Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,
Today is a rather significant anniversary. Eight years ago, on Sunday 21st September 2008, I celebrated the Eucharist & preached at St. Clement’s for the first time, having arrived in Prague just two days earlier. A lot has happened over those years, most of which has been positive and good. One real blessing has been not having to be responsible for Church buildings as we don’t own the premises where we worship. Instead, we can concentrate on being what the Church really is – the people of God.
This ‘Weekly Message’ is going out one day earlier than usual, because tomorrow, I’m driving to Warsaw, in order to attend the 2016 Eastern Archdeaconry Synod, along with your elected lay reps, Gordon Truefitt and Jack Noonan. For those of you who don’t know, the Church of England’s Diocese in Europe, is divided into seven Archdeaconries. We are part of the vast Eastern Archdeaconry, which stretches from Poland, Czech Republic and Austria eastwards, including all the former Soviet Union, (except the Baltic States), and stretching southwards to include Greece & Turkey. As I often explain, Prague is the most Westerly congregation in the Eastern Archdeaconry :-)
Once a year, all the clergy from the Archdeaconry, along with elected lay reps, meet as the Eastern Archdeaconry Synod. The meeting is usually hosted by one of the constituent congregations which this year, is Warsaw. Many of you will remember that we hosted the Synod in Prague in September 2014. This year, we’ll be meeting from the late afternoon of Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th September. As well as our Archdeacon Colin Williams, we will also have our Diocesan Bishop Rt Rev’d Dr Robert Innes with us for the whole of the Synod meeting. I will be travelling back to Prague on Monday 26th September. Therefore…..
Sunday 25th September at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
As well as saying Psalm 146 responsively, you will also hear a further reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to Timothy – 1 Timothy 6. 6-19. The Gospel reading will be Luke 16. 19-31, which tells the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. In my absence, the Celebrant & Preacher will be Rev’d Kathy Ferguson, a former colleague of mine in the UK and who previously provided locum cover for me here in Prague, in 2010 and 2011. There will be parallel Children’s Ministry and following worship, Cool Drinks & Light Refreshments will be served at the back of the Church.
Tuesday 27th September 18.30-20.00 in the small meeting room on the first first floor of Klimentská 18
‘Understanding history – Why is the Czech Republic one of the most atheistic nations in Europe?’ This is the follow up session to the one I led on Tuesday 13th September, helping new arrivals to understand cultural and other issues that they may encounter here in the Czech Republic. If the ground floor door of Klimentská 18 is locked, press the bell marked Sborový Kancelář & we’ll buzz you in!
One other thing for this week…..
My sermon from last Sunday, has now been uploaded to our Church website where you can listen to it once again, or for the first time if you were not in Church! Just visit here and click to listen.
Until I’m back from Warsaw
Best wishes
Ricky
