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THE E u r o p e a n A n g l i c a n

A D y n a m i c D e c a de B i s h o p ’ s A n n i v e r s a r y

L o o k N o r t h N o r d i c A n d B a l t i c S p o t l i g h t

S t e w a r d s h i p S e n s e A E u r o p e a n R e s p o n s e

S p a n i s h S i e r r a R e t r e a t A L o o k A t L o s O l i v o s

P r a y i n g A h e a d T o 2 0 1 3 W o r k i n g I n F r a n c e F o r D a y O f P r a y e r

.anglican.org N o . 5 2 WINTER 2 0 1 1 2 IN THE PICTURE

THE E u r o p e a n h e a m e A n g l i c a n T S B u t D i ffe r e n t

The of in Europe The little town of Irthlingborough in The Rt Revd Geoffrey Rowell Northamptonshire is home to about six The little town of.... Bishop’s Lodge, Church , thousand people. The origin of its Worth, Crawley RH10 7RT Tel: +44 (0) 1293 883051 is lost in antiquity but the best suggestion Fax: +44 (0) 1293 884479 is that it derives from “earthlings”! I was Email: born in Irthlingborough although there [email protected] are, quite rightly, no blue plaques to mark The Suffragan the life of this particular earthling. One The Rt Revd ancient book described the town as Postal address: Diocesan a “quaint old place”! Until fifty years ago Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 1160 there were many and leather factories Email: [email protected] there and local legend has it that the shoe workers were a heavy drinking and hard The Diocesan Office living community. It is said that they would 14 Tufton Street, , SW1P 3QZ congregate outdoors on Monday mornings, Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 1155 hurl their shoe lasts high into the air and if Fax: +44 (0) 207 898 1166 they stayed up the men would go to work. Email: If not it was back to the for another [email protected] day. One of my favourite Irthlingborough Diocesan Secretary sayings is “well, it’s the same – only Mr Adrian Mumford different!” Assistant Diocesan Secretary “The same – but different” sums up Mrs Jeanne French our . We are the 44th IRTHLINGBOROUGH Finance Officer diocese of the Church of with Mr Nick Wraight­ many of the privileges and responsibilities Diocesan Website that brings. But living and serving, www.europe.anglican.org principally, as an English speaking church in the diverse range of across Editor and Diocesan Communications Officer Europe gives us a distinctive flavour. We The Revd. Paul Needle often worship in churches belonging to Postal address: Diocesan Office other denominations; our services are Email: generally inclusive because we may be [email protected] the only English speaking congregation Tel: 0034 662 482 944 for hundreds of miles; pastoral care may Friends of the Diocese involve long, difficult and, on occasions, Secretary: Rev Canon Arthur Siddall dangerous journeys. As ever, this magazine Email: [email protected] reflects life in our “same – but different” diocese with more stories than ever Design in this edition. Adept Design, Norwich This month we recall another little Printer town, many thousands of miles from Norwich Colour Print BETHLEHEM Irthlingborough. From the “little town of Distribution Bethlehem” came a Saviour who was the CoDEStorm plc same – but different. God became man in the person of Jesus Christ and it is in His Cover photo: Name and to His glory that our scattered The Christingle originated in 1747 with and diverse churches minister. an idea by a Moravian church pastor Our , their staffs and the in for a “fresh expression” of the Christmas story in a practical form. Diocesan Office team pray you enjoy a More recently, The Children’s Society blessed Christmas. adopted the idea and helped it to become a global custom. Our cover picture shows youngsters in the church in P a u l N e e d l e getting ready for their celebrations. E d i t o r , Th e E u r o p e a n A n g l i c a n NEWS FROM THE WEB 3

Our Diocesan website has featured a host of pictures and stories in recent weeks. Here, and on pages 8 and 9, we reproduce some to show the wide range of church life around Europe.

Rev Ken Dimmick, from St Catherine’s The little town of.... Anglican Church in Stuttgart, Germany, went the whole hog and shaved off his beard for the sake of . He was helping a graduate student’s drama project and Nostalgia abounded when Sue Hibling enjoying his hobby of sat at her desk for the final day when she amateur dramatics. retired after 12 years as Administrative Assistant in Bishop Geoffrey’s office at Worth in West Sussex.

Captain Andrew Betton of the aircraft carrier HMS made history by being sworn in as churchwarden of Holy Renovation work is almost complete on a British Trinity, Wonston in the by the ship’s in after the government padre the Rev Bernard Clarke while in the Mediterranean there paid the 91,000€ costs. It is the final resting heading for where he and crew members were place of sailors, missionaries, , diplomats, welcomed at the pro-. including many in British Community. The cemetery is under the control of the Holy Trinity, Las Palmas.

