St Thomas Becket, Hamburg Zeughausmarkt 22, 20459 Hamburg
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Issue 48, October 2011 Becket News 1 October –December 2011 Issue 48 The Church of St Thomas Becket, Hamburg Zeughausmarkt 22, 20459 Hamburg www.anglican-church-hamburg.de Becket News We are an English-speaking church in Hamburg consisting of people of many nations and Christian traditions. We worship in the Anglican Episcopal style and our church is part of the Diocese in Europe, which belongs to the Church of England. Our parish has existed since 1612 and the present church building since 1838. People of all nationalities and denominations are welcome to our services and other activities. 2 Becket News Issue 48, October 2011 Inside this issue: The Institution of Father Matthew Jones 3 Greetings from your new Chaplain 4 A Sincere Thank You 4 Messages from our former locums on the occasion of the institution: 5 The 8th Night of the Churches in Hamburg 6 The Last of the Locums 6 '' I was only the Locum" - Clifford Poole 7 Study Day at Kloster Nuetschau 8 Tell me that old, old story 9 Council of Anglican Episcopal Churches in Germany 10 Ceremony for the Ökumenisches Forum HafenCity 10 News from our Choir 11 Church Outing - Stade and the Altes Land - 12 Annual Bazaar Update 14 Church Christmas Cards 15 Ladies Christian Fellowship 15 Church Wanderers 16 STB400—Extending a Welcome 17 WebNews 17 From the Registers 18 Service October—December 2011 19 Who’s Who in our Church 20 Issue 48, October 2011 Becket News 3 The Institution of choir director, Yotin Tiewtrakul. At the same Father Matthew Jones time our future chaplain had the difficult task of saying goodbye and farewell to many The nine-month vacancy period at the friends and associates in Australia. Anglican Church of St Thomas Becket has now drawn to a close! On Friday, 16 The institution service on 16 September September 2011, Father Matthew Jones was followed the provisions of Common Worship officially instituted as chaplain in an evening of the Church of England, and was a stately Eucharist ceremony at 19:00 h in the church. but joyous ceremony well-attended by members of the congregation and Much work was necessary on the part of the neighbouring clergy. Archdeacon Jonathan church council and our Archdeacon LLoyd presided over the commitments made Jonathan LLoyd throughout the vacancy by our congregation and Father Matthew period and leading up to the selection of a Jones, and the churchwardens presented chaplain. Archdeacon Jonathan has aided Matthew a German Bible, in preparation for and advised us since our former chaplain, his work in Hamburg. Following the Roger White, retired at the end of 2010. ceremony, all stayed for a joyful reception Jonathan asked us difficult questions to help with snacks and drinks and the opportunity to us in our future decision – did St Thomas meet the new chaplain and greet old friends. Becket church need a full-time priest? Where is our church community going and what did We are thankful that the long vacancy period we expect or desire in a new chaplain? has now ended and we are eager to work Could we meet the financial needs of the together with Father Matthew to build up the future? These thoughts culminated in our Kingdom of God in Hamburg! Parish Profile, put together by Karen Lüth Deborah Ockert and Birte Fischer. Then followed innumerable documents and forms, which were filled out by the church secretary, Peter Alexander and our treasurer, Stuart Cooke, and the drafting of an advertisement for the position was the next task. Throughout this period we received kind parochial care from a series of experienced locum chaplains. In May 2011, Stuart Cooke and Renu Roy travelled to London for the interviews with candidates for the position. Then on Sunday, 17 July, Renu Roy made the happy announcement after the service in church: St Thomas Becket had a new chaplain! Busy preparations were made for a special ceremony under Archdeacon Jonathan’s careful direction, invitations sent, Far LeftFather Matthew Jones, Renu Roy, Churchwarden, 2nd from Right: Archdeacon programs printed, the chaplain’s flat Jonathan LLoyd, and representation from scrubbed and cleaned, flowers ordered, Hamburg Clergy. helpers recruited and the choir and organist practiced music especially composed by our 4 Becket News Issue 48, October 2011 Greetings from your new Chaplain wholesale sectors in various levels of management. After fifteen years, eight of which I arrived from Australia on had been trying to discern (or perhaps ignore) Thursday after a long God’s call, I entered theological college. I flight. It was such a joy