Bridge 09-05 Rev 2.Indd

�� Fall 2005 �� President’s Message In interpreting our Mission Statement we will conclude this series with our third initiative in the statement. As stated: “Lend support to our pastors, leadership and members of our churches through our care and prayers.” During May of this year the AFCU held its annual meeting at the American Church in Paris. Some members continued on to Berlin and Vienna. We had 20 of the 28 Board members in attendance. The Senior Pastors from the American Church in Paris and the American Church in Berlin submitted their report highlighting the following needs. ACP Barry Dawson, Senior Pastor led us through the various ministries and issues in the current operations of the church. Overall, under Barry’s guidance the church is making excellent progress. However, there are some basic financial needs that must to be addressed. Ben Aller, the ACP Development Committee Chair presented a long term funding plan, with specific cost estimates, for five (5) basic areas. Inside This Issue Area Capital Needs ($ mil.) AFCU Annual Meeting ...... 2 1. Building 2.5 Calvin College President speaks to 2. Youth & Young Adults 2.0 AFCU Board ...... 4 3. Music & performing Arts 1.2 AFCU Development Report...... 4 4. Pastoral/Mission 1.0 Heritage ...... 5 In Memory of Norman Philcox ...... 5 5. Refugee Ministry 0.5 Total 7.4 Vienna Connection Founding of the VCC...... 6 ACB Membership/Fellowship ...... 7 Ben Coltvet, Senior Pastor gave a presentation based upon John 1:14 “The word became flesh and moved Pastoral Search ...... 7 into the neighborhood.” The ACB has made a remarkable transition to the Luther Church in Dennewitzplatz. Music ...... 8 However, as expressed by Pastor Ben, God certainly has a sense of humor. The ACB church is right in the View from the Manse...... 8 heart of a predominantly Muslim neighborhood. The ACB is making a difference in the lives of many in Centipede ...... 8 this area. The Development team detailed a study on the progress toward their Capital Campaign goal Christian Education ...... 9 of $3.6 mil for building and refurbishment. The success of this campaign will determine the long-term status of maintaining worship in this church. In the meantime, there was a special request of the AFCU Berlin Connection to contribute $90,000/year to their operating fund. Message from the Pastor: Ready...Set...Go! ...... 10 VCC Our Gifts Working for Mission...... 10 Reverend Jack Hustad reported on the status of the Vienna Community Church. Basically, they are in need of a permanent Senior Pastor. Presently the church is in their second year with various interim Paris Connection ministers. The specific proposal was for the AFCU to fund $15,000 for two years to help support the From the Pastor...... 11 ministry of a Senior Pastor. Welcome Dan ...... 12 Continued on page 3

Published for Friends of the American Churches in Paris and Berlin, and Vienna Community Church American and Foreign Christian Union Annual meeting The annual meeting of the AFCU is held at one of our member churches every other year. The 2005 Annual meeting was held at The American Church in Paris with over 70% of the 30 board members present. Events around the annual meeting also include working meetings of all the committees, committee meetings with Pastors and Lay Leaders from all three current member churches, the semi-annual meeting of the development committee, and attendance at the Sunday Church Service. The Highlight of the 2005 meeting was the JOY apparent at ACP in new Pastor Barry Dawson and his family. We, on the board, were served well during our meetings by members of the ACP Council and the Filipino Fellowship and at a reception by the Pastor and his family. We were honored to be part of the Litany of Thanksgiving during the very inspirational Sunday Service. The business of the meeting includes the election of new and additional Board members to replace retired members, the selection of officers and the naming of committees. New board members elected are Jim and Marilyn Ault, Jean-Rene Goetz, John Peed and Gary Schieneman. The Development committee report included the Heritage Society, with planned gifts now totaling over $1Million, the annual solicitation and donor recognition, Foundation Grant efforts, and the web site and communications, including this newsletter. If you have friends interested in our member churches, or foreign mission, who would Sharon and Don Krump and Russ McNaughton like to receive our communications, please have them contact me. On the finance side, Finance Chairman Bill MacArthur reported that all of the funds have now been put under the management of US Trust and the growth of the funds during 2004 was a healthy 10.9%. Treasurer Julie Voskuil presented the 2005 and 2006 budget plans, which were approved. She also documented the grant process between the AFCU and member churches. The member churches presentations were impressive. Each had significant mission programs in place and also significant needs. For the American Church in Paris there are five proposals to promote the ministries and missions of the church including renovations of the building. The Ameri- can Church in Berlin reviewed their very strong mission program and a significant need for funds to fulfill their plan to keep their ministry in the Luther Church. The Vienna Community Church needs are enough funds to support a full time Pastor. The Grant process gives gifts to the member churches for specific opera- tional and mission needs. The funds for these grants are the gifts sent to the AFCU from alumni and friends of these churches and also members who sent their stewardship donations through the AFCU. If they are designated, or come from church members, they go exclusively to that Doug Lippoldt and Thomas Wilson church, otherwise the wisdom of the board decides. The approval of these grants is a major part of the annual meeting business. There is a need to significantly grow the endowment funds to meet the future needs of our member churches and President Jim Craig asked for volunteers to attend a retreat in August at Grand Rapids Michigan to review our mission and develop a strategic plan. The next annual meeting is planned for Atlanta Georgia April 28-May1, 2006. Guests are welcome at their request. If you would like more detail or a copy of the annual meeting minutes, send me an e-mail at [email protected] Richard E. Bright - Secretary, American and Foreign Christian Union

