist Isaiah Galatians 3 23 end Luke St Alban s Day lunch th 4th SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Sung Eucharist Kings , 19 end Galatians 5 1, Luke 9 51 end NOTES: SUNDAY SERVICES for June are as listed above. WEDNESDAY SERVICE Holy Communion SUNDAY SCHOOL meets every Sunday at COFFEE is served after the Sunday Service. CHOIR PRACTICE takes place every Sunday morning before the Sung Eucharist. New choir members are always welcome. Contact Peter Rohling:

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6 The Alban Prayer

7 Why celebrate Saint Alban? Alban's story takes us right back to the beginning of the Christian faith in Britain, but it remains fresh and inspiring for Christians today. First, because it reminds us of the unbroken continuity of faith in Christ in England for over 1700 years; second, because it sets before us a powerful example of courage, compassion, hospitality and generosity, as Alban risked his life to welcome a persecuted stranger; third, because Alban's martyrdom reminds us that witnessing as a Christian often comes at a cost; and fourth, because we believe that Alban is still alive and present to us in the communion of Saints, and we come to worship God with him. Alban died unbaptized, never having attended a church service, without owning or reading a Bible, without ever serving on a church council! Yet he gave his life for his faith in Jesus Christ, a faith that transcends all Christian divisions. We hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us at the Vicarage for lunch after the service on Sunday 20 June. Jonathan Working in India In March of this year I set off to work as a nurse for the British charity "Children Walking Tall" at the Mango House, Mapusa in Goa. Unfortunately the charity had not yet been able to renew its licence and therefore instead of bringing slum children to the Mango House, everything we do, such as morning school, health care, games etc., has to take place in the slums. It is rewarding work spending time with children who would otherwise just hang around in the slums with drunken fathers and mothers who are either sorting or collecting rubbish. But it s also hard work being out in the baking sun, with all the dirt and dust. I look at and try to treat any wound or illness they might have. The children have many skin ailments such as impetigo, scabies, burns, heat boils, and many wounds from accidents or being hit with various objects by adults. Sometimes I need the child to see a doctor but we can only take a child in an emergency, otherwise we have to try to get their parents to take them. That is not always easy. Twice a day we give the children fruit, and at lunch time they get rice and curry. For many of them that is all they will have that day. I will soon be returning to Denmark but I will never forget these children, they are so grateful for so little. Angela Hansen, Århus For more information about the work Children Walking Tall does, please look on their website:

8 Funeral Baptisms Blessings

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10 BJØRN S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Bjørn s International School is a small and friendly school in Copenhagen, offering a quality education for children from 6 to 16 years of age. Students from throughout the world attend Bjørn s International School and follow either an English or Danish curriculum. Bjørn s International School is partially subsidized by the state and adheres to the national standards and qualifications for schools in Denmark. Those students who plan to live in Denmark for at least four years and enroll in the Danish-speaking Department will receive an education that follows the Danish School Curriculum. Upon graduating from Bjørn s International School, students in the English-speaking Department will have followed the curriculum requirements of the IGSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education). The students will have had the opportunity of taking the IGCSE examinations in up to six subjects (English, Maths, Science, Geography, History, and Art and Design). The Danish and English departments are frequently combined so there is constant interaction between the students in both departments. Please feel free to contact the school and arrange a time for a visit. We would be happy to answer your questions and show you the school. Address: Bjørn s International School Gartnerivej Copenhagen Ø Phone: (country code 45) Fax: (country code 45) School Leader: Pia Drabowicz

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14 In my search for tomorrow I postponed today Friends of the Danish poetess Henriette Muus ands fans of the famed British writer Fay Weldon gathered in St Alban s on 9 May for a very special poetry reading in English and Danish. Henriette, a journalist, poet and artist, has recently published a beautiful book of poetry, illustrated with her own watercolour paintings, called In my search for tomorrow I postponed today, and Fay was there to promote this work. Photo Karsten Grinderslev As part of the introduction, the audience was told the improbable story of how a Danish journalist and poet had dared to take up a light-hearted invitation to have Fay Weldon look at her poetry and edit the English translation. The two women subsequently met and worked on the poems, later performing them together at the Danish Seamen s church in London. The reception was excellent and led Henriette to think that she could arrange a repeat performance for her own countrymen and English-speakers in Denmark. She contacted St Alban s, who gladly accepted the chance to welcome both Henriette and Fay. Sharing the platform with Henriette, her friend, Fay explained I am a writer, not a poet, I am not a performer either, but I so enjoyed working on these poems, and I hope this comes through. It did some of the poems were about loneliness, depression, grief and poverty. Others were more light-hearted and had the audience smiling and chuckling. Henriette read in Danish and Weldon followed in English. The performance was interspersed with music composed and played by organist Henrik Metz and delightfully sung by soprano Marianne Lund. After the performance, the two performers were interviewed by the press and then joined the audience for a glass of wine. This is not the first time I ve been here, Fay smiled, I visit Copenhagen regularly and my husband Nick and I have attended services here several times so I m not a stranger! Ten years ago Weldon had taken the surprising step of being baptized into the Church of England. Most Sundays at 8 a.m. she goes to a small church in Dorset where she lives, and loves singing the hymns. In an interview given to The Independent newspaper last year, she spoke of Christianity involving sacrifice: Nothing is achieved without giving something up, she said. An example of this was her presence that afternoon in Copenhagen. Watching a highly celebrated personality allowing herself to play second fiddle (almost) to a younger lesser known woman is a great treat. Needless to say, many autographed books left with their happy owners. Hats off to honour true generosity and the spirit of friendship. Claire Clausen

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16 ST. ALBAN S CHURCH (Anglican-Episcopal) Churchillparken 6, Langelinie, 1263 Copenhagen K Founded Consecrated 1887 Under the Patronage of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II St. Albanʼs Anglican Church Tel chaplain@st-albans.dk Clergy Chaplain: Archdeacon Jonathan LLoyd Tel: jonathan@st-albans.dk Diocesan Director of Training: The Revd Ulla Monberg Tel: Aarhus: The Revd Gottfried Grunewald Tel: Training for Reader Ministry Julian Simpson and Victoria Wadsworth-Hansen Director of Music Verger Peter Rohling Jane Passant Churchwardens Nigel Rowley Tel: Katie Robson Tel: Contributions to Church Funds may be made by cheque payable to St. Alban s Church or to the Church Post Giro St. Albans Newsletter newsletter@st-albans.dk