ST ALBAN’S CHURCH COPENHAGEN MAGAZINE FOR THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN DENMARK
2017 www.st-albans.dk July – August
St Alban’s bi-monthly magazine is published 6 times a year by: JESPERSEN TRYK, Ved Langebro 1,2300 København S. Email: [email protected]
It is available on our website: www.st-albans.dk, and Maria Kvan Mortensen kindly distributes it by post to members of our Anglican community who cannot receive it electronically. Copies are always available in church for collection.
Saint Alban's Church follows the Danish copyright law. If we have unintentionally published something without permission, please contact us.
Managing Editor: Revd Darren McCallig (Chair of Communications Team) Editor: Claire Campbell Clausen Regular photographers: Beverly Lloyd-Roberts, Anita Wales, Pauleen Bang, John Nicholson, Mie Enns and Editor.
Contributions, articles and photographs are gratefully received.
Cover photo by Mia Enns: A truly multinational group of 6 newly confirmed members of St Alban’s with Bishop David Hamid.
~ 23 ~ WORSHIP IN JULY & AUGUST 2017 ST ALBAN’S CHURCH, COPENHAGEN
The Anglican Parish of Saint Alban's covers the whole of Denmark, with Saint Alban's Church in Copenhagen gathering for the Eucharist at 10.30 every Sunday and Wednesday. Our Chaplain, the Revd Darren McCallig, will be the preacher at each Sunday morning service unless otherwise stated.
If you use a hearing aid, please use the T-switch to connect to the loop system.
• Coffee and tea is served after the Sunday service. All are welcome. • The Sunday school starts at 10:25. Children wishing to join Sunday school will meet at 10:25 at the Font. After opening prayers children will accompany the Sunday school leaders to the Upper Room, returning to their parents in time for communion. • Baptisms are held on the 1st Sunday of each month except during Lent and Advent. The services in the next couple of months are as follows:
Sunday 2 July at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 2 July at 10.30 Thomas the Apostle Wednesday 5 July at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 9 July at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 9 July at 10.30 Fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday 9 July at 16.00 Second Sunday Service, Mrs. Jane Passant Wednesday 12 July at 10.30 Morning Prayer Sunday 16 July at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 16 July at 10.30 Fifth Sunday after Trinity, Mr. Graeme Lloyd-Roberts Wednesday 19 July at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 23 July at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 23 July at 10.30 Mary Magdalene, The Revd Palle Thordal Wednesday 26 July at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 30 July at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 30 July at 10.30 Seventh Sunday after Trinity, Mrs Victoria Wadsworth-Hansen Wednesday 2 August at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 6 August at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 6 August at 10.30 Transfiguration of our Lord Wednesday 9 August at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 13 August at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 13 August at 10.30 Ninth Sunday after Trinity
~ 34 ~ Sunday 13 August at 16.00 Second Sunday Service Wednesday 16 August at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 20 August at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 20 August at 10.30 Tenth Sunday after Trinity Wednesday 23 August at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 27 August at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 27 August at 10.30 Eleventh Sunday after Trinity Wednesday 30 August at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 3 September at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 3 September at 10.30 Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Wednesday 6 September at 10.30 Holy Communion Sunday 10 September at 9.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 10 September at 10.30 Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, The Revd Palle Thordal Sunday 10 September at 16.00 Second Sunday Service
Remember: Second Sunday Service
The Second Sunday afternoon service is being continued at Saint Alban’s in 2017. As its title suggests, the “Second Sunday Service” it is held on the Second Sunday of each month at 16.00.
Different styles of worship will be undertaken each time, with the Saint Alban’s Licensed Readers and Readers in Training taking the lead.
STALBAN'S CHURCH IN JUTLAND
We also have three English-speaking congregations in Jutland, in partnership with the local Danish Church, that gather on these dates:
AARHUS Monthly: Møllevangskirke at 18.00
Sunday 30 July at 18:00 and Sunday 27 August at 18.00. The service will be led by The Revd Darren McCallig.
Further details from Angela Hansen. [email protected]
~ 45 ~ MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPLAIN
My dear friends,
This edition of our parish magazine covers July and August - a time of the year when many of us have the opportunity to take some time off from work and go on holiday. However, in this "always on" world of smart phones and instant messages it can seem more difficult than ever to unplug and unwind. Indeed, I heard once of a wife who said to her husband, "You can either take me or the smart phone on holiday. You can't have both - three's a crowd!"
