Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,

Last Sunday, I was involved in three services in two different countries! First, along with Karen Moritz, Jack Noonan & Angela Hitchen, I attended the Czech Protestant service of our host Kliment congregation, and made a presentation to Pastor Eva Hamalová who is retiring after nearly 14 years as their Pastor. As those of you who attended our Sung Eucharist will know, the Czech service overran to 11.05, meaning we started our service twenty minutes late. Pastor Eva was highly apologetic about this but as they had a baptism, communion & farewell speeches, it was pretty inevitable!

Following our very well-attended Sung Eucharist, I the travelled by train to Dresden, where I led and preached at the Anglican Evening Prayer service in the Frauenkirche. From January 2016, I will be taking responsibility for the regular monthly English-language Anglican evening service that is held in the Frauenkirche. Certainly, a tiring but most enjoyable day.

I shall be off on my travels again tomorrow, heading to Zagreb, where along with Gordon Truefitt, I shall be attending this year’s meeting of the Eastern Archdeaconry Synod. But things will still be happening at St Clement’s, despite my absence, so here is an update of what to look forward to during the next ten days.

Thursday 24th September – 19:00 chez Hellam, Namesti Interbrigady 949/3, Bubenec, between the Lotyšská and Zelená tram stops (currently routes 1 and 18).
The a repeat of the first evening of our Alpha Course. Alpha is for anyone who’s curious. The talks on video, are designed to encourage conversation and explore the basics of the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment. No question is out of bounds and you are free to discuss as much or as little as you wish.

The format of the evening will be:

food – we’ll be preparing dinner for everyone, so let us know if you’re planning to come david(at)hellam(dot)net or 722 223 097
video – Is there more to life than this?
chat – short friendly discussion based on the talk in the video
When you arrive – ring the buzzer for the flat marked Hellam!


Sunday 27th September at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
Your preacher & celebrant will be ThDr Petr Jan Vinš, a fluent English-speaking priest from the Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic who has previously officiated at St. Clement’s. As well as the responsive Psalm – Psalm 19. 7-14, there will be our final instalment from the Letter of James – James 5. 13-20. The Gospel reading will be Mark 9. 38-50, which follows on directly from last Sunday’s Gospel reading. There will be parallel Children’s Ministry and Cool Drinks & Light Refreshments will be served at the back of Church, following worship.

Tuesday 29th September – 18.30-20.00 in the small meeting room on the first floor of Klimentská 18.
I shall be back from Zagreb to lead another of our regular Tuesday evening meetings for Study and Fellowship, continuing looking at St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.  Last Tuesday, we reached the end of chapter two, so this coming Tuesday, we will be looking at 1 Corinthian 3. As we normally do, the last 15-20 minutes will be spent saying Evening Prayer together. If the outside door of Klimentská 18 is locked, please press the bell marked Kancelář & you’ll be buzzed in!

Thursday 1st October – 19:00 chez Hellam, Namesti Interbrigady 949/3, Bubenec.
The next evening of our Alpha Course. See the explanation under Thursday 24th September above.

Sunday 4th October at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
I will be your celebrant & preacher & there will be parallel Children’s Ministry. More details in next week’s ‘Weekly Message’ which should go out on Thursday 1st October.

Finally for this week
Thank you to all those who have continued to bring tinned food and warm winter clothing for both men & women, to place in the two red wheelie bins at the back of the Church, to support the work of the Salvation Army with the homeless in Prague. The clothing bin is nearly full & there have been plenty of clonks on Sunday mornings recently, with tins being deposited. Once I’m back from Zagreb, I shall be arranging to have the contents of both bins collected. So do use the opportunity this coming Sunday, to add to our collection.

Best wishes

Ricky