Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,
As the many of you who were at worship at St. Clement’s last Sunday morning will know, I have returned safely to the Czech Republic after my two weeks away, attending the ICS Chaplains & Families Conference and then taking a week of annual leave. Whilst at the conference, I had a most useful conversation with our Diocesan Bishop designate Canon Dr Robert Innes. Robert will be consecrated Bishop on Sunday 20th July in Canterbury Cathedral & will formerly take up his new role on 1st September. He confirmed to me that he will be attending the annual meeting of the Eastern Archdeaconry Synod which we are hosting in Prague between 25th-28th September, thus making St. Clement’s one of the first Chaplaincies he will visit having become our Anglican Diocesan Bishop.
A reminder that today is an important, though much neglected, day in the Christian year – Ascension Day. Therefore this evening:
Thursday 29th May at 19.00 – Sung Eucharist celebrating Christ’s Ascension
Whilst today isn’t a public holiday in the Czech Republic, unlike in every neighbouring country where it is :-) , I do hope you will try & join us for worship this evening if you possibly can.
Then on Sunday…..
Sunday 1st June at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Seventh Sunday of Easter/Sunday after Ascension Day
Our first reading will once more recount Jesus’ Ascension as recorded in Acts 1. 6-14. We will also hear again from the First Letter of Peter, 1 Peter 4. 12-14 & 5. 6-11. The Gospel Reading is the first part of what is often called Jesus’ ‘High Priestly Prayer’, John 17. 1-11. There will as usual, be parallel Children’s Ministry and the service will be followed by Cool Drinks & Light Refreshments served at the back of Church.
Sunday 1st June at 17.00 in Brno – Holy Communion with hymns in our new worship location in Brno – ‘The Upper Room’, corner of Jezuitská and Mozartova, Brno.
As I’ve requested previously, please tell any family or friends you may have in South Moravia about our monthly services in Brno which are now being held on the first Sunday of each month.
Three other things for this week
Recorded sermons – my sermons from Sunday 11th May and Sunday 25th May, are both available to listen to here on our Church website . My sincere apologies that we didn’t get a recording of the sermon on Sunday 18th May by Rev’d Dr Karen Moritz. Unfortunately I had David Hellam’s memory stick with me in the UK & David didn’t have another one with him at Church :-(
The Summer edition of ‘The European Anglican’ arrived at the Chaplaincy Flat yesterday. Free copies will be available in Church tonight and on Sunday morning. Within the magazine, there is even a photograph in which I appear!
The Chaplaincy finances, as reported by Gordon to the congregation on Sunday 18th May, are in a very difficult situation. Both Gordon & I are working on various things at present & I hope to be able to give an update when I write again next week.
Best wishes
Ricky