I like to think that that husband saw the light and left his smart phone at home - but I have my doubts. Recent surveys have found that the majority of us will check our work emails during our time off. And even when we are at home many of us find it challenging to make space in our busy schedules for stillness and silence.
Speaking personally, I have come to realise that this particular aspect of life is - like so many others - ultimately a question of faith and trust, and so we have a choice to make. On the one hand, do we choose to believe that everything depends on us, on our availability and on our achievements? Or might we trust that there is a loving and gracious meaning and purpose within, beneath and beyond all things - a loving purpose which is not dependent on what we do or achieve, or even how many emails we answer each day?
Trusting in that divine purpose is the first step towards the peace which passes all understanding - the peace which we do not earn, and which God alone can give. I pray that whatever your plans are for the next few weeks you will experience some gracious rest for your soul this summer. After all, as the American author Anne Lamott puts it, "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes - including you!"
Darren
~ 56 ~ AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: (The good news and the sad, from Sunday 26 June 17)
My dear friends,
As you may have heard by now, at yesterday morning’s service in Copenhagen, and at yesterday evening’s service in Aarhus, I announced that Bishop David Hamid has appointed me to be the next Senior Chaplain of the Anglican Church in Norway.
On the one hand, it is wonderful news in that my wife and I will be living and working in the same city — Oslo. As some of you know from your own experience, living apart from your spouse or partner for extended periods of time is very difficult. I am also looking forward to the next chapter in my ministry and the opportunity to lead a team of clergy colleagues across Norway.
On the other hand, I will be very sorry to leave Denmark and the many extraordinary people at Saint Alban’s. I will have other opportunities to say “thank you” before I leave, but for now I want you to know that I am very grateful for all the support, prayers and encouragement I received in Denmark over the last two and a half years.
So, I will be leaving Copenhagen in the autumn, but I will also be leaving a big piece of my heart here with you all.
God bless.
After many years of living apart from each other, we are happy that Annilese and Darren can begin to share their lives together, and actually live permanently under the same roof.
However, it is with very heavy hearts that we will have to say goodbye to a man who has fulfilled his promises to us and has worked hard to develop our wonderful church community and who has helped it to grow in love and happy fellowship. CCC
~ 67 ~ FOR YOUR DIARY:
THE SAINT ALBAN’S STUDENT AND YOUNG ADULTS GROUP has had a “make over”. It will now be known as the “First Thursday Group” — a group of 18 to 45 year olds who meet on the first Thursday of most months to socialize, read books together, go to the cinema or discuss life, theology and the Church. There will be copies of this flyer in church – please take some and distribute them amongst friends, colleagues, on notice-boards and in places you visit. In this quiet way we spread the Good News and the welcome at St Alban’s Church.
OUR FURRY AND FEATHERED FRIENDS
For those who loved the first service we held last October for the Blessing of Pets, put this date in your diary: 8 October 2015 at 16.00 (A Second Sunday Service) Our usual policy is that animals are not brought to the Sunday service – some people are allergic or sensitive to, or distracted by their sweet faces. But they are welcome in the garden, so all summer pets are welcome to sniff around and even splash in the moat, if their owners have good control of them. But, like everything, flexibility is all! I am certain our wonderful team of Sidespeople can cope with small animal now and then if it comforts the owner.
~ 78 ~ Remember – for the early-birds among our flock:
~ 89 ~ ~ 109 ~ DOES YOUR LIFE MOVE FAST? Do you long for some quality time with God?
When I heard that Darren had a dream of doing a Parish Retreat for us at St. Alban’s, I was thrilled. To me, such retreats have always deepened my relationship with God – and as a consequence created a stronger sense of peace and direction inside. In brief: they have enriched my life tremendously.
Interestingly, the time in silence together with others has also created a deep sense of community that is hard for me to explain because I usually think of community as something that evolves largely through communication. Yet, in our shared silence together with God it is not only our relationship with God that is strengthened, but also our relationship with each other.
At the Parish Retreat we will not be left to fend for ourselves, but will be guided along the path of silence in the presence of God, if we wish to be, with short services as well as introductions to meditation and contemplation.
