Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,
Last Sunday, it was good to have a number of members from our regular congregation back worshipping with us, having been away on holiday/vacation or visiting their respective home countries over the past several weeks. I very much hope to see many more regulars back with us this coming Sunday too. So a few more details about our forthcoming worship.
Sunday 26th August at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity with Baptism
Our Bible readings all continue on from readings we’ve had on previous Sundays. Firstly, we will hear & respond to Psalm 34. 15-22. We’ve had the previous fourteen verses in separate chunks the two past Sundays. Our New Testament reading is Ephesians 6. 10-20 which is a very well known passage where St. Paul talks about ‘putting on the whole armour of God’. If you haven’t noticed, we’ve been working our way slowly through Ephesians since Sunday 15th July! The Gospel reading is John 6. 56-69, the fifth and final section of this one chapter from John’s Gospel which we commenced reading five Sundays ago. Please do try to read the passages privately yourselves, before coming to worship, if you possibly can.
During our worship on Sunday, I will conduct the Baptism of Martin Morris Rovny, the first child of Jan & Allison Rovny, who were married by me at St. Clement’s almost exactly two years ago. Because Jan & Allison are currently based in Gothenburg, Sweden, we don’t see them very often but they do regard St. Clement’s as their spiritual home and Jan’s family all live in Prague. Allison’s parents will be over from the USA for this special occasion and her father Morris Vos, will be leading our intercessions following the baptism.
Following Cool Refreshments served at the back of Church, your Church Council will be meeting to, amongst other things, finalise our programme of events and activities from September through to Christmas. Your prayers for that meeting would be greatly appreciated. More details very shortly but I can confirm that parallel Children’s Ministry will recommence on Sunday 2nd September and Tuesday evening meetings will start again on Tuesday 11th September.
Your Chaplain will be absent next week.
I still have two weeks of annual leave including two Sundays, to fit in before the end of the year. Therefore I’m taking one week off next week – Monday 27th – Friday 31st August. And I will be properly ‘away’, as I will be flying to the UK very early on Monday morning, to visit my adult son & daughter. But I will be back and on duty on Sunday 2nd September because these next few Sundays are so crucial in the life of St. Clement’s as I will explain with my special plea for this week.
Welcoming new arrivals to Prague
This is the time of year when many English-speaking expats, are newly arrived in Prague. Some will find their way to St. Clement’s by themselves, almost certainly via this website. If you see someone new in Church, please go & speak with them & make them feel welcome. Make sure they get a ‘Welcome Booklet’ and complete a ‘Newcomers form’ so I can put them on my contact list. Why not invite them to go out to lunch with you after the service?
However, many of you will have new English-speaking colleagues starting at your place of work; will meet new parents at the International Schools attended by your children, or discover that your new neighbours are also English-speaking expats. Why not suggest to them that they come to St. Clement’s one Sunday and offer to come with them & sit with them in Church? Many people would like to attend worship but are afraid to do so, either because they don’t know where to go in a strange new city or because they fear they will ‘do the wrong thing’ when in Church. Being able to go to Church with someone who both knows the way & knows the ropes, is very reassuring.
If St. Clement’s is to remain viable, it has to grow and these next few weeks are crucial. Please help by making newcomers welcome & by inviting new people to come to Church with you.
Best wishes
Ricky