2 �� Budget Summary �� AFCU revenues are budgeted based on historic �� trends in US based donor support and Stewardship �� giving by members in and visitors to the sponsored churches. Investment earnings are budgeted to be �� 5% of the investments held. ��

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AFCU grants are budgeted based on requests from our sponsored churches. �� Expenses are budgeted based on historic trends and contractual relationships. During 2005, signifi cant grants for capital improvements to both the American �� Church in Paris—$155,000 and American Church in Berlin—$100,000 were approved by the AFCU Board. Funding for these capital improvements will �� come both from prior and current year’s giving. Maintenance of the American �� Church in Paris building represents a major fi nancial commitment for the church members and the AFCU. Improvements to the American Church in Berlin, �� which recently moved into the Luther Church in Central Berlin are necessary for continuation of their ministry. Please consider supporting both of these projects as you support English-speaking Christian ministry in Europe. Julie Voskuil President’s Message Continued from page 1 The Board agreed to predominantly fund this through special challenge dona- Thus the AFCU fi nancial support of the churches amount to a long term Capital tions of $5,000 from each Board Member. These challenge funds are funded Fund Raising effort and specifi c grants to aid them through the current operating personally or through local fund raising efforts. and capital needs. The Board agreed to the following challenge for this year. The AFCU Board has made a serious commitment to its mission of supporting ACP-Capital $155,000 our churches and invites all alumni and friends to join with us in this goal. Our ACB- Operating $ 90,000 care and our prayers is our stated mission and we remain faithful to that end. VCC- Operating $ 15,000 Jim Craig How You Can Contribute The American and Foreign Christian Union (AFCU) supports the American Church in Paris (ACP), the American Church in Berlin (ACB), and the Vienna Community Church (VCC) through grants to help their programs. Gifts to the AFCU help to increase our support of these churches. Contributions may be sent to the American and Foreign Christian Union at AFCU, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 2060, New York, NY, 10115. You may also make gifts to the individual churches. If you wish your gift to be tax deductible in the United States, you must make your dollar check payable to the AFCU at the above address. Put the words “for ACB or ACP, or VCC” on the memo line of your check. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

3 Calvin College President Speaks to AFCU The American & Foreign Christian Union’s recent strategic planning retreat held at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan was attended by 15 AFCU board members. The retreat was kicked off by Calvin College Provost, Dr. Joel Carpenter who is a historian specializing in global Christianity. Dr. Carpenter shard insights into the growth of Christianity in the global South: Asia, Africa, and Latin America. For example, in 1900, 80% of Christians lived in North America and Europe, today, 60% of Christians live in Africa, Asia and Latin America.1 We also learned that today, many Christian organizations and denominations are headed by non- European/Americans. Dr. Carpenter spoke to us about the changes that the global church may bring to AFCU sponsored churches, he also challenged us to see the opportunities, “…Europe has millions of people from non-Western Christian backgrounds, so you are likely to ﬁnd that the natural constituency for your congregations is changing. You are there principally, to serve English speakers, but the majority of the world’s English speakers do not reside in the British Isles and North America. English has become a worldwide medium for business, cultural and intellectual exchange, the second language of hundreds of millions of people. In places like Paris, Berlin and Vienna where you minister, there are no doubt many Africans, Asians and Latin Americans who are at work in business, government and NGO posts, who know English and have an interest in, if not a commitment to, Christianity. They should be thought of as a natural constituency of your ministry as much as are Americans, Canadians and Australians.” Most of us who have attended international churches have experienced great joy in the diversity of the church uni- versal. Your support of the AFCU enables these international churches to bridge and connect the nations until the time when “…at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…”(Phil 2:10) For a transcript of Dr. Carpenter’s address at the AFCU strategic planning retreat, please see our website: www.afcubridge.org 1David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson, “Annual Statistical Table on Global Mission: 2004,” International Bulletin of Missionary Research 28:1 (January 2004): 25.

AFCU Development Report Meetings in New York City: On July 11 & 12, 2005, several meetings took place in New York City with various persons having successful experiences with fund-raising campaigns. Ben Aller and Bill Johnston attended representing the American Church in Paris Council and share a draft of a newly developed vision for the church. Dr. Eugene Winkler, former pastor of The Chicago Temple and friend of AFCU board member Calder Ehrmann attended as well as Jerry Burns from the AFCU. Meetings took place with Archivist, Nancy Cricco, at the New York University Archives where the earliest AFCU records are stored. The group also met with Lauren Logan (Capital Campaign Director) and Randy Weber (Pastor of Administration) at the Fifth Av- enue Presbyterian Church who just raised $29 million during a very successful Capital Campaign. In addition, they met with Susan Switzer, Director of Development at the Riverside Church (a church with surprisingly similar demographics to the ACP). And they finally met with Irma Levesque, Director of Development at the Union Theological Seminary who shared some of their fund-raising experiences. When the four representatives finally met together, it was decided to pursue a foundation grant for the Youth & Young Adult Ministry at the ACP. This will be our first real effort to obtain a foundation grant, but we hope to accelerate our success with the help and experience of Dr. Winkler and former ACP Youth Pastor, Karen Halac. The next AFCU development activity is the fall development committee meeting which will be held on November 4 & 5, 2005, in Nashville, TN.