Entering into what is there To most of us, the thought of 1½ days in silence is daunting! No phones, no computers, no telly –AND no talking?!! I will throw you the challenge: if you have not tried it before, give it a chance!
When the distractions of all our media and communication with each other is laid aside for a while, we become aware of layers of ourselves that are usually drowned out by noise. And when we dare to stay in that – sometimes uncomfortable – place for a while, we become aware that there is someone there with us. Someone who wants us to live life to the full; who wants us to be wholly ourselves as we were created to be. And who is always there, ready to enter into relationship with us!
Although I live alone, the silent retreats have not been “more time on my own”. They have been an amazing experience of being in relationship, of being connected.
The retreat takes place during the weekend September/October and you can sign up on the website or the leaflets in the narthex. I look forward to sharing it with some of you and I believe that it will strengthen not just ourselves but also our community at St. Alban’s at large. Anna Christine Christensen
~ 1011 ~ PARISH RETREAT FOR SAINT ALBAN’S CHURCH 29 SEPTEMBER TO 1 OCTOBER 2017 Practical Information There is limited space, so the earlier you sign up and pay, the more certain you are to get a place. Time: Arrival between 16:00 and 17:00 Friday, September 29th. Leaving mid-afternoon Sunday, October 1st 2017.
Place: Sct. Birgitta Convent, Refshalevej 81, 4930 Maribo – roughly 1½ hours drive from Copenhagen. Close to a lake and within walking distance of the old cathedral. Mostly single rooms – two doubles available. All rooms have private bathrooms with a shower. We will try to arrange car pooling so no one should have to go by public transport unless wishing to do so. Price: DKK 1460.- pr. person. If you would like to come, but cannot afford it, please speak to the Chaplain, as we would like you to attend anyway. If you are able to pay more than the cost, you can enable others to come along by doing so. A deposit of DKK 500.- along with the sign-up sheet secures a place as long as there are places left. The remainder of the price can be paid in August. Children: As this is a silent retreat, it is not suitable for children. Hopefully, future years will present possibilities for a variety of parish retreats including children. Payment: Payment can be made into the “Saint Alban’s Church” bank account marking it “Retreat” and including your name. The account number is: 3001- 4140514136. Payment can also be made by Mobile Pay marking it “Retreat”. The number is 2232 5337. If you are prevented from going, you can get your money refunded up until the end of August. Sign-up: The sign-up sheet, which can be downloaded from our website, can be handed to the Chaplain or Ursula Sonnewald by hand, or sent to Ursula by mail: [email protected]
Questions: If you have questions about the practicalities of the retreat, please contact Ursula Sonnewald: 2392 9097 / [email protected]
~ 1112 ~ CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Children’s Ministry is a central part of the work and witness of St Alban’s with our Sunday School meeting most Sundays throughout the year.
If you’re interested in being involved in this important ministry then please get in touch.
Also, if you’ve had a child at Sunday School and would like to join the mailing list — to receive news about upcoming activities — then let us know.
The address is: [email protected]
CHILDREN IN CHURCH
Luke 18:15-17 15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.’
St Alban’s community is enriched by the presence of children and we try to make sure there is space for mothers to nurse a hungry baby, and for small children to play quietly behind the font. Families are warmly welcomed and when children are old enough they can take part in Sunday School - see above.
~ 1213 ~ PLENTIFUL PENTECOST
Fare from almost as many nations as are represented in our congregation provided a splendid feast to celebrate Pentecost and its multi-tongued, multicultural message of universal love.And we wore red!
Everyone scoured their wardrobes and found clothing in various shades of red to symbolise the tongues of flame (and by extension, the Holy Spirit) that appeared to the apostles on the original Day of Pentecost.
~ 1314 ~ The Scarlet Feast!
~ 1415 ~ DUKE OF KENT LAYS A WREATH
HRH, The Duke of Kent, who is President of CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) visited Bispebjerg Kirkegård in Copenhagen on 15 May to lay a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice in memory of British and Commonwealth troops who were killed in Denmark during the war. The Duke also wished to thank St Alban's Church for holding the Remembrance Day Service each year. He was accompanied by the British Defence Attaché Colonel Sarah Johansen and members from The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
In 1954 an agreement was made between the British and the Danish governments which allowed Commonwealth soldiers to be buried free of charge in Denmark. The CWGC area at Bispebjerg Kirkegård consists of the Cross of Sacrifice and the graves of 40 Commonwealth soldiers of which eight are unidentified.
