Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,
This coming Sunday is 1st September, and here in Prague this past week, the weather has had a more Autumnal than summer feel to it. With the onset of September comes the beginning of a new school year and also marks the end of St. Clement’s being in ‘summer mode’. That having been said, we will continue with Cool Drinks & Light Refreshments at the back of Church for the next few Sundays, whilst the weather remains reasonably warm, with the exception of Sunday 15th September (see below). So here are some details of what is happening at St. Clement’s in the coming weeks.
Sunday 1st September at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
As we will be in September, Children’s Ministry resumes and I gather from David Hellam, that it will be of the outdoor variety, with the children going down to the park, providing the weather is OK. Following the service, Cool Drinks & Light Refreshments will be served at the back of Church. My thanks to Alasdair Duncan, who has kindly agreed to organise them this Sunday, whilst the ever-faithful Caroline Studdert is away.
Sunday 8th September
As well as our regular Sung Eucharist at 11.00 in Prague, in the afternoon, I will be travelling down to Moravia, for our regular monthly service in Brno, starting at 18.00 in the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, Nové sady 32a, Brno. For the first time, the service will include a baptism – the first child of a British-Czech couple whose wedding I conducted three years ago, who are currently building a house on the outskirts of Brno with a view to permanently living there and joining the Brno congregation.
Tuesday 10th September 18.30-20.00 in the small meeting room on the first floor of Klimentská 18
Our regular midweek Study & Fellowship sessions will resume. This is my last call for ideas of what topics/ books of the Bible/ questions of faith, that you would like us to tackle this coming Autumn. Speak with me on Sunday or reply to this email with your suggestions. We’ll end each session by saying Evening Prayer together.
Sunday 15th September
Following our Sung Eucharist at 11.00, there will be a Shared Lunch in the hall on the third floor of Klimentská 18. As we did earlier this year, the lunch is entitled ‘A Taste of Home‘. The idea is to bring a dish that is typical of where you originate from, which can be shared with others.
Sunday 22nd September
From Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd September, Gordon Truefitt, Jack Noonan & I, will all be away, attending the annual meeting of the Eastern Archdeaconry Synod. In our absence on Sunday 22nd, there will be a Family friendly Service of the Word led by David Hellam, celebrating Harvest Festival.
Friday 27th September
A social event, featuring a Harvest Supper, music & dancing, is planned for the evening at Michelský dvůr, the same venue where we held our most enjoyable Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh in January this year. More details to follow, but put this date in your diaries/ iPhones/ blackberries NOW!
A request from my Email Inbox
I suspect some of you might be surprised at the number of emails that land in my Inbox, with an amazing variety of requests! Here is one that I need help with.
My name is Gina, I am a 24yr old Christian solo traveller from New Zealand, travelling through Europe on my way to serve as a missionary in Uganda. I am coming to Prague for a few days in early September (5-9th) and I was wondering if someone in your church could host me? I really prefer to stay with locals rather than in hotels or hostels because I love to get an understanding of a place and to get to know new people. I don’t have any contacts in Prague so I thought I would reach out to a church. I have been heavily involved in church hospitality in my country (I was part of the Anglican church in Auckland, NZ), I see it as my main ministry, so it would be great for me to learn how your church members host, and to learn about your culture.
If anyone is willing and able to help Gina, please drop me a quick email, and I’ll pass her email address on to you.
Finally, a thought for the coming weeks
Yesterday morning, when saying Morning Prayer, I was struck by the response in the Psalm set for the day, Psalm 143. It is verse 8 of the Psalm and says, “Show me, O Lord, the way that I should walk in“. It is a simple and honest request by the Psalmist, and one I’ve decided to make my prayer over the coming weeks. I commend it to you, as a prayer you might also want to use too.
Best wishes
Ricky