4 In Memory of Norman W. Philcox, former FBI agent, and longtime ‘Heritage’ AFCU Board member Norman W. Philcox, 90, of Rivermead Road, died I have recently included the American and accomplish some of this? If one wants to April 12, 2005, at his Peterborough, NH residence. Foreign Christian Union and its several make sure ‘inheritance’ is applied for ‘heri- He was born Sept. 21, 1914, in Maplewood, NJ, churches in my will. For those thinking tage’ what ‘counsel’ should one take—with the son of Norma (Hussey) and Harry H. Philcox. about doing the same, I offer this biblical oneself, with others? Before moving to Peterborough in January 2002, he resided in Amherst for 28 years and Paris for homily. The 16th Psalm is a favorite of So, some of my thoughts upon re-writing 15 years. mine, especially these words: my will (with children in their early twen- Mr. Philcox graduated from Tusculum College, The Lord is the portion of mine in- ties, it will require another edition in five Greeneville, Tenn., in 1937. He was an FBI spe- heritance…the lines are fallen unto me years’ time, perhaps loosening up a bit). cial agent in Chicago, New York City, in White in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly There are some organizations which seem Plains, NY. He served as resident agent and senior resident agent and at headquarters as a supervisor heritage, I will bless the Lord, who hath to award huge grants to departing execu- and assistant section chief of the liaison section, given me counsel: tives; my ‘counsel’ is that they do not need handling liaison with the Defense Department, This passage considers three things. First: much from me. There are others who eke State Department and White House. ‘inheritance’; much of what we have and out another year depending upon donors; He was assigned to Paris in 1958 and became are comes from others who went before not knowing how long they may continue, legal attaché in 1959, handling liaison in Western us, some of whom we have forgotten nor what they may in time become, I have Europe and served as U.S. representative to the seen that they get at least a couple of years’ NATO Special Committee. He retired in 1973. and many of whom we never knew. This mayor may not include tangible wealth worth of donations at my death. Then there During his time in Paris Norm was a faithful are those who seem well established, likely member of the American Church. Upon his some of us being granted more oppor- return to the United States he was instrumental tunIties than means—but it will involve to continue as they are, which means requir- in the revitalization of the American and Foreign enough of our present being to make us ing donations well into the future. These Christian Union in the early 1980s. He added thankful for what has been given to us. hearty charities retain something of the younger members to the board and initiated the Such reflection might prompt a sense not original notion of charity more as a kind AFCU’s focus on development activity to support of love than as a kind of business. our churches. only of indebtedness (a proper guilt) but Norm formed the Northern New England Chapter of responsibility. This brings the charge of As one plans to pass on something to other of the Society of former FBI Agents and served ‘heritage.’ It is not just what we have and than one’s natural heirs, one might take as chairman and secretary, northeast regional vice are; how we became so is important. ‘counsel’ that some of one’s ‘inheritance’ president, president and as foundation chairman We all have the means and opportunities came from other than natural ancestors, and chairman of the Legal Assistance Fund. He indeed, it was made available from benevo- was chairman of the Police Science Department to be saints; we often lack the motive. at NH Vocational-Technical Institute and wrote a ‘heritage’ should stir us to action to do lent motives of strangers with a regard for textbook on organized crime. something to provide for those who come ‘heritage’ and the future. Much of this was Family members include his wife, Zelda Ellis after us, just as provision was made for done humbly, even anonymously. Philcox of Peterborough; one son, John Philcox of our sakes. So, the third charge: ‘counsel.’ ‘counsel’ from I Peter, chapter 5: Middleton, R.I.; one daughter, Janet Duchesneaux One may tie up an inheritance in confu- of Temple; five grandchildren; a nephew and two The elders which are among you, I exhort grandnieces. sion, one may spend it loosely to no ... Feed the flock of God which is among- purpose. What to do with what one has: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the you, taking the oversight thereof, not by American and Foreign Christian Union. You may time, talent, stuff? constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, do so by contacting treasurer Julie Voskuil at the A humble reflection and introspective but of a ready mind; neither as Deing lords AFCU, 475 Riverside Dr., Suite 2050, New York, prayer is a place to start. Setting down over God’s heritage, but being examples NY, 10115. The American and Foreign Christian Union Board would like to express our deepest words on a sheet of paper is a way to to the flock. sympathy to Norm’s family and friends, among continue this: who should get what? how So be it! whom we count ourselves. should that be given? What might one Rev. Thomas Wilson uniquely do that would make a difference, in time, for others? How does one

5 VIENNA CONNECTION

Editor’s note: This article has been compiled and edited from drafts provided by members of the VCC Board: Louise Hodgin-Pickart (VCC Mod- erator); Anne Rothgeb-Peschek; Hilda Mwathi; and Eric Engleman, as well as from Bill Price, former Moderator, and Ronan LeBras, chair of the Pastoral Search Committee. My own special thanks go to VCC interim pastor Jay Dee Conrad, who with Andrea Conrad also submitted a brief article about life in the Manse, for his support and help with this task.