The prayers were led by Reader-in-Training Jane Passant.
~ 1516 ~ [email protected] through a glass darkly
Trysting in the mist of God strange forms arise surprise devise new ravishments which allure obscure cure our settled ways of seeing
Knocking on the rock of God strange waters spring sing bring secret ripplings of a surd 1, 2 unheard blurred by common kinds of hearing
Nestling in the rest of God strange slumber falls enthrals recalls a once and future lambency which in the dark may mark embarkment for another shore a greater light
john Nicholson
surd 1. Phonetics . voiceless consonant (opposed to sonant ). 2. Mathematics . a quantity) not capable of being expressed in rational numbers
~ 1718 ~ poem in prose
In a little while you shall see me no more
All is Presence, and Presence includes absence; all is absence, and absence includes Presence. Perhaps in the end absence is the least idolatrous, least manipulative, least instrumental way of knowing God and of being in the world.
Absence and silence walk hand in hand through the meadow of mildness where the flowers of freedom are no longer hacked down by the instruments of correctness and usefulness. In the middle of the field stands the tree of unknowing which cannot be seen or touched, and the fruits of which are only known when they have fallen into the ground and died. To dance in that meadow discloses a whole new choreography of being, which is not necessarily learned easily or all at once.
Perhaps this says something about one journey of living and learning. Whether it is illuminating for anyone else's journey, I cannot judge.
Here we have no abiding city, but that does not mean setting our eyes on an otherworldly horizon, rather it involves seeking for and seeking out the signs of that communality of freedom and presence, of not possessing and not being possessed, of mutuality and co-inherence – the marks of the city which is to come and for which we long, perhaps even without knowing it, and to know that when the One who is the Source and Creator of all being and all meaning is fully disclosed we also shall find ourselves at one in the One, because we shall have emptied ourselves of self and see Him as She is.
Behold, I am with you always
john nicholson
~ 1819 ~ UK nationals in the EU: what you need to know
In the last magazine we reported on the meeting held at the British Embassy designed to allay concerns of UK citizens over changes in their status after Brexit. We are repeating this information just in case you missed it last time. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and- living-in-europe
EU latest Documents https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?topics%5B%5D=eu-referendum
E-Mail Alerts https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKGOVUK/subscriber/new?topic_ id=UKGOVUK_30784
Specific questions to the Embassy [email protected]
Social media The British Embasy is on Facebook and Twitter https://www.facebook.com/britishembassycopenhagen/ @UKinDenmark The ambassador is on also on Twitter @UKAmbassadorDK
Pauleen Bang
~ 1920 ~ FINAL FANFARE AS WE SAY GOODBYE AND GOD SPEED TO ORGANIST MIE BERG
Our lovely Norwegian organist has completed her Master’s degree at the Danish Music Conservatory, and has been offered two places for further study in Britain. She has chosen to go to Durham University which is wonderful for her, but very sad for St Alban’s choir, which flourished under her gentle guidance.
Mie was generous with her contacts and was able to arrange some splendid groups and soloists for church concerts during her time with us.
She played her last service on Sunday 2nd July and afterwards received gifts of ornamental organ pipes and earrings. We will miss her but hope to hear great news of her as her career in church music grows and succeeds. She and her partner Jack leave St Alban’s with our very best wishes and warmest prayers for their future happiness.
~ 2021 ~ SERMON PREACHED ON TRINITY SUNDAY By The Right Reverend Bishop David Hamid, on Sunday 11 June 2017
Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20 Some years back a book was published called The Peter Principle. The author wrote that things go wrong in society because people get promoted to the level of their incompetence. So, for instance, a good teacher, gifted with children, able to hold discipline in the class, making the most boring of subjects come alive with interest for young pupils, that teacher is soon promoted to being a head teacher and given administration to do. Promoted to the level of your incompetence. I know what you are all thinking – the same thing happens in the Church with those who are promoted to become bishops! The Peter Principle, of course does not apply to the Church! The Peter Principle was active in the New Testament too, among the twelve apostles. They were fishermen, and they were good at that. But then they were promoted to be fishers of men, of people. And even after they had been in the company of Jesus for about three years, they still did not seem to have learned very much about this new role. Judas ends up betraying our Lord. Peter denied him. Thomas would not believe that Jesus had risen. At the time of the resurrection, most of them had run away. We get to the very end of St Matthew’s Gospel which we read today. It is after the Resurrection and Jesus is delivering the last words to the disciples. The passage is called “the great Commission”. We could call it “the great promotion”. Jesus says “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” And with these words, Jesus entrusts the leadership of his mission, the new Church, in the care of these incompetent, inappropriately trained misfits. Even at the very moment when Jesus was giving his disciples the promotion of their lifetime, there were still some who were not completely up to the mark. The Gospel says that Jesus directed them to a mountain and that they worshipped him, but then come these words: but some doubted. All their uncertainties about Jesus were still not completely taken away, even though he was risen and standing before them. It is a relief to know that even the apostles after the resurrection had these times of uncertainty. We don’t need to feel so badly in our own moments of doubt.