K ee p i n g u p w i t h t h e N e w s o n t h e W eb s i t e Our News Stories section on the front page of the Diocesan on Women Bishops, the Anglican Covenant, ethical investment Website europe.anglican.org is getting more visits every and a moving report from about how the European month as people discover their local church featured in financial tensions affect church life there. words and pictures. In 2012 we plan to publish more news and features on the We also report news of wider diocesan interest – see the website. Get the habit of checking in each day and see if you have full report on Bishop’s Council in October with discussions a story to tell us about and share through the wide web.

europe.anglican.org 4 S C E N E S F R O M A SWEDISH SYNOD

S p o t l i g h t o n t h e N o r d i c & B a lt i c D e a n e r y

When the Nordic and Baltic Deanery Synod met in October it was more than a business meeting. It gave precious fellowship to church leaders and members from a widely scattered area of the diocese.

Refectory dining helped informal fellowship. Canon Andrew Wingate spoke about the shared mission After the Synod members shared work between the Church of in the Eucharist at St Andrew’s England and Church of Gothenburg where Synod member in Gothenburg which involves Molly MacGregor and Natasha building good Inter-Faith Johansson were confirmed. Molly relationships and work in the demonstrated her faith by leading community. intercessions during the service.

Rev Manga with Synod delegates Margret Bali and Dorothy Angoyou reported on the style of their services in the White Congregation of . At present they use the Book of Common Prayer in Arabic but are changing to Common Worship services in English.

A communications seminar ranged from church magazines, newsletters and church notice boards to media relations and communicating the faith. In a few weeks earlier It was Rev Rupert Moreton’s final Synod St Edmund’s Church and before he moved to the Diocese of Canon Janet Heil had briefly in . One of his mementoes was been the focus of media a humorous calendar attention after a bombing in as Synod members wished him well. At the opening Act of Worship in Gothenburg the city and mass of Rupert’s service in the Diocese began in Rev Barbara Moss was formally admitted youngsters nearby. the Chaplaincy of Costa Blanca in as Area Dean by Bishop David with before he moved to in 1998. Archdeacon Jonathan LLoyd. A “ S E N D I N G ” C H U R C H 5 IN

A p o s t o l i c A p p r o a c h i n A m s t e r d a m

Starting a new church congregation Rev Mark Collinson, Area Dean of The , reports stimulates the sending church to raise up disciples to new positions of from Amsterdam on an encouraging Fresh Expression of church responsibility, and releases people in life in the Dutch capital, encouraged by Bishop Graham Cray the new congregation to use gifts they who spoke at the recent North West Europe Archdeaconry Synod. have never used before. Alastair and I take it in turns each to provide ordained oversight in Amsterdam Zuidoost for Ben To be an apostolic church is one take their place and growing people and Austin in their ministry. We are of the four marks of the church. It as disciples to fill in the gaps by renting a purpose-built ecumenical means that we’re in the business sending them. We need more people church building where three services of ‘sending’. We are currently in to be trained as Congregational can happen simultaneously. There the process of sending two families Worship Leaders. are Roman Catholic, Reformed from our church in Amsterdam Those who are being sent are and Pentecostal churches meeting South to start a new church in a using their gifts in ways they have there throughout the whole day. different part of the city, Amsterdam never done before. It is twenty Our aim is to attract ‘de-churched’ Zuidoost. Amsterdam City Centre years since Hans played his guitar in Anglicans, mainly from West , is also sending a of people, public. But he has started to use that who have moved here and not found including Ben, who is co-leading gift as an offering of worship. His a worshipping community to join. It this new congregation with Austin. wife Duetta now sometimes leads will be long slow process but we look My colleague Alastair MacDonald, the singing in the new congregation. forward to establishing an Anglican Chaplain of Amsterdam City Centre, Their son, Julius, regularly reads the community which will preach and meets with Austin and Ben every lesson. I never knew that Austin’s live out the gospel so that non- week to reflect on the ministry and wife, Annette, played the organ. believers can respond to the love of to mentor them. Now we begin our worship with a Jesus Christ. From the perspective of being rousing hymn on the organ, thanks a sending church we miss the to her offering her gifts, as her feet two ‘apostolic’ families we are and hands dance on the wood. Last sending. They are key people in Sunday a new worshipper offered our congregation. Austin is having her house as a place to start a home- his vocation to ordained ministry group. Austin already serves one discerned, and is proving himself of the tribal communities in the as a leader in many different ways, area helping people integrate into not least in leading worship. We Dutch life. The beginnings of a new Lay leaders Ben and Austin are ‘giving away’ some of our best Christian community are being people. However, losing them means formed through worship, fellowship that we are raising up new leaders to and service. 6 BISHOP GEOFFREY – TEN YEARS ON

A D ec a de in t h e D i o ce se Bishop Geoffrey recalls his enthronement in November 2001 and life since then in the Diocese in Europe and beyond. Enthronement in Shrove Tuesday Commissioning for Gibraltar 2001 in the task in Europe

