Dear People of St. Clement’s,
During this past week, August became September and looking at my diary, life is going to be very busy during the next few weeks.
For starters, I have two weddings in the space of eight days. The first is this coming Saturday at St. Clement’s when Jan (a Czech) marries Allison (an American). The happy couple were both in Church with us at worship last Sunday along with Allison’s parents. Then on Friday 10th September, I shall be in Moravia for the marriage of Philip (an Englishman) to Lenka (a Czech). This latter wedding means I shall be away from Prague for 48 hours from Thursday afternoon until Saturday lunchtime.
Later in the month, Sybille & I will also be away again between Thursday 16th – Sunday 19th September, attending our annual Eastern Archdeaconry Synod which this year is being held in Vienna. At least this is slightly less distance to travel compared with going to Izmir, Turkey in 2009!
Of course, with the arrival of September and the return to Prague by many members of the congregation, various Church activities resume. A fuller explanation of each of them appears in the announcements section of this message below. But before I write about each of them in turn, I want to make a suggestion.
September is the time when many new English-speaking expats arrive in Prague. I’m sure that those of you who teach in International Schools, work for the plethora of language schools here in Prague, as well as for Czech or international companies, have gained or will shortly be gaining, new English-speaking colleagues. All of them will be looking to find new friends, appropriate support networks, places in which they feel comfortable, particularly where they can freely speak in English with the likely assurance that they will be understood. One of those places is, or at least should be, St. Clement’s Anglican Episcopal Church. So why not invite them to come with you to Church on one of the forthcoming Sundays in September? And having done so, introduce them both to me, but also to other members of the congregation, particularly those who also hail from the same country as they do. I look forward to being introduced to many of your new colleagues & friends over the next few weeks!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday 5th September at 11am – Sung Eucharist for Trinity 14 The Biblical readings for this coming Sunday are St. Paul’s shortest letter – his letter to Philemon which only has 25 verses in total, together with Luke 14 v25-33, which contain some challenging words about the cost of discipleship. As I regularly say, why not read them yourself before you hear them read public in Church on Sunday?
Sunday School, for children aged 4+ -11 resumes on Sunday after the summer break. As part of updating our Child Protection procedures as well as to help our voluntary Sunday School teachers, we are asking the parents of all Sunday School children to complete a new registration form. A form for completion is attached to this email as a pdf file. If parents can print off a copy(ies) and complete them for each of their children & bring the completed forms on Sunday, that would be greatly appreciated. We will also have hard copies for completion in Church on forthcoming Sundays. Parental cooperation in this matter is essential to ensure we comply fully with Diocesan guidelines with regard to child protection issues.
Following our worship on Sunday, Coffee Hour will resume on the third floor of Klimentská 18.
Wednesday 8th September from 4 – 6pm – Meet the Chaplain in Prague City Centre I shall once again be available for a chat + coffee or tea & biscuits, between 4pm and 6pm at
Communio Centre Karolíny Svĕtlé 21 (nearly opposite the Rotunda of the Holy Cross) Prague 1
Karolíny Svĕtlé itself lies between Charles Bridge and Národní třída. Please note that this regular weekly event has now moved from Tuesday to Wednesday each week.
At 6pm, I shall lead a simple said service of Evening Prayer at the same venue. There will be an easy booklet to follow, just as we have on Sunday, and within the service there will be the opportunity for extemporary or silent prayer. The service itself will last no more than thirty minutes.
Then from 6.30pm until 7.30pm, there will be an Informal Bible Study, again at the same venue. Over the next five Wednesdays, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th September + 6th October, there will be a series of studies based on the Letter of James, one of the most practical books in the whole of the New Testament. If you can bring your own Bible – great! But I will also have the Biblical text printed out for those who come without a Bible. You do not have to have a fount of Biblical knowledge to attend – in fact it is probably preferable if you don’t!!!!! No one will be put on the spot or embarrassed. That I promise.
Offering this service of Evening Prayer followed by Bible Study in this location and at an earlier timein the evening, is an experiment. I’m responding to those who have complained that if you don’t live in Prague 6, the Chaplaincy flat takes too long to reach. And a number of those who used to come on Thursdays to the Chaplaincy flat, have either left Prague or now find Thursday evenings difficult. Everyone is welcome for both Evening Prayer & the Bible Study or to one or the other.
At 7.30pm, everyone can either go home OR those who would like to, can join Sybille & I in a nearby restaurant for fellowship over an evening meal.
Sunday 12th September – Sung Eucharist for Trinity 15
There will be parallel Sunday School and the service will be followed by a Bring & Share Lunch. The theme will be Picnic Basket (or carrier bag) e.g finger food such as sandwiches, pastries, cold pies, quiche, hardboiled eggs, sushi, chicken legs, breadsticks, crisps, slices of cake, cheese and fruit. Basically, bring something along these lines to be shared by all who attend. This event will be an excellent opportunity to both welcome and get to know new arrivals at St. Clements as well as to catch up with each other after the summer break.
Looking further ahead……
Some more dates for your diary
Thursday 23rd September The monthly daytime discussion group ‘Open Minds’ will resume at the home of H.K.. Nibbles & refreshments from 11.30am with discussion getting underway at midday. The topic is being finalised as I write but it probably will resolve around issues relating to the Roma population, both here in the Czech Republic and with reference to what has been recently happening in France. More details in next weeks message.
Saturday 25th September A day trip to Kutna Hora. Particularly aimed at newcomers to show them something of the Czech Republic beyond Prague. But open to all. There will be a list to sign up on at the back of Church.
Sunday 26th September Following our Eucharist, there will be an Extraordinary Church Meeting to elect new Churchwardens. All those on the Church Electoral Roll are actively encouraged to attend. Nominations in writing with a proposer & seconder & the consent of the candidate are required in advance of the meeting. Please give this matter your prayerful & practical concern.
Thursday 21st October This is the date planned for the start of a regular fortnightly lunchtime meeting, aimed particularly at business people who work in Prague City Centre. Plans are still being formulated but the intention is to look initially at issues of business ethics. More information in due course.
And finally…… I hope to post a complete & updated Autumn programme on our website www.anglican.cz shortly as well as to bring you updates via this message each week.
Until next week – best wishes
Ricky