~ 2122 ~ But friends, Jesus pays no attention to our shortcomings; he ignores the Peter Principle. He speaks to the apostles and to us and gives us instructions about what we are to do, even though we are filled with doubts and uncertainties. The words “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” are projected on to a large screen today – because it is the feast of the Holy Trinity, and the baptising that Jesus commands in the Gospel today is in the name of that Trinity. The Holy Trinity is a mystery; This day is traditionally called the preacher’s nightmare. I can give you all sorts of technical theological language about the Trinity, and I know you have some good theological minds in the congregation today, so I could speak about Processions, Persons, Perichoresis, and Circumincessio…these are all technical theological terms that come from the centuries of theologians trying to describe what the Holy Trinity is, with great precision. I am sure you would find all this absolutely fascinating! At this very hour, preachers around the world, having poured out gallons of sweat on their desks over the past week are preparing to explain to their people what the Trinity means. It is usual practice for the vicar to give the sermon over this day to the curate, or to the Reader. Fr Darren has given it to the bishop! But friends, I am not going that theological route. All I want to tell you today is that “Trinity” is just a fancier way of saying “God is love”. If God is love, then there is within the deepest nature of God, there is an interplay of lover, beloved and love; Father, Son and Spirit. God’s nature is structured around love. God is the supreme loving relationship. Relationship, being and existing for the other out of love, belongs to the very nature of God. That is the spiritual power of this feast day. So away with all the abstract technical terms, the deep spiritual power we celebrate today is that the highest and most Supreme Being in all the universe, and beyond the universe, God, is best described as pure, unbounded, eternal, love, expressed in relationship with and for the other. So what has this to do with you and me! Well everything. Remember, we are made in the image and likeness of God. Not any old god, but precisely this God, this Trinitarian loving relationship that is God. Now see the importance of this feast. We are created in God’s image, the God who is loving relationship. Now we clearly don’t always show forth that image and likeness – that is because of the thing we call sin. The essence of sin is a closing off of relationship, a cutting off of love for the other, and a lifting up of the ego – the self, selfishness. Theologians call this original sin and the evidence of this is everywhere in the world. Look at the newspapers, the TV news, – it is everywhere, this original sin, this falling apart of relationship. In that great ~ 2223 ~ mythic story in Genesis, after Adam and Eve had taken the apple and they are conversing with God, what did Adam say to God? “The woman you put here, she made me eat the apple”. The woman says to God, “The serpent you put here, he tricked me, so I ate it.” Blaming, one individual against the other, humanity against nature, the war of all against all. This is original sin, the triumph of my ego over loving relationship with the other. In a secularised world this individualism, this focussing on “ME” has taken over. “Follow your dream”, we hear. “Do what you want to do”. We are groomed by advertising, even by much of education, to live for me, rather than living for the other. And the sadness is that this individualism is at the heart of sin. It’s out of step from what we are created to be – our deepest identity is to be creatures of relationship, living with and for the other, in love, like God. Incidentally, that is why the decision by the President of the USA last week to pull out of the Paris Climate Change agreement is so morally wrong, so sinful – because it is based on short-sighted concern for one nation, a selfish concern, rather than for the wider and greater good, and for the care of generations yet to come. It breaks God’s heart when we do not live as we were created to be – people of love, people of relationship, people who live for others. That is why, dear friends, in his great love for us, he sent his son, to bring us home to him. He sends his Spirit, that love which flows from the Godhead, to fill our hearts and bind us in love to him. God so loves us that he surrounds us with the relationship that he is, so that we might be reformed, remade in his image, by his love. So note the phrase that Jesus uses about our baptism: It is in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus does not explain the meaning of the Trinity; instead he says we are grafted into the Trinity. It is incorporation language. The Holy Trinity is something we are immersed into. Jesus speaks about us being made part of someone, about re- establishing a relationship. Baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is about re-entering into relationship to God when we undergo that sacrament. It is surrendering to and being submersed in the love which is God. This is why we will gather with the candidates at the font, so they can be reminded of the love they were immersed into. God’s purpose and goal for us is to become the persons he created us to be, in his image, and so he immerses us in this pool of divine love, and in this love we are joined once again to God, and to each other. This is what is summarised in the baptismal words, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is that activity of God, reaching out to us, pouring out the Holy Spirit of love upon us and surrounding us, that we celebrate today in this confirmation service.
