ç C ROSSWAYS News and views from Christ Church Vienna the Anglican/Episcopal Church in Austria I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live John 11:25 November 2013 f No. 74 No. 2 Christ Church Vienna Jaurèsgasse 17/19, 1030 Vienna Postal address: Jaurèsgasse 12, 1030 Vienna Church office: Salesianergasse 24, 1030 Vienna ] Tel. and Fax: 714 8900 www.christchurchvienna.org ] [email protected] also serves Bratislava, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Ljubljana and Zagreb Chaplain of Christ Church The Venerable Patrick Curran 714 8900 and Archdeacon of Am Heumarkt 7/8/90 718 5902 the Eastern Archdeaconry 1030 Vienna Other licensed clergy The Revd. John Barker (Yerevan) contact via the Church Office Priests with permission The Revd. Aileen Hackl to officiate The Revd. Jan Jensen The Revd. Clair Filbert-Ullmann Reader with permission Ms. Laura Fairburn to officiate Church Office Administrator Ms. Miranda Kopetzky Wed. 13.30-17.30 Thur. 09.30-16.00 Verger Mr. Sean Nield Choir Director Mr. Jack Ridley Organist Mr. Emanuel Schmelzer-Ziringer For information on services in Klagenfurt, Ljubljana and Zagreb, please contact: Klagenfurt: Ms. Helen Taupe 0650/5668278 Ljubljana: Ms. Barbara Ryder (Reader) 00386 4572 3015 Zagreb: Ms. Janet Berković 00385 98193 1774 Articles and photos in this magazine may only be reproduced with the permission of the Editor. Editor. the of permission the with reproduced be only may magazine this in photos and Articles [email protected]. contact further information, For This month’s cover is dedicated to a number of The opinions expressed in this publication are individuals who played an important role in the those of the individual authors and should life of our church but are sadly no longer with not necessarily be considered as carrying the us. We remember them as well as other loyal endorsement of Christ Church, its officers or members of our congregation who have died. the Editor. 3 Editorial In this issue From the Desk of the Chaplain s the month associated with remembrance and page 4 reflection—All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day and A Eastern Anglican Get-together Remembrance Sunday ensure that our thoughts turn Angela Peake-Herzog talks about the more frequently than usual to those who are no longer recent Eastern Archdeaconry Synod with us—it is appropriate that this issue of Crossways page 6 contains tributes to one of its most devoted members: Nikki Hertford-Scheiber who was active in so many Our Nikki Part 2 areas of our community. Fortunately for Christ Church, Friends make their personal farewells to Nikki Hertford-Scheiber there have also been a number of other stalwarts who page 8 have left their mark on the life of our church in one capacity or another. This month’s cover shows some Who we are of those who passed away in the course of the last The demographics of the Christ Church seven years (the life-span of Crossways): Rosemary, page 13 Nikki, Helen, Maurice, Alan, Charlotte, Faith, Ona, Alec and June. As ours is a fairly transient community, they Singing what I believe The Revd. Aileen Hackl talks about a fa- will not necessarily be known to every member of the vourite hymn congregation, nor does their number include those who page 14 played an important role in our church, such as the late Pat Reiter, but who died before this magazine came into Understanding Creation existence (and for whom I have no photo). Let us thank The Animal Blessing Service r God for their lives and the valuable contribution they page 15 made to our community! A taste of Heaven Rosalind Shakespear describes an idyllic On 7 November, we will be remembering those whose Parish Outing to the Steiermark lives were uprooted (but spared) when they were sent page 22 by train from Austria to England before National Social- ism took root in this country during one of the darkest Ways to Praise ages of its history. A few days later, our thoughts and Lucille Curran muses on new ways to say prayers will be with all victims of war, as we gather to ones prayers page 24 mark Remembrance Day at a special service at Christ Church on 10 November and another the following day News from a Visitor in Klagenfurt. Revd. Brian Wakelin on his mission to Uganda! On a lighter note, on 16 November we hold our annual page 26 Advent Bazaar, which means a busy time not only for the coordinators, Mike and Christina Stevens, but for On being a Stranger many others involved in one capacity or another. If you Frank Sauer talks about the benefits have not yet volunteered to help, it is not too late and and challenges of immigration willing hands are urgently required to set up the day page 27 before and disassemble at the end of the Bazaar (see The deadline for the December 2013/ the Church Notices on p18 for further details. EVERY- January 2014 issue of CROSSWAYS is 15 ONE should be prepared to do his or her bit, which November. Please send contributions brings me back to where I started. Christ Church and to be considered for publication to: its community is the sum of its parts. And each of us has a valuable part to play. [email protected] AND [email protected], or phone the Editor on 0650/4747473. 