It scarcely seems possible that on in Europe by the Archbishop of ten years as bishop there have been October 18th, St Luke’s Day, this year Canterbury. A verger came in and told wonderful ecumenical encounters I completed ten years as Bishop of us what had happened. We paused and friendships made. I remember this Diocese, and that All Saints’ Day, for prayer, scarcely able to take it especially a long conversation with November 1st, marked ten years since in, and then went on discussing the the present , then Cardinal my enthronement in Holy Trinity arrangements for the service. The Ratzinger, in 2002; and the privilege Cathedral, Gibraltar. I was consecrated commissioning was in fact a new thing of being in for Russian as a bishop in 1994, leaving a long in terms of the Christmas and Russian Easter, with ministry of teaching and student and this diocese. My predecessor the great celebrations in the re-built chaplaincy at Keble College, Oxford, had made his promises and the legal Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, with and spent the next seven years as had happened over a glass the presence of the chief abbesses of , returning to of at Lambeth . It was and members of the Russian the part of Hampshire where I had thought by Archbishop George government in a way that would have grown up, and enjoying rediscovering Carey - and rightly – that it would seemed impossible in the long years churches and villages that I had known be good to make more of this, and of Communist persecution. Then as a boy. allow the Archbishop the opportunity there was a moving meeting with the To become Bishop in Europe to give a charge to the new bishop, Patriarch Pavle in , was to be thrust into a diocese in and also for many who would not and some years later through which distance makes a difference. be able to come to Gibraltar for the silent, crowded streets behind his In north Hampshire I could be in enthronement, a chance to worship funeral cortège; a meeting with the furthest parishes in a couple of together and meet. That principle of leaders of the Porvoo churches in an hours, and if there were problems and the Archbishop giving the new bishop icy ; and the sparkling snow difficulties it was possible to a charge has now become the norm of the of where I went arrange for a meeting in two or three for every diocesan at the ceremony of to mark the twinning of our diocese weeks time. In this diocese it is very confirmation of appointment. with the Swedish diocese of , different. When we interview clergy I have always had a deep whose bishop has responsibility for for a vacancy we always ask about commitment to the ecumenical the Swedish church abroad. Early how they will cope when the nearest movement and the work of Christian on I was moved by the Bishop of Anglican priest is not just next door, unity. A large number of ecumenical Antwerp asking me to take his and the archdeacon and bishop are guests came to my consecration as a episcopal chair for the duration of an even further away. By the same token, bishop in St Paul’s Cathedral in 1994, Anglican evensong in his cathedral, although the clergy and churches of and it was good that others came whilst he sat on a stool beside the diocese are regularly prayed for, to my commissioning, and that in me as a sign of penitence for the there are frustrations as bishop in not Gibraltar, Patriarch Mesrop of the martyrdom of the bible translator, being able to see people immediately, Armenians in came in person, , so many centuries particularly when there are difficulties. another Armenian bishop represented earlier. During these years it has Everybody remembers where they the Catholicos of , and been my privilege to accompany were when the 9/11 destruction of the Archbishop Gregorios represented the on World Centre took place. I was the Ecumenical Patriarch. The then his ecumenical visits – to , in the Vestry of St Margaret’s Church of Gibraltar, Sir David to , to Armenia, and in Westminster, discussing with the Durie, has often told me how much . As news comes of the rector and others the arrangements he enjoyed the ecumenical council repressive government moves in Syria for my commissioning as Bishop round his table. During my I find it hard to equate the seemingly MEMORIES AND MOVING MOMENTS 7

A D ec a de in t h e D i o ce se Meeting Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, later to become Pope Benedict XVI