~ 2324 ~ Now back to this promotion that Jesus Christ has given us. It is a big job: to make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Trinity. He is giving us this promotion, this mandate to continue what he himself has done, to gather all the nations and peoples back into the loving heart of God himself. It is a promotion to be lovers of the world and lovers of her people. I have asked that all of you receive today a little icon from the Eastern Orthodox Church, the icon of the Trinity. You have probably all seen it before. There is wonderful symbolism in the icon: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are pictured as three figures sitting around a table sharing a meal. There is a house in the background which symbolises our Father’s house, our eternal home. The tree of life is in the background, the tree of eternal life. On the table is a chalice and in it is the lamb who was killed, the Lamb of God. But for me the most remarkable thing about this icon is this: There is one side of the table which is empty. That space is for us. That space is for every human being on the planet. The community of Love we know as God the Holy Trinity invites us to the intimacy of loving conversation and relationship around the table. God the Holy Trinity calls us home, to our eternal home in the Father’s House. So friends, don’t worry too much about understanding all the details about the theology of the Holy Trinity. What is important to understand is that the mission of Jesus Christ is about saving us from our selfishness, it is about inviting the world into loving relationship with each other, and most of all, bringing us all home into the loving heart of God. When we say that God is Trinity, we mean that God is love and we are invited into that love, as we are baptised in the sacred three-fold name, and a place for us is ready at the table in our heavenly home, eternal life enjoyed in the intimate presence of a loving God. A Chinese proverb says, “Bird does not sing because bird has an answer, bird sings because bird has a song”. So let us sing too. Not because we have all the answers to this mystery we call the Trinity, but because we have a song, a song of love. Today we hear our call to be faithful disciples and live the Good News that the entire world is invited into the eternal loving embrace of the Blessed Trinity. ******
~ 2425 ~ CONFIRMATION 2017
It was a truly multi-national group of six new members of the Anglican Communion who were confirmed by Bishop David Hamid on 11 June. After renewing their baptismal vows at the font, the Bishop welcomed each confirmand by name and true to tradition, gave each an explanation of the meaning of their names and an individual biblical message appropriate to them. We welcome them all to take their full place as communicant members of St Alban’s community.
~ 2526 ~ SAFEGUARDING IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
Safeguarding is a priority here. We are committed to following government and Church of England guidelines on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and good working practice, including safer recruitment of volunteers and paid workers.
We work to a formal safeguarding policy and procedure it can be seen on request from our Safeguarding Officers (contact details below).
If you have any concerns regarding the safety or welfare of a child or vulnerable adult you can speak to: Ian Carter, Safeguarding Manager for the Diocese in Europe Diocesan Office Telephone: +44 (0)207 898 1155
Or either of the two Saint Alban’s Safeguarding Officers:
Jane Passant Christopher Osborn Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Telephone: 51 28 12 42 Telephone: 22 39 57 44
These people have been appointed by the Diocese in Europe and Saint Alban’s Church Council to respond to any safeguarding concerns.
~ 2627 ~ ~ 2728 ~ ‘ST. ALBAN’S DAY’ BBQ – ANOTHER BRIGHT DAY
~ 2829 ~ ~ 2930 ~ Mia is a new parishioner who has moved here from America. We welcomed her to St Alban’s in May this year and she has already provided us with some lovely shots of our Pentecost feast. She has agreed to be part of our active team of photographers, as our need for pictures increased exponentially with our activity on-line. We wish her all the best with her new pictorial endeavours in Copenhagen.