The Founding of the Vienna Community Church When the Austrian State Treaty was signed in 1955, the Allied powers which had remained in Austria from the end of World War II withdrew their troops and other staff, including their chaplains. English-speaking Protestants in Vienna who had been attending Army chapel services sought to continue their worship together. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Bartak, Minister of the Third Methodist Church in Vienna, offered to preach a sermon in English every Sunday in his church in addition to services in German and Czech. In 1956, Dr. Bartak, knowing that he would be retiring at the end of 1957, corresponded with the Methodist Church in America and with the National Council of Churches in the USA requesting a minister to take over his congregations. In July 1957, Dr. Otto F. Meinardus, Pastor of the Maadi Community Church in Cairo, was sent to Vienna by the National Council of Protestant Community Churches. With the help of Dr. Meinardus and Dr. Bartak, and with the assistance of leaders of Protestant churches in Austria, the founding meeting of the Vienna Com- munity Church was held on 29 August 1957. At this meeting the Constitution and the Covenant were adopted and the first Church Board elected. Its first worship service was in Dr. Bartak’s church on 8 September. A week later, having received a formal invitation from the Evangelische Kirche H.B. (“Helvetisches Bekenntnis”, Zwinglian/Calvinist or “Reformed”) to use its premises at Dorotheergasse 16 (Reformierte Stadtkirche), the second worship service of the VCC was held in their sanctuary, where it has met ever since. On 11 February 1958, a special congregational meeting voted unanimously to extend a call to Rev. Alexander J. McKelway to become its first permanent minister. Rev. McKelway took office in April 1958 and since then, though with ups and downs like any congregation, the existence of the VCC has, through God’s grace, never been in doubt. The Vienna Community Church Today Since the founding of the VCC in 1957, the congregation has grown not only in numbers (from around 50 to a present membership of around 120) but also in outreach. Whereas in 1957 the only other English-speaking congregation was the Anglican-Episcopalian Church attached to the British Embassy, today there are at least 10 English-language churches in Vienna. Thus, the VCC feels it has a special mission to offer a broad program to attract Christians from many nations who have many forms of worship. Being the only English-language church located in the centre of Vienna has its advantages. The VCC is known for its excellent music, and our worship services are enriched by the talents of musicians, members and guests, who are living in, studying in or visiting Vienna. (See related article). Our members come from about 35 countries around the world. Our congregation is made up of students, musicians, medical personnel, teachers, spouses of Austrians, employees of private/ international businesses, ,the various UN organisations or embassies, as well as Austrian Civil Servants and retirees (Austrian and expatriate). Members may stay in Vienna for a few weeks, for several years, or may be permanent residents. VCC members employed by the United Nations organisations here – Vienna is the ‘third UN headquarters’ after New York City and Geneva, Switzerland - usually remain in Vienna for three to five years, so the congregation is accustomed to a steady turnover of its membership. Each Sunday the congregation is pleased to greet visitors to Vienna. The congregation, being international, interracial and interdenominational in composition and ecumenical in spirit, is

Continued on page 7

6 Continued from page 6 Membership/ broadly tolerant of conservative, traditional and liberal theology. The VCC seeks to provide an atmosphere in which all people, Austrian and non-Austrian, native English-speakers and those who speak English as a Fellowship at the second (or third) language, may be renewed to meet the challenges of living in a cosmopolitan community. VCC Christian worship, education and fellowship are a vital part of our ministry to people of all ages. Membership at the VCC is as varied as the al- Our members support charity projects all over the world; currently a percentage of our benevolence phabet – from Austria to Zimbabwe and from all monies and volunteer time support “Project Centipede”, a program founded by a VCC member and a corners of the globe, and the congregation always member of the Reformed Church, host church to the VCC. Centipede assists two orphanages, children rejoices to receive new members. Those wishing and young people in Romania schools as well as several projects for children and youth in the southwest to make a commitment to the VCC are asked to Indian state of Kerala. (See related article.) Individual members of the VCC participate in diverse outreach confirm the Covenant of the Church. activities, ranging from teaching English in a Lutheran Lyceum (high school) in Bratislava to providing HIV/AIDS prevention and health counselling in Eritrea. Being interdenominational and intercultural, fellowship is enriched by varied experiences as we For students, singles and families alike, the VCC becomes a haven in the midst of an often uncertain way share a common bond of worshipping the Lord of life and a source of friendship and neighborliness. Jesus Christ. At Sunday morning Bible Study, The VCC is deeply grateful to the Reformierte Stadtkirche H.B. (“Helvetic Confession” / Reformed) for we share breakfast together and read and study their generosity in making their church building and facilities available for the use of our congregation. the Word of God, discussing applicability of the We are also grateful to the Lutherische Stadtkirche (Evangelische Kirche A.B. – “Augsburg Confession Word in our own lives. This fellowship is in a ”/ Lutheran) next door for permitting the use of their building for VCC church school classes. centrally-located cafe near the VCC. The VCC Becomes a Legal Entity A fellowship hour is held immediately after the In the early years of the VCC, numerous members had diplomatic status and did not think that it was Church service in the fellowship hall over coffee necessary for the VCC to be recognised as a legal entity, particularly as the VCC is an interdenominational or tea, as the congregation greet visitors, - tourists, church body and Austrian law had no provision for such a church. newcomers to Vienna, and in winter even the odd homeless Viennese who come for the coffee and After the political upheavals of 1989 in Eastern and Central Europe, and the entry of Austria into the the warmth. One special attraction to this fellow- European Union (EU) in 1995, the congregation deemed it prudent to seek official legal recognition for ship time has been the VCC Book Table, which the VCC. In recent years the Austrian Church Constitution (regulating relationships between the Prot- was established in the 1960’s when virtually no estant Churches – Lutheran and Reformed – and the Austrian Government) was amended to meet EU spiritual literature, or religious books for children regulations. This now makes it possible for Protestants who are members of a non-Austrian church to in English were available in Austria. As the VCC join together to form a congregation to be recognised by the Consistory of the Evangelical Churches of looks for a new approach to this particular aspect the Augsburg and of the Helvetic Confessions. After lengthy preparations and discussions, the VCC was of its ministry, it is likely that the book table will officially recognised as a Protestant corporate congregation of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg be phased out in the next year or so. and of the Helvetic Confessions at the end of June 2005. New, Empowered Wings for the VCC’s Congregation As a young father, I was told that it was important that I give my children a sense of their origins by letting them know about their roots and to acquire a sense of freedom and leadership by helping them to deploy their wings: “Give them roots and give them wings!” Our congregation is not a child in terms of human life span since VCC has been around for nearly fifty years, but it certainly is when compared with many churches. We are a community of many roots. The VCC was founded in 1957 by English-speaking Protestants who felt a need to worship in a non-denominational way uniting many liturgical elements from their respective church traditions. In spite of its relatively small size, the VCC is now a spiritual home to people of many nationalities spanning all continents, whose main trait in common is the use of the English language and our diverse Christian heritage. Our roots run deep into these varied origins. With its search for a new pastor, our congregation is about to deploy new George Vohryzka, Pat Deitrich and wings and enter a new episode in its history. Walt Deitrich, Jim and Cindy Craig at Barbara Rogers at Coffee Hour the Heuringerabend, 27 May 2005. after Sunday Service. We are conducting this search prayerfully and with the great care that the search for a highly qualified member of the clergy requires. The six member committee is broadly representative of our congregation, newer members as well as old-timers, a sampling of our geographical and gender diversity. After placing advertisements with various specialized organizations, we received a number of applications within the time allotted. Our team has centered on selecting a short list of candidates. The selection was driven by criteria which were agreed upon, against which each résumé was evalu- ated. We are now reviewing additional material provided by the short-listed candidates, such as videos of sermons. Based on these, we will decide and present to the Church Board and Congregation the candidate we feel would be the best suited to give new, empowered wings to our congregation of many roots.

