We are back safely!
We returned to Prague on Tuesday afternoon after our 4,500 mile/7,200 km journey through 12 countries. I will report on the meeting of the Archdeaconry Synod to your Church Council when it next meets on Sunday 8th November. However, if you are at all interested in what Sybille and I have been up to, then I hope to publish a series of posts on my personal blog www.rickyyates.com over the coming days. The first one should be there later today.
We were able to spend a couple of hours with John & Jane Dinnen late on Tuesday afternoon/evening before safely delivering them to the airport for their flight back to Ireland. They expressed how much they had enjoyed themselves whilst here in Prague and were very appreciative of the warmth of welcome they had received from many members of the congregation. They also claimed that Oscar our cat, had been a very good host!!!!
This Sunday 1st November – All Saints Day
Please join us at 11am for our Sung Eucharist. There will be Sunday School for the children, this week led by Sue Anderson, and refreshments will follow the service. I’m really looking forward to being your celebrant and preacher this Sunday as we give thanks for the lives of all the saints. It is good to look back over our own lives and remember all those who have helped us on our Christian journey. I encourage you to do just that between reading this email and Sunday morning and then in our worship, give thanks to God for each of them, especially those who have gone on before us.
The coming week……
…..sees the resumption of all our normal midweek activities.
Monday 2nd at 7pm in the bar-restaurant U Slabé vůle, Revoluční 21, alongside the Dlouhá trída tram stop, Czech conversation with Gerry Turner. Come for a meal (the food is excellent & very reasonably priced) or just a drink (0.5l Staropramen is only 25Kč) and improve your spoken Czech.
Tuesday 3rd at 8.15am at Bohemia Bagel, Masná 2, near Old Town Square, the Breakfast Study Group will resume meeting. We are small but not exclusive! Why not join us for breakfast, study & discussion.
Thursday 5th at 7pm, the Thursday Study Group meets at the Sue Anderson’s flat. Enjoy a light supper with a glass or two of wine or soft drink, followed by a study & ending with a short time of prayer. End time is 9.15pm. The group will be continuing their current series of studies in Mark’s Gospel. New members are always very welcome.
Sue’s flat is in the same complex as the Chaplaincy flat. Take Tram 20 to it’s terminus at Podbaba. Continue in direction of the tram for 250m to bus stop Ve struhách (routes 107,116, 147, 160 from Dejvická); turn left just beyond the bus stop & Staropramen 24 hr bar into Pod Pat’ankou. Turn left immediately before the disused railway bridge and the block of flats in front of you is the one you need. Go to the stairway on the right and ring the bell marked ‘Anderson’. If you need more help to find it ring Sue on 731 178 731. It is helpful for catering arrangements to let Sue know if you are planning to come.
Looking ahead….
Our annual service of Lessons and Carols will be on Sunday 13th December at 6pm. Hopefully this will be before any of you disappear to your respective home counties (or the chalupa!) for the Christmas break!
And finally……
For any of you who are over 60 years of age. Are you aware that you can get a pass that allows you to buy half priced season tickets on the Prague integrated transport system? You will need two passport photos and a small form completed, together with your passport to prove your age. The initial photocard costs either 20 or 30 Kč and then for example, a monthly season ticket costs 250 Kč rather than the normal 550 Kč. Contrary to what one or two people have told me, you do NOT have to be a Czech citizen. My sister, who is British and was 61 at the time she visited me in August, successfully got her pass. And at my suggestion, John and Jane Dinnen did the same.
John & Jane and also my sister, got theirs from the ticket office at the Dejvická Metro Station. But I understand you can also apply at other major stations such as Můstek. With the pass, you can also get into a number of other attractions such as Troja Chateau and Prague Zoo for the large sum of 1 Kč! For the under 60s, it is well worth knowing about if you have parents or older relatives visiting you.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on Sunday.
Ricky
