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CHAIRMAN's E BULLETIN 1 MARCH 2015

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CHAIRMAN's E BULLETIN 1 MARCH 2015 CHAIRMAN’S e BULLETIN 1 MARCH 2015 The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Bishop, the Dean, Canon Porter, the Friends Group from Coventry Cathedral and our hosts from the Frauenkirche, Dresden FORGIVENESS AND FRIENDSHIP The Reverend William Howard, Leader of the Friends Group, which visited Dresden, and the Secretary of the Friends, reports on the experience and reflects on what he learned. Twelve members of the Friends travelled to Dresden, as guests of the Friends of the Frauenkirche, to be part of the 70th anniversary commemoration of the destruction of the City. We were joined by the Archbishop, the Bishop, the Dean, and Martin Williams representing the Community of the Cross of Nails, civic dignitaries, representatives of other twinned cities, the Duke of Kent and Dresden Trustees who had been invited by the city of Dresden. We all felt highly honoured to be included in such exalted company and be accommodated at the expense of the City. We were interviewed for radio and television and even saw some of our faces on BBC news. We attended two events at the Kreuzkirche (the equivalent of our Cathedral), three at the Frauenkirche (both churches have Crosses of Nails), one at the Opera House, and open-air events. We were hosted at the Deaconess’ Hospital, which has long associations with Coventry, from the time when Provost Bill Williams recruited a group of young people to help with the rebuilding in 1965. We made a special visit to the ‘Panometer’, the inside of a former gasworks transformed into a 360° panorama of the City, as it looked just after the bombing and firestorm in February 1945. The exhibits explaining why Dresden was an inevitable target of Allied bombing. In their speeches both the German President and the Bishop of Saxony admitted that since the Nazis had unleashed war and inflicted suffering on Europe, they should not have been surprised to find it visited on them in return. Archbishop Justin said, that as Christians we all deeply regret what went on in wartime then, has been done since, and continues in Ukraine. Peace and Reconciliation are needed as much as ever. 1 Dresden is still rebuilding, but its Baroque splendour has been faithfully recreated, and glowed in the bright winter sunshine. Wherever we went, it was made very clear to us that Coventry’s contribution to reconciliation, with former enemies, has cast a shining light. It helped Dresdeners through the long years of communist rule, and has been an enormous encouragement in the 25 years since. As people saw our Coventry Cathedral badges, they greeted us with great enthusiasm, telling us they had visited Coventry, or would love to do so. stories. We came home very conscious that as God helps us to pray ‘Father Forgive’, however difficult that can be, it can lead to very deep friendships. INTERESTING AND INSPIRING Following the visit by the Friends to the Frauenkirche, we received the following message from Evi Barsch, who had arranged our itinerary: “The days and conversations with you all were so interesting and inspiring. We are so grateful that a group of Friends from Coventry Cathedral were our guests in Dresden. It's just a shame it was such a short time. We're sure that the intentions of the worldwide Community of the Cross of Nails and the Frauenkirche, to build bridges, strengthen faith and live out reconciliation, were brought to life. Let's hope that the hours we spent together will continue to resonate for a long time in our everyday lives”. MOVING THE CROSS OF NAILS During the Dresden Commemoration Weekend, former Friends’ Council Member Martin Williams represented Coventry Cathedral at the service to transfer the Coventry Cross of Nails from the Schlosskirche to the Oberkirche in Cottbus, Germany. The first church was recently handed over to the Jewish community, and is now a synagogue. The original synagogue was destroyed in 1938 during Kristallnacht. The Rev. Oliver Schuegraf (leader of he German Community of the Cross of Nails) and Jost Hasselhorn also took part. 2 THE IMPORTANCE OF DRESDEN "Feedback" on BBC Radio 4 on 20 February (which is still available on the BBC iPlayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b052mbjs) discusses the BBC's coverage of the Dresden commemorations. Roger Bolton interviews Dr. Peter Busch a German historian as well as the Jimmy Angus the Editor responsible for deciding what should be broadcast. It rehearses the importance of context, the narratives of victimhood versus the veterans’ bravery and courage and the need to re-examine commonly held national beliefs. Sadly, there was no mention of the work of reconciliation. QUEEN TO VISIT GERMANY The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, welcomed the statement by the British Ambassador Sir Simon McDonald, during his attendance at the 