7 Music in the Vienna Community Church The Vienna Community Church has a long-standing reputation for the high quality of its music program. Music students, professional musicians, and guest choirs from all over the world have joined us in performing religious works during our services. The congregation is deeply grateful for these excellent musicians who have contributed their talents to our worship over the years. The congregation supports efforts to enrich our meditation through music, particularly as Vienna’s magnificent musical history and tradition – Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Beethoven lived and composed here – and the high standard of music at the VCC over the years reflect the unequalled musical foundation on which this city stands. VCC members are actively involved in supporting and advancing this tradition: the present music director was instrumental in founding the Collegium Dorotheum, an ensemble primarily dedicated to the performance of compositions by baroque composers. The Rothgeb Memorial Scholarship, a study programme for selected VCC musicians, has to date aided 41 young musicians in their careers: the 2005 award went to a young Chinese soprano, who in addition to her studies and solo performances in church has also been a loyal member of the VCC choir. Soloists and choir have participated in recordings – fourteen titles are available to date – and special VCC benefit concerts. The three congregations, each representing a different culture and tradition – German-, Hungarian-, and English-speaking, gathered together for a joint service in June to honour our organist on the occasion of his 35th anniversary. At the close of the service the Col- legium Dorotheum performed Purcell’s ‘TeDeum’ in his honour.

The View from the Manse As we look out the study window on to Argentinierstrasse we see the Turkish grocery directly across the street. The windows on Schelleingasse look down the street to a kindergarten. It’s a corner apartment and, with the windows open, has all the benefits of cross breezes in the summer . . . along with the noises of the city. Rail and trolley stations, and fast, reliable, and safe bus and underground connections are all within one block. It takes but fifteen minutes - door to door - to reach the church in the First District. This is life in the city. The manse itself is a typical late 19th-century flat on the second floor of a five-story building. The ceilings are about eleven feet high. The rooms are presently arranged as: dining room, living room, kitchen, master bed room and a office\guest bedroom. The flat has a separate WC and a bathroom with tub/shower, sink and stacking washer and dryer. The furniture is typically Central European. As the VCC has no church building(s) of its own, certain activities are held at the Manse, e.g. choir practice and monthly board meetings. Other gatherings, meetings and receptions take place in the manse as need arises. The Manse provides all the VCC Members and AFCU Visitors at the VCC Manse, accoutrements of modern living: computer connections, phones, fax, cable televi- 28 May 2005. sion, all of which make it an efficient and attractive living and working environment. Certainly a working knowledge of German helps the processes.