Keeping the faith afloat

open and charming President Assad, encourage the diocese to ‘live the distance’ enlarges misunderstandings. concerned to talk with us about Trinity’ by going deeper in prayer, as But the context of the larger picture how peace could be achieved in the a theme for a triennium. is overwhelmingly positive. It is a Middle , with the draconian Bishop Henry Scriven, then the growing diocese, with the green policies now being carried out. suffragan bishop in the diocese, told shoots appearing in many places, new It has been, and still is, a me soon after I was appointed that possibilities in many places, which will continuing joy to pay pastoral visits he was moving to assist the Bishop surely be helped when we can have to our many chaplaincies. By my own of Pittsburgh, and that meant that free-standing archdeacons in mission calculation I think that I have now I had very early on to find a new with time to visit and encourage. I like visited almost every one, some many suffragan bishop to work with me in to say that to be Bishop in Europe is times over, and it is good to see so the diocese. Bishop David joined me one of the most exciting appointments many signs of vitality and growth. in 2002 and I have always thought in the Church of England, not least I have chosen to be very personally it a unique occasion to invite him to because it enables me to bring a wider involved in the appointments process consider this role by a telephone call perspective to the sometimes rather for new clergy, conscious that every from the Ambassador’s residence in parochial concerns of England. My priest holds my licence, and the cure Kiev which Bishop David received on long-standing ecumenical concerns, of souls is, as is said in the licensing his mobile at a bus-stop in Rome! The and my historical awareness of service, ‘both mine and yours.’ work has grown exponentially, and I , make me anxious The two pastoral conferences that am grateful to have such a committed about new developments in the have been held, gathering together and hard-working episcopal colleague. Church of England and the Anglican all the clergy in 2005 and 2009 The diocesan office, with Adrian Communion. Some new moves, respectively have been particular Mumford, the diocesan secretary, such as women bishops, if they are to landmarks, and have done much for keeping, with Nick Wraight an eye on be made, need to be made together the cohesion of the diocese and the the finances, and Jeanne French with with those with whom we share the encouragement of ministry. And her unique knowledge of place and apostolic ministry. The church has there have been notable developments process overseeing appointments and sometimes to be counter-cultural, like the appointment of Gary Wilton the provision of locum clergy has been not conformed to this world, but in , now the Archbishop of a valuable and necessary support, as transforming the life of this world into Canterbury’s representative to the has my own office at Bishop’s Lodge the life of the kingdom of God. Ten European institutions. This reminds with the trio of chaplain, PA and years is a long time, and yet a short us that we live in the context of a secretary. time in the perspective of Christian wider European world, both inside There have been times of crisis and history. As I complete this decade I the and beyond, and difficulty – no diocese is without them know that without the prayers of so I am grateful for the opportunities of – and sometimes the difficulties seem many of you Sunday by Sunday for sharing conversations with many of intractable, some seem to be storms ‘Geoffrey, our Bishop’ whatever I may our ambassadors, a number of whom in teacups (and then I remember the have been able under God to do, could have by their hospitality enabled me wise words to me of Bishop Colin not have been done. So thank you, to meet significant leaders in the James of Winchester when I had said dear friends, for your love, your prayer communities of the countries I have the difficulty in some parish was and your support – and may God bless visited. I have enjoyed some of the surely a storm in a teacup – ‘Ah, yes, you, and this wonderful diocese of mini-pilgrimages that have been but if you are in the teacup it is still which we are all a part. part of some pastoral visits, and I a storm!’). There is added frustration was delighted to have been able to when what I call the ‘pantograph of + G e o f f r e y 8 STORIES FROM OUR WEBSITE

N e w s f r o m A r o u n d a n d A b o u t

Trinity Church Eindhoven and Christ Church Amsterdam in The Netherlands and St Mark’s Versailles in organised the first ever New Europe event for 350 people in August. Lively worship included The church in the Netherlands port of have gained the youngsters and most meals were enjoyed outdoors. a new church after a reorganisation of their buildings following the demotion of the original Seamen’s Institute from 1913.

When 5 candidates were confirmed in Toulouse, France, in October a special cake was baked and enjoyed by the congregation of Midi-Pyrénées and Aude.

A washing line in Pas de Calais, Northern France attracted attention when this home-made patchwork celebrating 400 years of the King James Bible was given an airing. EUROPE.ANGLICAN.ORG 9

N e w s f r o m A r o u n d a n d A b o u t

The Diocesan Secretary pulled out all the stops as part of a fund raising A 4 hour high speed journey was needed to create this happy Summer in the Church of the church group in Torino (Turin) in . The service was conducted by Ascension in Cadenabbia, in Rev Sampson Ajuka, the Assistant Curate of St. Anthony Abbot’s in Italy. Adrian Mumford is also Director Padova at the start of this church plant at a distance. of at Twickenham Parish Church and organist at Lambeth Palace.

Perhaps not an obvious way of cooking Sunday lunch but youngsters sharing in a Swiss church’s weekend away looked at ecological issues and Many churches marked St Francistide by welcoming God’s four-footed baked a cake in this solar oven. creation. 9 dogs and 4 -pigs joined a Pet’s Service in St Ursula’s, Berne in .

europe.anglican.org 1 0 THAT’S THE WAY THE MONEY GOES

G i v e M o n e y t o t h e C h u r c h ? Wh y S h o u l d We ? H o w C o u l d We ?

Canon Mel Smith, from St Andrew’s, Port de Pollença on Mallorca shares his experiences of getting the stewardship message across.

