Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,

Over the next few weeks, there will be some differences to the normal St. Clement’s routine and there are also a couple of changes to things that were previously announced. So please read what follows, very carefully!

Saturday 25th April – Outside the Box
The previously announced mini-pilgrimage to Levy Hradec, has been postponed to the following Saturday 2nd May – see below. Instead, as our pilgrimage leader Gordon Truefitt, explains,  he suggests that you may like to take part in events taking place marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War.

Outside the Box. A thought for Anzac Day 25th April 1915 – Prague 2015
This coming Saturday is the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign in the Great War of 1914-18. It was, like most of that war, a stupidly arrogant plan by those who would themselves not be personally involved, nor actively affected, by the results of their decisions; unlike the hundreds of thousands who would experience, hardship, depravation, pain, mutilation, death and the loss of so much that they held dear, sometimes even their faith.
For Australia and New Zealand it is their premier battle honor, and so for it`s centenary, the local chapter of CANZA have organized a one hour Ceremony of Remembrance at 11.00 at the COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES in Prague 3, follow at 12.30 by a `FAMILY RIVERSIDE BBQ` in Mala Strana via courtesy bus. ); Full details of both these events are here.
This is an opportunity which I don`t think we should miss. It provides, in a slightly different way all the possibilities for walking and talking with our personal God that I`ve tried to create in our mini-pilgrimages. It takes us to places we might not ordinarily go, with both people we know and new people. We can experience the way people, particularly Australasians and the military, feel it fitting to commemorate patriots or comrades who died that long ago for forgotten reasons. Bands, flags and a barbeque party? We can cast what we see against what we ourselves think and feel about war in all its horror, glory, and complexity.
Here are a few thoughts and ideas for your consideration as you go through the day, maybe giving you something that you want to talk about with your God.
Why did so many soldiers, many of them volunteers, from lands far away, fight with British troops in a very European war, that had nothing to with them?
Could it be that the story starts in the 4th century when the first evangelists landed on the shores of Ireland, and the isles of Western Scotland. They brought not a religion, but the seeds of true Christ-likeness, which ignited the souls of the natives there who would become, within one century, the Celtic Church. In the 7th century the Celtic Church bowed the knee to what had become the all-powerful authority of the now `Christian Religion` – the Church of Rome. But not before those primal seeds of true Christ-like Christianity had been sown throughout most of the British Isles; and had grown and permeated into British life, law, government, and state institutions. When Britons took to the seas in quest of adventure and opportunity they took this with them in their blood; and as they prospered, the lands they`d settled in eventually became the British Empire. All the BE government and institutions, together with the natives of each land, were therefor infected by these same basic Christian principles. So today when some crazed egocentric, greedy warlord, in some former British colony, picks up a machete to coerce and extort his own people; he knows he`s doing wrong, and all the people know it too, and no amount of bribery, bullying, or brutality on his part, can change that fundamental truth within them. If all that doesn`t have you reaching for your God, you`ve probably overslept. Have a good day!

Sunday 26th April at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
Our Biblical readings have much to say about sheep and shepherds. The psalm will be the very familiar words of Psalm 23 – ‘The Lord is my shepherd’, whilst in the Gospel reading, John 10. 11-18, Jesus says, ‘I am the good shepherd’. We will also hear Acts 4. 5-12, which follows on from our reading from the Acts of the Apostles last Sunday. Our preacher will be Jack Noonan. During the service, on behalf of the bishop, I will swear in your elected Churchwardens for the coming year, Gordon Truefitt and Stephen Weeks. There will be parallel Children’s Ministry and following worship, Coffee Hour in the hall on the third floor of Klimentská 18.

Monday 27th April – Friday 1st May inclusive
I will be away from Prague in the Netherlands, attending the annual ICS Chaplains Conference. Therefore there will not be a Study & Fellowship meeting on the evening of Tuesday 28th April.

Saturday 2nd May – 14.00-17.00 – Mini pilgrimage to St Clement’s Church?!?
A repeat of last week’s message from Gordon Truefitt.
No; not our St. Clement`s Church,  the one at Levy Hradec, – but hold that thought…   In our mini–pilgrimages to date we’ve walked delightful ways which also confronted us with the dichotomy between the beauty of God`s creation and the mess we, his children, can make of it – among other things!

This time we’ll be walking from Roztoky u Prahy, along the west bank of the Vltava river where it concentrates just outside the city in preparation for rushing through the deepening gorge
that winds northwards towards Germany. It’s a beautiful and poignant physical metaphor for a host of spiritual experiences; strength, time, cleansing, perpetuity, freedom, rage, peace;  to name but a few.  ‘Beginnings’ are a good thing to contemplate at Eastertide; and as you watch the river.  They are seldom easy but, like this mighty river, they start from small beginnings.  We will start to climb up the high west bank, as we do our perspective keeps changing.  At the top we will find the first Christian church in Bohemia, St. Clement’s, built about 885 AD by Prince Borivoj who was baptised by St. Methodius.  By it lie the ruins of a fort, Levy Hradec.  The church is still in use.   A stop for some refreshment then off back home.  3 hours max.!  To begin; put the date in your diary, let me know you`ll be coming, and I`ll send you the full details. gordontruefitt@yahoo.co.uk or call/text 606190604

Sunday 3rd May at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Advance warning that the Prague Marathon takes place that day & will inevitably disrupt public transport. So do check carefully & give yourself a little more time to get to Church.

Tuesday 5th May – 18.30-20.00 in the small meeting room on the first floor of Klimentská 18.
Postponed from last Tuesday, in response to several people who have expressed both their appreciation of the Lent course as well as a desire to know more about Czech Church History, I will lead a follow up evening which I’ve entitled, ‘What happened after the Battle of Bilá hora?’ This will look at the experience of the Christian Church, both Protestant & Roman Catholic, in period following 1620. As we did throughout Lent, the last twenty minutes of our time will be spent saying Evening Prayer together. If the outside door of Klimentská 18 is locked, please press the bell marked Kancelář & we’ll buzz you in!

And advance notice that on Sunday 10th May at 11.00 there will be our once every two years Joint Service with the Czech Old Catholics in the Old Catholic Cathedral of Sv Vavřince on Petřín Hill.

I hope you’ve managed to digest all of that & marked your diaries accordingly!

Best wishes

Ricky