Project Centipede—India In March 2001, Project Centipede—India was founded in cooperation with Suvartha Charitable Trust located in Kodukulanji, Kerala, in southwestern India. Assisting in this project is a member of the VCC from this area of India. On-going projects include: a school lunch programme for students at John Memorial High School in Ala Village; teaching young women to sew so they can thus earn a living; providing computer education and training for 40 students at the Suvartha Computer Center; and supplying50 families with 10 kg of rice each per month. Following the earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia on 26 December 2004, Project Centipede India—Tsunami was established. Its aim is to aid children and families who lost everything in this devastating catastrophe. We particularly want to help the children and youth in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. As a first project, sixteen children and young people who were orphaned as a result of the flooding in the Cape Comerin area of Tamil Nadu have been gathered together as a family and are now living under the same roof. We are providing financial support to these children. The funding of this Project is under the guidance of a VCC family member who lives in the area.

8 Project Centipede—Romania ‘Projekt Tausendfuessler’—‘Project Centipede’ was started in February 1990 when a Hungarian-speaking member of the Reformed Church returned from delivering a truckload of food to several places in the Transylvanian area of Romania, the region populated by ethnic Hungarians. He told us about a children’s home in Cristuru Secuiesc (Keresztur) which was minimally heated and where the children could not attend school since they did not have any shoes. He asked “Is there any way we can help these children?” The answer was “yes, there is.” Our idea was to provide every child with three pairs of shoes –street shoes, winter shoes, and slippers. Thus the name “Tausendfuessler” or in English “Centipede.” Questionnaires asking for each child’s name, birth date, height, weight, shoe size and outline of foot were sent to the minister of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Miercurea Ciuc (the Hungarian name of the town is Csikszereda) with the request to take them to the home to be completed and returned to us. The pastor returned the questionnaires with a note saying that he had taken them to the orphanage in Sinmartin, a village 15 km east of Csikszereda, where the need was even greater—a home for children under 3 years of age where the children received ONE bowl of soup a day! The average weight of each child—between two and three years old—was six kilogrammes (14 pounds). The aim of Project Centipede at that time was to ensure that the children in the Elementary school children in Csinod, Romania Sinmartin orphanage had sufﬁcient food, medicine and clothing and that they would have a home-like atmosphere to grow up in. These children —now teenagers—live with foster families in the village of Sinmartin. For several years now our biggest Project has been supplying these children with fresh milk daily. This means 65 liters of milk a day or 23,400 liters (6,325 gallons) per year at a cost of �9000 ($10,800). As Project Centipede grew, we were able to set up workshops in a home for mentally handicapped youth in Olteni, Romania, to promote their dexterity, con- centration and perseverance. To assist in their training as gardeners and agricultural workers, we provided them with a tractor. We are now also able to assist 3 elementary schools, in Erdöalja, Zsögöd and Csinód, and supply them with school materials, books, games and toys. To bring a little joy to these children, each receives a colorfully wrapped box containing hygiene articles, chocolate and sweets and a coloring book and pencils, which they treasure. Those little ones we started caring for in 1990 are now teenagers in need of specialised training to enable them to ﬁnd jobs. As a result, in the fall of 1997 we provided the Director of the Institute of Technology in Miercurea Ciuc (Csikszereda) with PCs, which allowed him to start computer education for his 600 students. We have continued to supply them with additional, better computer systems and supplies. The PCs are cleaned and checked for functionality in Vienna before they are taken to Romania. In 2002, the Technical University of Budapest, Hungary, opened a branch in Csikszereda. More than 250 graduates of the Technical High School have passed the entrance exams and are continuing their education in computer science at that University. The original “Centipede Family” members were members of the Reformed Church—Vienna Inner City, its Hungarian speaking congregation, the Vienna Community Church and many of their friends. The present “Family” members live in and around Vienna, and in other parts of Austria, in the United Kingdom (Scotland and England), and the European countries of Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Hungary, as well as in the USA. Projekt Tausendfuessler—Project Centipede was founded by and is headed by the husband and wife team of Heinz (Reformed Church) and Louise (VCC) Pickart. Additional information is available at the project website http://www.centipede-vienna.org/what.html, and by e-mail to [email protected]. Christian Education at the VCC O God, from my youth you have taught me, young children then leave for Sunday school growing numbers of “twenty-somethings” in the and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. where a professional curriculum is used to help the congregation perhaps a gathering at the university, So even to old age and gray hairs, teachers provide good and godly wisdom. or with a number of United Nation personnel in the congregation a gathering at the Vienna Inter- O God, do not forsake me, Adult Christian education includes a Sunday until I proclaim your might to all the genera- national Center. As the church has no building morning pre-worship Bible study and breakfast at of its own, along with different venues, we are tions to come. a local cafe. The most recent studies have been of (Psalm 71:17-18 NRSV) exploring a greater use of computer technology Jeremiah and Acts...with an epistle on the menu for education among all ages. The Vienna Community Church strives to proclaim for the autumn. The study is primed with Wiener God’s wondrous deeds and might to all the gen- Mélange and a plate of Eier mit Speck. The layer The motivating words of AFCU president, Jim erations to come. There are Christian education of warm milch in the Mélange may be shallow but Craig, who during his visit in May of this year programs for children and adults. the insights are deep. encouraged us to have a vision, are greatly appreciated. To the readers of “The Bridge,” we thank you Sunday morning worship includes a children’s The VCC looks to the future with dreams of a for your prayers on our behalf as we seek to bring message followed by a song just for the children deeper and more varied adult education program, the Gospel to adults as well as the “next genera- . . . remembering we are all children of God. The perhaps meeting in different venues: With a tion” at the Vienna Community Church.