‘Why should we give money to the yet it trips off our tongues almost Like the gifts we give to our parents, church?’ It’s a fair question. Many of thoughtlessly. The words should, at children and friends, our financial us may not have asked the question so the very least, relate to what we put offering is a love token to God from we’ve probably never thought about on the collection plate about half the heart – because he’s worth it! the answer! There’s an old joke about an hour previously. Have I made an When I came to the Diocese in a family sitting round the Sunday offering that’s sacrificial? Europe I offered to be a voluntary table. Father and mother are How do we value a beautiful stewardship adviser, using the having a good moan about just about sunset? What’s it worth to me? How experience of my previous ministry. everything to do with the church do we value the glorious countryside Clearly, my priestly ministry in service that they have attended that which surrounds us? How do we Mallorca is my top priority so my morning. Their teenage son gets value the life of a newly born baby? time is limited. So far I have helped heartily fed up of their regular weekly What’s it all worth? And the love of the congregations in Palma de ritual and eventually says to them, ‘I our parents, friends, husbands, wives, Mallorca and review their ’t know why your complaining - partners, children, grandchildren? giving, the former seeing an increase what do you expect for fifty pence?!!’ What’s that worth to us? of 75%. I am currently in the process In my previous post as a diocesan And how do we value not only the of designing a “giving programme” stewardship officer, the church life which God has given us, but the for St George’s Madrid. The warden of a parish in Worcestershire eternal life won for us by Jesus on the programme is very simple and easy to where I had helped them to review cross? Sins forgiven eternity assured – organize; it’s the fruit of the thirteen their giving said to me, “I’ve begun to what’s the value? years that I spent in my previous post. see my weekly giving differently; the When we make our Sunday Do get in touch if you would like penny has dropped – the value I place offering to God, we celebrate all some help in teaching about giving on God is reflected in what I offer this. It is the that we offer and in holding a review of the giving him in my giving.” Spot on! our worship. Part of that offering is of your congregation. A prayer used by many Anglicans our money – offered to God purely As one person commented “I’d after receiving Holy Communion to express our love for Him and to never before made the connection has these words: ‘we offer you our souls show how we value all that He has between giving money to the church and bodies to be a living sacrifice’. That’s done. Money offered for God’s sake and my response to the love of God”. a very extravagant statement, and is money offered to show our love. When the connection is made, we see the results. You can contact Canon Mel Smith by e-mail: [email protected]

The stewardship message can be A seminar on stewardship shared in an informal setting AMBASSADORS, DIPLOMATS 1 1 A N D H O S T S

O u r M a n i n B r u s s e l s

Canon Gary Wilton offers his insight into life at the heart of the EU.

Every Christian is called to be an ambassador for his or her faith. Every week we are sent out into the world to live and work for God’s praise and glory. I am perhaps unusual in that the word ambassador actually appears in my job description. Indeed I am deeply humbled to carry the the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the EU. Sir Kim Darroch is welcomed in Brussels by Catherine Day, Brussels is a city of ambassadors Secretary-General of the European Commission and diplomats. It’s a place where people come to talk. The seat of the enquired about a rumoured ban on EU’s Delegation in . European Institutions hosts more lead organ pipes. Within hours the This summer I was privileged journalists, more interpreters and young diplomat had done his research to go on holiday to the beautiful more diplomats than anywhere else and a very reassuring reply winged its island of Barbados. I just had to in the world. way back. visit the new office of the EU EU business is conducted by It’s not just the member states of Delegation to Barbados & the dialogue between the embassies the EU who have representations Eastern . The building of the 27 member states. Because in Brussels – so do the , seemed very glamorous. It directly the EU is not a state, the embassies the Chinese, the and the overlooked the light blue waters are called representations – and Brazilians etc. They don’t want to be of the Caribbean . I was made each ambassador is the Permanent left out of the conversation! very welcome by the Head of Representative. Throughout my Not only does the world come to Operations. He then introduced me time here, the UK’s Permanent Brussels, but Brussels also goes to the to the delegations’ extensive work Representative has been the world. Not surprisingly the EU has programme. It includes support for immensely impressive Sir Kim an ‘embassy’ in the capitals of each economic development; strengthened Darroch. Alongside the ambassador of it member states. This summer cooperation and communication to his is the most senior my good friend Jorge Cesar Das between the ; better appointment in the British diplomatic Neves was appointed to be the EU’s governance and renewable energy. service. Representative to . He will Despite their wonderful , The UK Representation is staffed be working to support reconciliation most Caribbean islands are net oil by 120 high flying civil servants between the two communities. importers – the EU is helping them from across Whitehall. They Undoubtedly, he will need to say to develop solar power – this will cover every policy issue and are in difficult things with a smile on his make a difference to their continuous discussions with their face. as well as to the climate. I was peers in the other member state Beyond Europe, the EU has impressed. representations. UK diplomats in 130 embassies or rather delegations The very best diplomats are the Brussels are highly respected and right across the globe. Very recently best hosts. They build authentic among the best negotiators. I find Lambeth Palace wanted to enquire friendships. They make a difference them well informed, helpful and very about a Turkish government decree in the world. And can even say the welcoming. Requests for information permitting the restoration of most difficult things with a smile. or meetings with bishops are always to and . My enquiry There really is a lesson here for every speedily organised. Recently I went right the way through to the Christian. 1 2 FRENCH WOMEN WORKING TO LEAD THE WORLD’S WOMEN

