The Anglican Church BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF GRACE Freiburg July 2017 More than just an agreement On the 9th of July we will be celebrating worship with the Old Catholic congregation of St. Ursula s. The Church of England and the Alt Katholische Kirche have a long history of full inter-communion (we may share in our priestly ministries) which is formally recognized in a number of documents, especially the Bonn Agreement of 1931. As well as the relationship between Anglicans in the Anglican Communion and the C h a p l a i n s M e s s a g e Old Catholics, we share a patron symbolized in the the person of St Willibrord who came from Northumbria, England, in the 7th century as a missionary to the Frisians, in the Netherlands. In the year 695 Willibrord became the first Archbishop of Utrecht, and so he has been adopted as the patron of our two churches. In 1908 the very first Willibrord Society was founded in England as a way for the two churches to find ways of growing together. There is a longstanding tradition in Freiburg of gathering around the altar table and celebrating communion together either at St. Ursula s, or in the Anglican Church in Freiburg. Several people from either congregation feel comfortable in attending events, worship services and educational gatherings in one another s buildings. Truly, this is a relationship which continues to be fruitful. We have much to offer one another, and much to learn from each other, and it is one of the surest signs of unity that people recognize. I m pleased to say that, not only have I found my soul fed with the worship in the Old Catholic Church, but I have gained a number of friends, and very fine colleagues. Minister: Rev. Christopher Parsons Address: Lorettostraße 61. 79100 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: DE29680501010002511920 BIC: FRSPDE66XXX (Konto Nr.: 2511920 BLZ: 68050101)
Services in July: 2 July 11:30 All-Age Worship 9 July 10:00 Joint Service with Old Catholics at St. Ursula (no service at PP) 16 July 11:30 Morning Worship 23 July 11:30 Holy Communion 30 July 11:30 Morning Worship Activities in July: 6 July 19:30 Roots and Shoots followed by Compline 8 July Safeguarding Training 11 July 18:00 Men s Prayer Meeting 13 July 19:30 Women s Prayer Meeting 15th/16th July Setting up and invitation to Freunde von der Straße in St. Martin (see article pg 3) 15 9:00 Women s Breakfast 20 July 19:30 Roots and Shoots followed by Compline 25 July 18:00 Men s Prayer Meeting 25 July 19:30 Council Meeting 29 July Barbecue 15:00 to 18:00 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 meeting again! Please join us. Contact Margaret or Cindy for details 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 on the even-numbered (geraden) weeks. Please contact Josef Brockmeier: fjbrockmeier@googlemail.com or 07661/7417 The Wise Ones Group for those no longer working, meets the last Thursday of the month (June 29). See Linda Sloanecker@aol.com or Keith campbellk@t-online.de for details. Singing Practice In July our singing practice will be on the 2nd at 13:00 and the 23rd at 13:15. Message (continued) As we prepare to celebrate together, perhaps this prayer by Archbishop Joris Vercammen may be used to strengthen us in our united vision. Merciful God, we give thanks for your grace that we, Anglicans and Old Catholics, may walk together on the way. You gave us each other and united us, to become signs of reconciliation and unity for the world. As you called Jesus, so you call also us and fill us with your love for humankind. As you strengthened Jesus with your spirit, so you also strengthen us, so that we never lack strength and inspiration, creativity and courage. Teach us to see the opportunities which you offer us, and give us trust in you, who are with us on the way, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our God for ever. Christopher Freunde von der Strasse on Sunday, 16th July 2017 (preparation on Saturday 15th July) St Martin s Church, Rathausplatz, Freiburg Freunde von der Strasse is a joint project among many churches in Freiburg, which aims to provide a meal and friendship to those people who are homeless or who live in difficult circumstances. We will be working together with the Old Catholics and Methodists to offer a midday meal and afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen on Sunday, 16th July in St Martin s parish hall. We need people to help set up on the previous day and on Sunday to serve meals, work in the kitchen, clear up or simply chat with our guests. We also request cakes for Kaffee und Kuchen, preferably cakes which are easy to cut and do not contain any alcohol. If you have any questions, please speak to Helen Rose Wilson. If you can provide a cake, and/or help on the Saturday (2.15 to 3.15 p.m.) or Sunday afternoon (1st shift 12.30 to 3 p.m.; 2nd shift 2.30 to 5 p.m.), please sign up on the sheets that will be available after church services in July. Save the date! There will be a benefit concert on 21st October. More details will follow as the time gets closer.
