A Happy New Year to each of you associated with St. Clement’s, Prague!
It was good to see many regular faces back in the congregation last Sunday after being away over the Christmas period. I look forward to seeing many more of you, either tomorrow night (see below) or next Sunday morning. I was also very encouraged by the good number of people who came on to Coffee Hour at Klimentská 18 after last Sunday’s service. Coffee Hour is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship, for making visitors and newcomers welcome, as well as being able to ‘warm up’ after 75-80 minutes in a somewhat cold Church!
Wednesday 6th January at 7pm – Eucharist for the Feast of the Epiphany
As I have explained in a previous message, as Epiphany or Twelfth Night, falls right in the middle of the week, I thought to myself, “Why not hold a service?” So I’m going to! Following the service, there is an open invitation from me to as many as would like to join Sybille & I for a meal at a nearby bar-restaurant and have a little Twelfth Night partying.
Sunday 10th January at 11am – Sung Eucharist for the First Sunday after Epiphany
There will be parallel Sunday School & Coffee Hour following the service.
Tuesday 12th January – Meet the Chaplain in Prague city centre
I shall be resuming being available for a chat + coffee or tea & biscuits, between 4pm and 8pm 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. The only time in that four hour slot I won’t be there is between 6pm and about 6.45pm when I shall be across the road in the Rotunda of the Holy Cross attending the Old Catholic Eucharist in an effort to improve my liturgical Czech! Why no drop by?
Thursday 14th January at 7 pm
Supper and Study will resume, almost certainly at Sue Anderson’s flat in Prague 6. A light supper will be followed by Bible study continuing working our way through Mark’s Gospel and our session usually ends with a short time of prayer. We aim to finish around 9.15 pm. Confirmation of venue should be in the Weekly Bulletin this coming Sunday or alternatively phone me (233 310 266 or 737 039 082). New members are always welcome. If you want to know more, just ask!!!
Two reminders from previous Midweek Messages which are still current and valid
On the noticeboard at the back of Church is a collecting envelope for used postage stamps to support the work of the Intercontinental Church Society (ICS). As many of you know, ICS support St Clements both financially (they currently meet approximately 10% of our running costs) and also prayerfully. One of the ways ICS raises it’s own funds is by selling used postage stamps. Therefore, as you have been in receipt of Christmas cards from your friends and relatives scattered around the world, please cut out the postage stamps on the envelopes leaving a paper border around the stamp, and then bring them to Church and put them in the collecting envelope. All nationalities and varieties of used postage stamps are wanted with the only exception being standard British ones which only feature the Queen’s head.
Update – A big ‘Thank you’ to everyone who has done this recently. I intend to send them off to the ICS organiser in the next few days.
Can you help me?
The Chaplaincy computer on which I’m writing this message, was a gift from someone who was leaving Prague and didn’t want to take it with them. Unfortunately, that gift was given several years ago. The computer runs on Windows 2000 which is © Microsoft Corporation 1999 making it positively ancient in computer terms. It has become increasingly slow and difficult to use. Because it was a gift, we do not have any original CDs from which to re-load Windows and the other programmes which might otherwise help address the problems it has.
Your Church Council suggested that I should use this message to ask if anyone knows of a business who are currently upgrading their computers, who might be willing to pass on to the Chaplaincy, an old computer, still in good working order, but more advanced than what I’m currently working with. All I’m after is a computer – we have a modern flat screen monitor and a combined printer/photocopier/scanner. Something that has Windows XP as its operating system would be ideal. If anyone can help, please get in touch.
Update – In response to this appeal when it first went out, I have heard of a ‘possibility’ at the end of January. But it is only a ‘possibility’. Therefore any other offer would be most welcome.
And finally for this week….
As I explained in a previous message, near the end of February both Sybille & I have our respective birthdays. They fall two days, but ‘a few’ years, apart. On Friday 26th February 2010, our joint ages will total 100. Therefore on that evening, we are going to hold a 100th Birthday Party and all St. Clement’s people are invited! We are presently looking at possible venues but it would help enormously to know whether we need somewhere for four or forty people. Therefore, if you are free that evening and would like to join us to celebrate our joint 100th birthday, please could you simply reply to this email to let us know numbers attending. If you are not in a position to let us know yet, then you will still be welcome. But we do need some idea of numbers.
With my best wishes for 2010
Ricky
PS My usual disclaimer. My email circulation list grows week by week. Most people tell me how much they appreciate receiving this message that I send out most weeks. However, if you would prefer not to receive it in future, please write & let me know & I’ll remove your email address forthwith.