P l a n n i n g a n d P r ay i n g A h e a d f o r M a r c h 2013

in as all main train lines start or end there. Our task was to select the music, find composers, and get permission to use the items. Finally we needed to translate as many of the songs as possible into English and Spanish. One was translated into ! Translating poetry making it fit the music is difficult. We had a panic at the last minute, I had let slip an un-singable English version of a chorus! The final list comprises twelve songs all with permission for Barnett, a Reader in the church of Christ the us to print the words and music and Good Shepherd in Poitou-Charentes, goes behind the to make a recording to send to New scenes with the preparation team for 2013 Women’s York. Our friends and relations were drawn into the circle; advising us World which focuses on France. on the law, translation and giving us contacts. We learnt a lot. The worldwide web really does speed things up; as did Skype calls with The booklet for each World day always easy to welcome everyone Eileen King in New York, searching of Prayer celebration has a picture fleeing famine or war or indeed for who held the , and reflecting the theme - a song those seeking stability and security. sending backwards and composed for the occasion and of We chose another passage from forwards. the the hymn “The day Leviticus 19 to enrich the theme. Then came the joy of meeting the thou gavest Lord is ended”, which Who is the stranger? The person other groups in Paris in February in France is known as the World who is different, the person I don’t 2011 to see their work. Was the day of Prayer Hymn! But how do a understand, the person I don’t know, liturgy meaningful in a group? Were group of women from one the person who does not think as the songs appreciated? However get it together? In 2009, members I do, the person who comes from were the committee going of the association JMP-France were outside? Sometimes we are the alien, to make a précis of the General invited to meet Eileen King, the at others we are the host. Information on France? Had we international director, to learn what We divided into 6 working forgotten anything? We left the we had to do. I volunteered. groups concentrating on Bible Study, national committee to pool our 2010 saw 36 women from Liturgy to write the service, an comments and sort out the translation all over France meet to prepare work Art group for posters and publicity, of the documents into English. The for 2013 with the theme “I was a Music group as well as group to final version has been accepted and is stranger and you welcomed me”. The produce Information on France, its out in the world. final date for the submission of the history, culture, and the place of Are you involved with the World 1st draft in English (to New York) women and of course the place of day on Prayer where we learn about was 15th April 2011 with a final foreigners in just 8 pages! What a the culture, the joys and sorrows of version by 11th September. From task! The final group produced the women living in other countries, there it goes out to be translated into Children’s Celebration. and support them with our gifts and more than 90 . The day is The leader of each group had a prayers. On 2nd 2012 we will celebrated in at least 180 countries. few pages of notes: then we were on join with the Women of and We were stimulated by a speaker our own, until February 2011 when the theme Let Justice Prevail and don’t from ACAT (Action by Christians we met again our tasks completed. forget 2013 - Friday 1st March “I was Against Torture) and CIMADE2 - a The Music Group included a a stranger and you welcomed me.” French organisation at the forefront Methodist musician, a Baptist Pastor, of work with immigrants and 2 Catholics - both keen singers and A fuller version of this article can . Welcoming the stranger an myself an Anglican. I was not the be found on the news section of the today is a challenging topic. It is not only foreigner in our group. We met Diocesan website. NEW RETREAT RESOURCE 1 3 I N S P A I N

A N o ta b l e “F r e s h E x p r e s s i o n ” i n A n da lu c i a

Bill Weston, a Reader in and Diocesan Synod member has been visiting a Spanish Retreat Centre with a difference.