The Right Reverend Dr. Geoffrey Rowell, who was Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe until 2013, has died peacefully after a short illness on Trinity Sunday 11 June 2017. He was 74. He was enthroned as Bishop in Europe in November 2001 after seven years as Suffragan Bishop of Basingstoke. A number of tributes have already been paid to Bishop Geoffrey, including this "In Memoriam" from his successor, Rt Rev Dr. Robert Innes, Bishop in Europe: The news of Bishop Geoffrey Rowell s death is a source of sadness and sorrow to many, including me personally. I first met Geoffrey in 2005, when I joined the Diocese in Europe. I experienced him as unfailingly kind, warm, and hospitable. He stayed at our home in Belgium on a number of occasions. I recall with affection long conversations over a bottle of whisky late into the night. When I was appointed his successor, he was wonderfully encouraging and helpful. Geoffrey valued highly his friendship with his clergy, and those of us who served as his priests and deacons will miss him dearly. For 12 years as Diocesan Bishop, Geoffrey embodied the Diocese in Europe in his own character and personality. He managed to remain a serious academic whilst also carrying out a demanding pastoral ministry. He was a great ambassador for a traditional, catholic, Anglicanism. He maintained an enviable quantity and quality of correspondence with ecumenical partners and friends. He travelled with remarkable energy and stamina. He inspired loyal devotion in those who worked most closely with him. Many of us wondered how he would cope with the transition to retirement, but he seemed to handle it marvelously. His home in Fishbourne was beautifully furnished and served as a workshop for his continuing academic projects. It is sad that, after a demanding European ministry, he did not have long to enjoy retirement. His passing feels as if it marks the end of an era. We commend him to his Lord, praying that he will rest in peace and at the last day rise in glory. +Robert Innes 4th Bishop in Europe Bishop Geoffrey has been in Freiburg three times. Among those confirmed by him were: Bev, Almut, Christopher Ecker, Emily, Isabella, Solveyg, Cody Wyneken, Niki Wyneken, Steven Campbell, Vida and some more. Almut Schulz
No Brexit Here!!! Can you name all of Freiburg's partner cities? Well, for the eager group waiting for the bus to take them to the Basel Airport on June 10th, only one really mattered: Guildford! That Saturday, 16 representatives of the "Guildford- Freiburg Churches Link", an ecumenical group of members of ACK churches in Freiburg, set out to visit their Guildford friends for one week. These groups come together every two years in the respective city. This year we travelled to Guildford; in two years that group will come to us. Our Anglican Church was represented by Anneliese, Peter, Helen Rose, Almut (our fearless leader) and me. Solveyg, who had planned to come, was much missed in her absence. After a rather long trip with the Easy Jet flight in the middle, we were so happy to see our first two friends, Anthea and Camila, waiting for us at the Gatwick Airport. More bus and train travel and we were welcomed by our hosts at a reception at St. Nicholas Church in downtown Guildford. Then off to our homes for the coming week. Each one of us has the delightful privilege of being hosted by one of the Guildford Group. For many of us, we have in the meantime become good friends; Indeed it is like returning home to family. After a quiet Sunday when most of us attended church with our hosts, a week full of excursions and activites began. First on the docket, the visit to Guild Hall and a reception with the mayor of Guildford. [above right] Then off to our many trips, to the Guildford Cathedral, the Church of Edward the Confessor on Sutton Place, Dunsfold Church, Hascombe Church, St. Mary's Church. [right] When I write that we visited many churches, imagine - with the exception of Guildford Cathedral, a stunning example of modern Gothic elegance - if you will, a tiny medieval Gothic Church nestled in the picture-book perfect Surrey countryside. Alas, I waited in vain...mr. Darcy never arrived! These trips are always a delightful mixture of the spiritual, [below left] - a morning traversing the Stations of the Cross and a "study day" on Wednesday with a talk on transforming church - and an opportunity to see the environs. We were fortunate to be able to visit Arundel Cathedral next to Castle Arundel, the home of the Duke of Norfolk, on Corpus Christi and marvel at the flower carpet. [below center] And, at nearly every venue, a "picnic" (for 30 people!!) or tea with cake would miraculously be set out. Our hosts knew no limit to their efforts in hospitality! [below right] After six days of impressions, good conversation, lots of laughs, too much wonderful food, and quiet moments of grateful reflection, we returned to Freiburg, already looking forward to seeing and hosting our friends here in two years. Linda S-E
Dear ACF, I hope you are all enjoying the summer! We are currently in our transition week here in Orlando, which is the week between one Discipleship Training School ending and another beginning. This week I am transitioning into my new role for the upcoming three months; the admissions department manager. Work-wise, things will look very similar to how they look now, except that I will be administrating the workload as well as carrying it. I am excited for this change because I suspect it will be a formative season for me. I have not had much experience in leading a team, so I hope to learn and grow as I take up this challenge of managing the admissions department here at Youth With A Mission Orlando. At this moment, it seems that there will not be enough students in the sports and fitness elective this summer to justify running our program, despite a fair amount of interest. We are not discouraged by this, but we are thankful for the more restful time ahead. For the past three months we have been leading work-outs from 6-7am four times a week, so to have this weight lifted (so to speak) for a while is a welcome change; especially considering that we will leading it once again in October. Although there will not be drastic changes in my work life, there will be huge changes in my personal life. Andrea and I are getting married in less than a month! We are wrapping up our time of wedding planning and looking ahead to preparing for married life. It has been a busy few months for us, but the end is in sight and it is very exciting! I am thankful that I will be working once again in the admissions department, I feel like it will give me the consistency I need to better adjust to married life. This being said, Andrea and I are both very excited to be working with the Discipleship Training School starting in October! Thank you so much for all your support and prayers! This journey with God here in Orlando would not be possible without you all! Alastair P.S. I wrote a testimony from our outreach to Greece that YWAM Orlando has posted onto their blog. If you would like to check it out, it is found on: https://www.ywamorlando.com/ywam-orlando/ building-gods-kingdom-through-sports Contact: Revd. Canon Christopher Parsons freiburganglican.pastor@gmail.com / 07633 /9809474 His day off is Monday. Please visit our website: http://freiburganglicanchurch.wordpress.com All pictures taken are for our website only and not to be posted on Facebook or other social media. August 2017 Newsletter If you have any items for the August newsletter, would you please send them to Cindy by July 24th. Thanks. cindywyneken@gmx.de