4 The Venerable Patrick Curran ishop Geoffrey retires as Bour diocesan bishop this month. People are asking, Who is going to be our next bishop? How is the bishop to be ap- pointed? A procedure is in place that I will seek to outline. The first thing that happens is that the Vacancy in See Commit- tee is formed. The word See is derived from the Latin word sedes meaning seat. When a bishop retires the bishop’s seat (his throne) is vacated. In this interim period Bishop David, who possesses quirements and what qualities and delegated powers, will shepherd gifts the Consultative Group should the diocese until Bishop Geoffrey’s be looking for in the next bishop successor is enthroned (seated). given the peculiarities of our diocese: The Vacancy in See Committee is a diocese which encompasses all of composed of those members from mainland Europe, Turkey and parts the Diocesan Synod who sit on the of North Africa. Once the Statement Standing Committee (one lay and of Needs has been finalised the Arch- one clerical member from each arch- bishop’s Appointments Secretary deaconry), the Chairs of the House conducts interviews with key people of Laity and Clergy together with the in the diocese like the archdeacons, diocesan representatives to General the dean, the diocesan secretary etc. Synod of the Church of England. The Consultative Group will meet The tasks of the Vacancy in See Com- twice in the new year to make the mittee are to draw up the Statement nominations. I say nominations be- of Needs and to elect three lay and cause it will nominate two persons. three clerical members to the Con- Anyone in Holy Orders, meaning sultative Group: a body consisting someone who is ordained, can be of members from the Archbishop’s nominated for the office of diocesan Council and General Synod. The bishop by individuals or church Statement of Needs is a document councils. A notice will go out at some that includes a description of our stage inviting nominations as well as diocese (history, how many con- statements. Each nominated person gregations, how many members, is considered by the Consultative financial matters etc). It will also Group alongside the Statement of seek to determine the diocese’s re- Needs as well as the memorandum From the Desk of Chaplain From 5 by the Archbishop’s Appointments Personally, I particular welcome the Secretary. The appointing bishops Anglican Communion dimension, draw up a short list. These ten but each of us can have a part in this candidates are considered with a process through prayer. view to establishing a shorter list of candidates for the second meeting. God of grace, At the second meeting the Consulta- we thank you for the Diocese of Europe, tive Group will hopefully discern two and for all your faithful servants candidates who can serve as our di- whom you have called as bishops of ocesan bishop. Who does the Group this See. make the nominations to? Send your Holy Spirit It makes the nominations to three to guide and direct all who have designated bishops who will make responsibility the appointment: the Archbishop of for the appointment of a new bishop. Canterbury, the Bishop of London and a bishop of the Anglican Com- Grant them godly discernment, munion appointed by the Anglican unite them in a common vision, and keep us all faithful in prayer; Consultative Committee. This time through Jesus Christ our Lord. an archbishop of the Church in Nige- Amen. ria has been nominated. Ultimately it is these three persons who make the appointment. It is hoped that the name of the next bishop can be made public by the time of the diocesan Synod in May and that the bishop will be seated (enthroned) by September, possibly in time to attend the Eastern Archdeaconry synod. With hindsight I can see that this is too much information, but it shows clearly that the whole of the Church of the England has a say in who our diocesan bishop is going to be. This is made possible through an extensive consultative process that takes seriously various representa- tive bodies as well as office holders – much listening will be required: listening to God and to one another.