70th Anniversary Commemoration in Dresden. “From the moment the war ended, the path to reconciliation and partnership between Britain and Germany was opened. A path of friendship instead of enmity, of shared values instead of conflicting hostile ideologies. This is exemplified by the twinning of Dresden and Coventry in 1959. The relationship between Britain and Germany has never been better. HM The Queen’s State Visit to Germany in June 2015 is a powerful symbol of the importance, which Britain attaches to our relationship with Germany. We will remember today all the victims who died in Dresden 70 years ago and all those who died in Coventry and many other cities as the awful cost of defeating Nazi tyranny. But we will also draw inspiration for the future from the spirit of reconciliation, which emerged in the immediate post-war years. Let us build on those foundations to ensure that the partnership of shared values which now exists between Britain and Germany continues to flourish.” ARCHBISHOP SEES COVENTRY SCHOOLS The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, saw two ICON (International Cross of Nails) Schools, during his day visit to Coventry last month. He was at the Blue Coat School in the morning, and in the afternoon he visited Bablake School, where he also attended a reception with local faith leaders from around the City of Coventry (above). 3 OUT AND ABOUT The Reverend Sacha Slavic, is to complete his curacy at the Cathedral, whilst continuing as a Minister in Secular Employment at Bablake School in Coventry, where he teaches Religious Education and is School Chaplain. Sacha’s first became a member of the Cathedral Community in 1989, when he came over from France. He and his wife Alison were married in the Cathedral, where their children were also baptized. He follows the Rule of St Benedict and its daily pattern of prayer and work ("ora et labora") and his favourite motto is "Listen with the ears of your heart" St Benedict. For the first time in many years, the three pairs of West Screen doors, designed by Sir Basil Spence and manufactured by Crittall Windows, are again all in working order, following specialist repairs and maintenance. !"#$%&'() *+,%&) "#-."%#.) /0&*#,&1+%/) DV D UHFRQFLOHG SHRSOHµ FRPPHQWHG WKH9HU\ 5HYHUHQG -RKQ The funeral was held in the Cathedral last month of Dr :LWFRPEH'HDQRI&RYHQWU\´7KHIULHQGVKLSEHWZHHQ&RYHQWU\&DWKHGUDODQGWKH)UDXHQNLUFKHLVPenny Lacey, a Member of the Friends, and a Senior 0#) ,20'/3,) 01) *") +"4) "&.0#%10*%"#1) 15!+) 01) "5&1) !0#) /306) 0) /"1%*%7,) /0&*) %#) *+,) "#-."%#.)Lecturer at the University Birmingham. &,!"#!%3%0*%"QSURFHVVµ) Over the course of her career she made a huge and inspirational contribution, to the learning and development ! of children with profound and multiple learning difficulties. 8+,)!"'','"&0*%"#)0!*%7%*%,1)4%33)9&04)*")0)!3"1,)"#):5#906);<*+)=,>&50&6)4+,#)*+,)?&!+>%1+"/)"$) @0#*,&>5&6()*+,)A"1*)B,7,&,#9)C51*%#)D,3>6()4%33)/&,0!+)*+,)1,&'"#)%#)*+,)=&05,#E%&!+,A talented pianist withF)) a fine contralto voice, Penny was a Member of both Saint Michaels ?&!+>%1+"/)C51*%#)401)0)@0#"#)0*)@"7,#*&6)@0*+,9&03)$"&)1,7,&03)6,0&1)0#9)+01)Singers#"4) and the'09,)*+,) Cathedral Chamber Choir. We send our sincere condolences to her husband David Doggett and her family, following her sudden death. @0*+,9&03)*+,)>01,)$"&)+%1)B,!"#!%3%0*%"#)A%#%1*&6F) Our best wishes for a speedy recovery to full health, to Canon Christopher Lamb, ! who edited our highly regarded Jubilee publication ‘Reconciling People’. !"#$%#&'$()**$+#$,(##,)'-$,"./0-"/0,$,"#$,.)12$$3/**/($")4$56#&'7/82$ ‘Washday’ is a new take on Maundy Thursday. Christians have traditionally washed ! people’s feet, or more recently, offered free shoe cleaning on the street, as a way of telling ! the story of the Last Supper. ‘Washday’ is all about practical social action during Lent and Holy Week. It's an opportunity to go out and serve others - it could be cleaning windows ! for an older person who finds it difficult, washing a car, or washing up mugs in an office. "#$!%&#'(!)*+!(,-#!%.!(/*0! ! LEND A HAND ) New wristbands are available from the Cathedral Shop, for a recommended ) donation of £5.00, to support the ´0DNLQJ6SDFHIRU+RSHµZULVWEDQGVDUHQRZDYDLODEOHIRU Cathedral’s work and ministry. /5&!+01,()$"&)0)&,!"'',#9,9)9"#0*%"#)"$)G<),0!+F))?33)9"#0*%"#1) In soft plastic, they have the words 15//"&*)"5&)4"&E)0#9)'%#%1*&6F) ‘Coventry Cathedral - Making Space for ) Hope’ in white on a burgundy background. They give a new meaning to the Dean’s ! favourite aphorism: ‘Hand in Hand in Hand - hand ´7KH&RYHQWU\:H+DYH/RVWµ in hand with God and hand in hand with one H"35',);)>6)?3>,&*):'%*+)0#9) another” I07%9)=&6F))J*)&,*0%31)0*)GKFL<! ! 4 ! )*RGLYD·V)-)&RYHQWU\·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unday 8 March A Fun Quiz, combined with a Bring and Share Lunch in the Lecture Hall, is planned for Sunday 8th March from 12.15pm - 2.15pm.
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