The opening, in February this year, of the and Spirituality Retreat Centre Los Olivos, in southern Spain, marks the culmination of the first part of a vision nurtured and sustained over many years by The Rev. everywhere – we continually need to work at combating Daniel Muñoz and Guy Wynter. isolation, refreshing perspectives and re-charging our Dani is a native of Andalucia, where the growth of batteries. his Christian commitment and vocation were nurtured The 5 day course was led by Colin Thompson, of Oxford during years of membership of the Anglican chaplaincy University, one of the UK’s leading scholars on the subject, in his home town of . The Chaplain there was Rev and his enthusiasm and expertise were infectious. The John Vellacott, whose uncle, Archbishop Lord Coggan, programme was a congenial balance between seminar-type confirmed Dani in 1995. The two were key figures in his input (two a day), and space for quiet and informal social formation, which led on to ordination training in England contact, with simple Morning and Evening Prayer using between 1999-2001 and ministry in UK parishes, most Iona Worship Resources. The small scale of the centre and recently as Team Vicar at All Saints’ Church, Marlow, the personal involvement of Dani and Guy in planning, in the Oxford Diocese (2004 - 2010). This residential providing hospitality and taking part in the programme art, retreat and spirituality centre, in this part of Spain, produced an experience which affected all of us deeply. with an Anglican identity and a mainly English- Although the setting is so remote it is accessible and programme, is a very direct personal expression of Dani’s transport is provided as necessary from Granada, Malaga – spirituality and commitment. or (reflecting my own travel preference) the local village bus Los Olivos was a ruined and long-abandoned farmstead, stop! Environmental friendliness is an essential part of the hidden away up a long track in the foothills of vision and is integral to everything in the design and life of the south of Granada, in a stupendously the centre. beautiful setting a thousand metres above sea level. It has God’s Holy Spirit can be felt in everything about how been transformed into an attractive centre capable of taking this vision has been developed and our experience, as a some 15 guests, with excellent amenities and hospitality group of first-time users is that it deserves very positively to and an extraordinarily varied and interesting first-year be embraced, welcomed and used. programme. A specially commissioned statue of St John of Los Olivos website is www.haciendalosolivos.org. The the Cross stands in the small central courtyard. line-up of course/retreat leaders for 2012 includes John Bell, It was a course on St John of the Cross that gave me Bishop Stephen Cottrell and Colin Thompson. an early opportunity for first-hand experience ofLos Olivos which is proving to be a valuable new resource for Chaplaincies in the Archdeaconry of Gibraltar, where – as 1 4 A N G O L A N A N G S T A N D MEMORIES OF MARTYRS

A H o ly a n d H o l i s t i c M i s s i o n

The Rev Dr Richard Fermer is Assistant Priest at St George’s Paris and Supervisor of the Mission and Ministry Programme of ALMA, the companion relationship between the Diocese of London and the Anglican Church in and Angola. He recalls his African travels in the Summer.