9 BERLIN CONNECTION Our Gifts Working for Mission Long After We Are Gone My wife Nancy and I have chosen to include the American Church in Berlin Endowment entrusted to the AFCU, to be recipient of a stated percentage in our will. We also are paying quarterly into a ten thousand dollar life insurance policy, which will be given to the endowment of the American Church in Berlin held by the AFCU following our passing. Ready…Set…Go! Since the time I served as Pastor of the Berlin con- Summer is over - the schedules are in full swing. You may feel like the starters gun has sounded gregation in the late seventies, I have been commit- and you are sprinting out of the starting blocks in the race of your life. To complicate things a ted to continue supporting the ongoing mission of bit, everyone else in the family and neighborhood is off and running too and not necessarily in the American Church in Berlin. Being Pastor of the same direction! ACB has given me first hand experiences of the value expatriates receive by being members of At the American Church in Berlin we are in the “go” mode, too. I want to share with you some ACB. It helps families adjust to a new cul- of the “go” things that are important for our consideration and attention. ture while being away from the familiar back 1. Rally Sunday: We begin Sunday School (note the new time of 9:30 a.m.) and 11 a.m. home. It gives English-speaking people a worship Worship on the 28th of August. It is not too late for you to enroll in our super Sunday and fellowship experience in their mother tongue. School, exciting Youth Classes (Confirmation and Young People) and our challenging It also offers an opportunity for other internation- als to be included in a joyful and meaningful Adult Forum. worship and educational atmosphere. Germans 2. Choir Rehearsal: Choir rehearsal begins August 30, Tuesday evening from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. enjoy ACB because the American Church at the Luther Church. You are welcome to come and sing! Under the excellent leadership of provides an exciting worship that is messing for Anna Shefelbine, you will experience a wonderful time of singing, learning and expanding them in their German churches. Africans enjoy your musical and spiritual horizons. the worship and community life, which fills a spiritual void they enjoyed in their home churches. 3. Gospel Choir. Everyone is welcome to join, the faint ability to carry a tune is a plus, but Christians from India are pleased to share their not a requirement! If you are interested, please leave your name on the sign-up sheet in cultural experiences with the ACB community. the reception The Lindholms want to be assured that our estate 4. Intern Cheryl Lamaak arrives: Cheryl will be arriving September 1 st to spend the year gifts, along with the contributions of others to the with us as intern. She will be introduced and participate in worship on Sunday the 4th of ACB endowment funds of the AFCU, will pro- September. You will want to be there to welcome her and extend to her the wonderful, vide the financial support to continue the meaningful ministry and Christian mission among warm ACB welcome that is unique to this community of faith. We look forward to our expatriates in Berlin long after we are gone. We year together. feel certain that the AFCU provides a secure place Tag des Offenen Denkmals (Open House Day for Historical Landmarks)—September 10 and where you can be assured that your money will 11. This is a great opportunity for ACB to open our doors to the community and share not only continue the mission of Christ in Berlin for many the history of our home, but our plans for the future. For this event the church will be open to years to come. the public with activities from 11 to 21 hours on Saturday and guided tours will be given at The Rev. Dr. Charles D. Lindholm 11, 13 and 17 hours. Dr. Falk Reitz, ACB member and professor with extensive knowledge on Charles D. Lindholm, D.Min. historical architecture, will offer a lecture during the open house event. On Saturday evening Email: [email protected] there will be a great concert from the DeKalb Choral Guild (USA). On Sunday a special invita- August 22, 2005 tion will be given to everyone to attend worship at 11 followed by a special coffee hour. We will need MANY volunteers from ACB to assist. Please contact Denise Banks-Grasedyck to offer your availability.

10 PARIS CONNECTION of the groups where you will uncover deeper layers of Christian relationships. You will also discover that you receive far more than you give in those ministry groups. 5. Be an initiator. Initiate conversations. Initiate relationships. Take initiative in getting involved in ministry opportunities. Don’t wait to receive a special invitation. Operate on the premise that your ideas and talents, your comments and experiences will enrich the people and ministry programs of the international. It’s a valid assumption. 6. Be a sensitive listener. As many of you From the Pastor know, when you move to a new country your life is ﬁlled with many new chal- Dear American Church Friends, ence is a formula for stagnation. lenges and frustrations, as well as joys. The month of September marks the begin- 2. Be open to the Spirit’s surprises. If you When you listen emphatically to someone ning of a new year for learning, service, and enter into the life of an international who needs to share feelings more than spiritual growth at the American Church. congregation as an explorer beginning facts, you are acting as an instrument of For those of you who have just arrived in an extraordinary adventure of the Spirit, Christ’s peace. Paris and are new to the church, we offer you will make many discoveries in your 7. Possess an ecumenical spirit. Being an you a warm welcome. For those who have journey of grace and faith. active participant in the life and ministry been deeply rooted in ACP for several years, 3. Celebrate with your extended family on of the American Church in Paris may be welcome back. This time of Rentrée in France Sunday morning!. Worship, study, and one of the best opportunities that you provides us all with an opportunity to reﬂect fellowship are integral to our experience will ever have to experience a wide- on what it means for us to be members of of the Christian life in any congregation. angle view of the one, global Christian an international and interdenominational However, in an international congrega- Church. It allows us the advantage of congregation. In order to maximize the joy of tion, in which many people are far away seeing beyond denominational labels and being an active participant in an international from their countries of origin, Sunday stereotypes and focusing on the unity of congregation like ACP, a person needs to have morning is a time when we can experi- Christ that binds us together. Learn to a faith perspective that incorporates many of ence the blessings of an “extended fam- appreciate the variety of liturgies that the following attitudes and feelings. ily” of faith. The Lord’s Day is not only a we use to celebrate the sacrament of 1. Don’t expect it to be the same. It won’t time for worship, but also an opportunity communion, the varieties of music that be. People who expect an international to build relationships with brothers and appeal to different persons’ hearts, the congregation to be the same as the church sisters in Christ. differing expectations that we have for they experienced in their homeland or 4. Invest yourself beyond Sunday morning! how churches are governed. The world- during another international assignment Of course it is very important to be part wide body of . Christ is far more diverse usually set themselves up for a great of the worshipping community on Sun- than our previous experience of it. Being disappointment. By its very nature an in- day. But the people who have the richest a member of an international church is a ternational church will not duplicate our experiences in international churches are unique chance to broaden our ecumenical Christian experience in another culture. those who invest their time, talents, and horizons. The diversity represented in churches like energy in some form of group or ministry 8. Practice hospitality. Be welcoming. Invite ACP needs to be looked upon as a gift that meets at a different time than Sunday others, especially visitors and new arriv- to unwrap, not a cause for complaining. morning. Committees, choirs, bible stud- Attempting to replicate a previous experi- ies, and mission service teams are some Continued on page 13

