Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,

There is a lot of new information in this week’s ‘Weekly Message’ so please read it carefully and take note of what applies to you. Recently, I’ve had several people say, ‘Oh – I didn’t know that!’ about things that I’ve advertised &/or explained in previous ‘Weekly Messages’ :-(

Firstly, worship this coming Sunday.

Sunday 26th February at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Sunday next before Lent

Our Gospel reading will be an account of the Transfiguration as recorded in Matthew 17. 1-9. The Old Testament reading, Exodus 24. 12-18, tells of Moses being on Mount Sinai, receiving ‘the law and the commandment’, whilst in the New Testament reading, 2 Peter 1. 16-21, the author speaks of being present on the mount of Transfiguration and hearing the voice saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ There will be parallel Children’s Ministry and following worship, Coffee Hour in the hall on the third floor of Klimentská 18.

Then on Wednesday, Lent begins!

Wednesday 1st March at 19.00 – Ash Wednesday Eucharist

Please make every effort to join us on Wednesday evening, to mark the beginning of this penitential season. Within the service, there will be the opportunity to receive the imposition of ashes for all who would like to do so.

Please note that, following our Ash Wednesday evening service, I shall be away from the morning of Thursday 2nd until the evening of Saturday 4th March, wearing my Dresden hat, attending a meeting of the Council of Anglican and Episcopal Churches in Germany (CAECG) taking place in Freiburg im Breisgau. On the afternoon of Saturday 4th, I shall be providing taxi service for Archdeacon , bringing him from Freiburg to Prague, ready to be our preacher the following day.

Sunday 5th March at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the First Sunday in Lent

More details in next week’s ‘Weekly Message’ but, following worship and Coffee Hour, Archdeacon will be meeting once more with your Church Council, where decisions about the way forward in appointing my successor will be made. Your prayers will be much appreciated.

Study during Lent – Tuesdays 14th, 21st & 28th March and 4th April – 18.30-20.00 in the small meeting room on the first floor of Klimentská 18

Our Lent Study Group will start one week later than normal as on the first Tuesday in Lent, I have to be in Dresden for a planning meeting. I wanted to move to Wednesday evenings but discovered that our meeting room is let to another group on Wednesday evenings by our host congregation :-(

Our theme during Lent will be the Church – what does the Bible teach us about Church & how did the Church come to be as we see it today. But then I want everybody to think about what kind of Church do you want St Clement’s to be? Remember, change is coming as in nine weeks time, I will no longer be your Chaplain! The exact details of each of our four sessions together will be in next week’s ‘Weekly Message’, but please plan to be there, marking the dates of the four Tuesday evenings in your diaries now!

Bishop Robert is coming to Prague – Saturday 1st – Sunday 2nd April

Our Anglican Diocesan Bishop will be in Prague on the first weekend in April. On Saturday 1st, he will be taking part in the consecration of s the new Old Catholic Bishop in the Czech Republic. Until just over a week ago, I had been given to understand that Bishop Robert could only be in Prague for that day. However, I have now been informed that he will be here for the whole of the weekend & will therefore be our Celebrant & Preacher at our 11.00 Sung Eucharist on Sunday 2nd April. He has also offered to perform the rite of Confirmation within the service. As I already have two likely confirmation candidates, I have accepted his offer.

It is very short notice, much shorter than I would like. However, if there any other adults or young people who are already regular worshippers who would like to be prepared for Confirmation on Sunday 2nd April, please get in touch with me ASAP. Please note that it will need a real willingness on your part to give time during March, to attend preparation sessions.

Annual Church Meeting (ACM)

The ACM will take place on Sunday 9th April, immediately following worship that morning. To take part in and vote at the ACM, you need to be a member of the Church Electoral Roll (CER). A copy of the current CER is on the noticeboard at the back of the Church. There you will also find application forms to join the CER. These must be completed and returned no later than Saturday 25th March, fifteen days before the ACM. The form explains what makes you eligible to join. Any queries, please speak with me.

Finally for this week…..

……both my sermon from Sunday 12th February & Jack Noonan’s sermon from Sunday 19th February have been uploaded to our Church website. Just click on either link to listen.

Best wishes

Ricky