It was three o’clock in the morning inspired “consumerist” approach to and a group of four men huddled mission, whereby what matters is the together in the dark beside a rather game of how many people beaten up Honda “People Carrier” are being converted and turned into praying. We were about to set off on disciples, the quantitative ‘saving of combat HIV/Aids, malaria and a 600km journey from to souls’, if you like, and how many new to educate people about nutrition Uige in Angola. In Angola people churches are being planted. and balanced diets. Yet, these were pray often because life, like the On the contrary, mission does diocesan initiatives rather than journey we were about to make, is not just boil down to the Great parochial ones. How could local precarious. Commission of Matthew 28. It is not initiatives be inspired? Among the various meetings and enough for the church to proclaim One problem was self-belief visits that were planned, the Angolan the ‘Good News’ in words and to or trust: “How could we possibly Church had asked me to speak about look to its own internal ‘success tackle the problems of our local something of which I was in no story’, it must incarnate the Gospel society without additional financial way an expert, “Missão Integral”, in the world. The church has to live resources?” I had to point out in English “Holistic Mission”. I was what it preaches, so that it can preach the examples of where strong intrigued to know why they had what it lives! Trying to combat collaborative ministry had made the chosen this subject? local problems of rubbish, say, may impossible become possible. ‘Holistic mission’ grew out of an be just as or more important in the The other difficulty in Angola is Evangelical response to the social proclamation of the Gospel than a resignation in the face of political problems and injustice of dictator- Lent or an Alpha Course. corruption and one-party rule. Yet, ridden of the seventies The Anglican Diocese of Angola Holistic Mission demands that we be and eighties. It is also a critique of was already engaged in “holistic” harbingers of hope, precisely because what one may call a U.S./Western mission, running programmes to the Kairos moment, the decisive PEOPLE AND PLACES 1 5 hour, has already come: the Kingdom has already arrived Tw o N e w H o n o r a r y A s s i s ta n t with Christ in the middle of B i s h o p s A p p o i n t ed . If the church just looks at itself or to a The former Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Rev David Stancliffe and Rt Rev Michael spiritualized Kingdom of the Scott-Joynt, who retired as in May this year, have accepted future, it will be like “merely invitations to serve as an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese in Europe. picking up survivors from a They will join a small number of retired bishops who are able to offer occasional shipwreck in a hostile sea.” The assistance to the full-time Diocesan and Suffragan bishops who maintain a heavy 1983 Wheaton Declaration schedule of duties involving travelling large distances around Europe. goes on, “Evil is not only in the human heart, but also in e u i e m f o r p h r a i m o m s i n t h e n s social structures,” which means R E B A that the church is to work to Canon Malcolm Bradshaw from St Paul’s Church in transform society if it is to be a Athens led the memorial service for Ephraim Boms true participant in the realisation (pictured) who died in August after a lengthy illness. of the Kingdom. Nigerian song and African drums resonated with English Too many churches have Hymnal hymns celebrating the life of Ephraim, a Reader reduced the social dimension who had been in intensive care in hospital after a heart of mission to handouts and seizure some eleven months previously. He had come from assistance. Of that approach, the to Athens in the early 1980’s to study engineering. Brazilian philosopher Ricardo Bishop David paid this tribute, ‘He was a gentle man whose love for the Lord Gouvea writes: “[It] does not was so evident, marked by an outstanding dedication to the Church and to his resolve the social and political ministry. His death is such a loss to Athens and to our diocese.’ problems because (…) it does not reach the structures, it does n e m o r i a m not challenge the powerful. I M On the contrary, mission Rev Canon Peter Duplock , O.B.E, a former Archdeacon of North West Europe, by dolling out assistance fits Chancellor of Brussels Cathedral and a Chaplain in has died has died at perfectly into the model of the the age of 95. oppressive powers in society. He moved to what is now the Diocese in Europe in 1964, after serving in As such, no one battles with Morden, Nottingham and Kettering. He was Chaplain in Geneva for 7 years then the churches, because they are moved to the Cathedral in Brussels where he was made an Honorary Canon on not a threat to the political and his retirement in 1981. Subsequently Canon Duplock served in the dioceses of economic powers of this world. Winchester and Salisbury. If they were, they would be Rev Joe Yates-Round died in July, aged 86, is being remembered as the first persecuted.” formal Chaplain of the growing church on the Spanish island of Ibiza where he Here I was in the Church served from 1983 to 1990 having been ordained at the age of 50. of the Martyrs in Uige, not early Christian martyrs, but Anglican, Angolan martyrs of the 20th century, killed C l e r g y o n t h e m o v e by the Portuguese in colonial GREETINGS TO FAREWELL TO reprisals. Last year I was given by the congregation as a Rev John-Henry Bowden, formerly Rev Deacon Ann Babb who was Assistant Priest-in-Charge of St George’s, Curate of St Boniface’s, Antwerp in gift for St George’s. This year , Italy, who also served as has retired I brought them a bottle of our Chaplain to the Bishop, is now Rev J Roy Ball, Assistant Chaplain of Christ French Communion Wine, Priest-in-Charge of St George’s, Church, Amsterdam with responsibility for which caused much glee, as they Malaga in Spain. Christ Church, Heiloo in The Netherlands will were accustomed to use grape Rev Andrew Sillis, Vicar of retire in May 2012 ! Both are to be symbols Cuddington in Surrey will become Rev Robin Carter, Team Vicar of the Holy of sacrifice, although the call Chaplain of St Boniface, Bonn and Spirit Church on Spain’s Costa Blanca is to All Saints, in Germany from retire from April 2012 to be “living sacrifices” is yet January 2012. more immediate and intense in Rev Robert Ellis, Chaplain of Saint Philip a land recovering from twenty- CHANGING ROLES & Saint James, Palma de Mallorca in Spain seven years of Civil War and Rev Julia Chambeyron, Assistant retires in December 2011 continued exploitation and Curate of La Côte in Switzerland Rev Rupert Moreton, Chaplain of St Nicholas, injustice. For that reason prayer has been appointed Assistant Helsinki in Finland has moved to the Diocese Chaplain, of that church. of Cork, Cloyne & Ross in the Church of is not a luxury but a necessity, Ireland. and “Holistic Mission” a hope Rev Sara MacVane, formerly Priest- in-Charge of Pas de Calais in France Rev Paul Needle, Priest-in-Charge of St for a better world. has moved to become Assistant ’s in Spain’s Costa Azahar will Chaplain of St Andrew’s, Zürich in resign in February 2012 but remain the Switzerland. Bishop’s Press and Communications Officer 1 6 AND FINALLY FOR 2011

A r c h de a c o n s g o t o P o t It is claimed that plants grow better if they are loved and given personal attention. At the Bishop’s office in Worth, West Sussex some tomato and plants were named after the seven Archdeacons Th a n k s t o O u r F r i e n d s ! of the diocese. The venerable 150 Friends of the Diocese in Europe, who are committed to support the work gentlemen thrived and were fruit­ of the largest diocese in the world by prayer and practical and financial help, ful in pots on the terrace – the were encouraged at their Annual service in London to follow the example of proving archdeacons two kings in finding the true meaning of wisdom. In his sermon at St Matthew’s can be cool and the tomatoes as Church, Westminster, Bishop Stephen Venner said King Solomon was wise a hint of their salad days! enough to ask God for the spiritual gift of wisdom and because he put God first he was given other gifts too. King Alfred of the West , like Solomon, showed wisdom because he honoured the past and his but was not afraid of change and moving forward in the “Adventure of faith”. These were good examples for the Diocese. At a reception after the service Bishop Geoffrey thanked the Friends for their support and gave several gifts and a bouquet to his recently retired Assistant Sue Hibling after her many years Sue Hibling in his office at Worth in West Sussex.

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