to completed a Bachelor of Theology degree and be met at the airport by was ordained Deacon in 1993 and Priest in Renu and Raj with their 1995. beaming smiles and a I have served in three parishes, two of them in large bunch of beautiful rural areas. I have served as Priest in Charge flowers. It is a very long and Rector as well as Area Dean (Rural Dean) and tiring flight but I arrived feeling very excited and Archdeacon. My great love is people and I about this new adventure I am embarking on. am really looking forward to meeting as many On Friday we had the Institution service and it people within the parish as I can. I also hope to was such a great evening. Many people had build connections with the wider community, obviously worked very hard to make it such a both the church and business communities. wonderful service and I thank you all for your Thank you for making me feel so welcome and dedication and care. It was great to welcome I look forward to all that God has in store for us so many ecumenical visitors and friends to the in the future. service. I felt very ‘welcomed’ indeed. The ‘Night of the Churches’ was the next night Every blessing, Matthew and I think I lasted until about 11.30pm when I felt myself drowsing in the pews. Two cups of coffee and a few walks around inside the A Sincere Thank You church helped and I really enjoyed this most magnificent event. Again, many thanks to all As Deborah Ockert has said St Thomas Becket who worked so hard in co-ordinating such a Church has been through a period of vacancy wonderful gathering of people for worship and and during this time many of us have had to musical entertainment. pull together and organise, manage and It was a great privilege to celebrate the arrange life in our church. A greater part of the Eucharist for the first time at St Thomafs responsibility during this time, fell to our two Becket on Sunday 18th September. If this Church Wardens. Many of us know that both service is any measure, I am really going to Renu and Deborah had split the workload enjoy Sunday mornings. between them. Renu, who took responsibility for the locums and their accommodation and A number of people have asked about my arrangements, whilst Deborah quietly and background. I was born in Sydney, Australia on th efficiently administered the running of our 7 November 1958. I am number four of six church. Every week, without fail, the service children and there are five still living. Sadly one sheets were written, printed and waiting for us of my brothers died when he was only fifteen. all, a church manual was developed, and so My father was a metallurgist and was in charge much was learned and documented. of a large steel company. It was this position which necessitated our move from Sydney to We all owe so much to both of them, who have Brisbane in 1969. Sadly dad died in 1979. My put their personal lives on hold for over 9 mother was a very strong person and she months, to ensure St Thomas Becket Church became a widow at an early age. She died very continued for us all in Hamburg. peacefully in 2007 and I had the privilege of conducting her funeral in St Paul’s, Ipswich. From all of us to both of you a sincere thank I attended school in Sydney and Brisbane and you for being there for us all. then entered a Management Training Programme with one of the larger Department John Finn Stores. I then alternated between the retail and For the congregation of St Thomas Becket. Issue 48, October 2011 Becket News 5 Messages from our former locums more… I'm afraid Gesine and I won't be able to come, as the date clashes with the start of our on the occasion of the institution: Anglican Lutheran society Conference in Salisbury. (The same will be true of John Arnold, Although neither our former pastor nor many of but he will probably have already replied). our former locums (with the exception of Rev We hope you have a really good celebration, -and Anders) could attend the institution, many sent we hope we will be able to come to something in their words of greetings and encouragement to your 400th year! Please give our greetings to our congregation: everyone, and our love to you and Renu. -o-o-o-o-o- Rupert and Gesine Hoare 4-AUG-2011 Yes we had read of the appointment in the - Church Times this week. This must be exciting – o-o-o-o-o- and a relief to you all and we pray that all will go really well – there is so much to build on at St. Naturally I have been thinking of you over the last Thomas Becket Hamburg. I have been in touch few days as you come to the end of all the with Monica about a possible Cathedral Choir visit preparations for welcoming Matthew.