11 Welcome Dan, to the ACP… Hello!! Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dan Randall, and I was born and raised in Colorado, USA. From there, I attended Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington, USA. Since The American and Foreign Christian Union then, I have also lived in Santa Cruz, California; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Durham, North Carolina God placed a passion within me for living and working abroad about 10 years ago, when I spent a sum- The Bridge mer in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Since then, God has allowed me to work with youth programs, Connecting Our Churches and Friends around the World reconciliation programs, relief and disaster response in Northern Ireland, Albania, Kosovo, Afghanistan, other parts of Central Asia, and also briefly in Central America. I have also had the opportunity to study in Israel for a year. The Bridge Editor Before coming to ACP, I was working on a Master of Divinity degree at Duke Divinity School in Durham, Katherine Eppert North Carolina. They have allowed me to postpone my final year of studies in order to come to ACP and [email protected] work as the Youth and Young Adult Pastor. American & Foreign The direction of ministry I am currently exploring is in the field of working with youth and young adults Christian Union in an international context. If this lay specifically in church, parachurch, Bible school, university, or 475 Riverside Dr., Suite 2060 chaplaincy, I do not know. As in other situations, I trust that God will faithfully provide guidance and New York, NY, 10115 direction when the time comes to take the next step. While I will focus on the Youth and Young Adult www.afcubridge.org programs in this next year, I hope to enter in to the full, vibrant life ACP offers in this international and AFCU President diverse community. James Craig Well, that’s just a quick rundown. If you want to know more, feel free to ask. [email protected] Thanks for your time © PEACE, American Church in Berlin Dan Randall Onkel-Tom-Strasse 93 14169, Berlin, Germany [email protected] From the Pastor 10.Be thankful. The dynamics and the demo- www.americanchurchberlin.de Continued from page 11 graphics of an international congregation American Church in Paris als, into your conversations. Consider are exceedingly different from most 65, quai d’Orsay inviting them for a cup of coffee. People congregations with which we have been 75007, Paris, France who are living away from their home associated. People are always coming and [email protected] country or people who may be from going. There is a high level of member- www.acparis.org France but are new to the American ship turnover. Continuity of leadership Vienna Community Church Church have a need to be connected to is wishful thinking. Stability of member- Dorotheergasse 16 others who share their values and faith ship is a fairy tale. The only thing that is A-1010 , Vienna, Austria perspective. Warmly invite others into constant is change. We can either choose [email protected] your circle of friends and into your life. to lament these characteristics of inter- www.ViennaCommunityChurch.com Practice hospitality. national churches, or we can give thanks and praise to God for the life-changing 9. Be eager to grow spiritually. Being an ac- opportunities that we have to worship, to me is that they did not get involved soon tive member of an international church is serve, learn, pray, and grow with friends enough in the life of the church. Sometimes a tremendous opportunity for us to grow in Christ from around the world. If you people hesitate to get involved in ministry. in our understanding and practice of the have an attitude of gratitude, being part They wait on the sidelines, on the periphery, Christian faith. We are surrounded by of an interdenominational, international of the church, and months pass by. Then, if persons from 50 nations and many dif- church can be one of the richest blessings they do finally take the risk to join more fully ferent Christian backgrounds, and their that you will ever receive from the hand in congregational life, they discover that they experiences of Christ’s grace may add of God. Be thankful for it. have friends to love, people who care about significantly to our faith. If we are eager them, and a supportive community with Above all, DON’T WAIT to experience the to grow in our daily experience of Christ’s whom they can share their highest hopes and joy of the American Church in Paris. I have transforming presence and power, then deepest sorrows. So, don’t wait to experience been serving as the pastor of international an international congregation is a fertile the joy of the American Church. field that can yield an abundant spiritual congregations for 8 years, and the most pro- In Christ’s Joy, harvest in our lives. found regret that many people have expressed Pastor Barry Dawson