~ 3031 ~ ‘Arches’, an example of Mia’s first impression of our beautiful church.
~ 3132 ~ BISHOP GEOFFREY ROWELL R.I.P. June 11, 2017
The news of Bishop Geoffrey Rowell’s death is a source of sadness and sorrow to many, including me personally. I first met Geoffrey in 2005, when I joined the Diocese in Europe. I experienced him as unfailingly kind, warm and hospitable. He stayed at our home in Belgium on a number of occasions. I recall with affection long conversations over a bottle of whisky late into the night. When I was appointed his successor, he was wonderfully encouraging and helpful. Geoffrey valued highly his friendship with his clergy, and those of us who served as his priests and deacons will miss him dearly.
For 12 years as Diocesan Bishop, Geoffrey embodied the Diocese in Europe in his own character and personality. He managed to remain a serious academic whilst also carrying out a demanding pastoral ministry. He was a great ambassador for a traditional, catholic, Anglicanism. He maintained an enviable quantity and quality of correspondence with ecumenical partners and friends. He travelled with remarkable energy and stamina. He inspired loyal devotion in those who worked most closely with him.
Many of us wondered how he would cope with the transition to retirement, but he seemed to handle it marvellously. His home in Fishbourne was beautifully furnished and served as a workshop for his continuing academic projects. It is sad that, after a demanding European ministry, he did not have long to enjoy retirement. His passing feels as if it marks the end of an era. We commend him to his Lord, praying that he will rest in peace and at the last day rise in glory.
+Robert Innes 4th Bishop in Europe
~ 3233 ~ IF YOU HAVE GOT THIS FAR IN THIS MAGAZINE WE HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS FOR YOU:
1. Would you like to continue to receive this magazine as a printed booklet every two months? Yes / No
2. Would you be unhappy if it appeared quarterly instead of bi-monthly? Yes / No
3. Would you be happy to receive a monthly printed sheet of A3 paper, folded, which only contained the main, up-coming events and a message from the Chaplain? Yes / No
4. Should we agree to stop production of a hardcopy magazine or leaflet altogether? Yes / No
The reason for these questions is that the Communication team has been discussing the future of this rather expensive magazine. Social media and our website has long since provided an up-to-the-minute coverage of our events. As long as Pauleen gets some assistance with this, you will be able to see photos and news items as they happen, on-line. So the future of a “newsletter” which is prepared, printed and posted is beginning to look somewhat anachronistic.
We will continue to produce a magazine for September and October and again for November and December, but by the end of the year we will make a decision.
We need your views please!
I am happy to receive any comments you may have, by phone: 28120128 or by email – [email protected]
Please mark them ‘Future of Magazine’ CCC
~ 3334 ~ Saint Alban’s Church Churchillparken 11, 1263 Copenhagen K Under the Patronage of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II
Weekly Eucharists: Sundays and Wednesdays at 10:30 All are welcome – Sunday School for children almost every Sunday.
Please call the Chaplain on 39 62 77 36 if you are seeking baptism, confrmation, marriage or have any other pastoral or prayer request. You can also contact the churchwardens – see below.
Contact Details Chaplain The Reverend Darren McCallig 39 62 77 36 (St Alban’s House) [email protected]
Afliated: Diocesan Director of Training 35 26 06 60 Canon Ulla Monberg [email protected]
Permission to Ofciate: Deacon Christophe Ndikuriyo 71 41 21 14 [email protected]
Licensed Readers: Mr Graeme Lloyd-Roberts 50 84 55 19 [email protected] Mrs Victoria Wadsworth-Hansen [email protected] Ms Ursula Sonnewald [email protected]
Churchwardens Mr. Christopher Parker 25 11 23 91 Mr. Nigel Rowley [email protected]
St Alban’s receives no subsidy from the state or national Church and is funded by the generosity of the congregation and visitors. To support the mission and ministry of the Church, contributions can be made to ‘St Alban’s Church’ to Bank account no. 3001- 4140514136 or for UK tax payers by Gift Aid, increasing the value of their gift by 25%
Printed by Jespersen Tryk + Digital ~ 35 ~
St Alban’s – reflected in the moat of Kastellet in summertime. Photo: Bev Lloyd-Roberts
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