The Environment "is an issue of justice"!

“Ecological questions are increasingly issues of justice.“
“The poorest and most vulnerable and our children and grandchildren would pay the heaviest price for climate change...” are key messages from Archbishop Rowan Williams high profile Ebor Lecture Renewing the Face of the Earth: Human Responsibility and the Environment.

The lecture, given in York 25 March, was welcomed by a Greenpeace UK spokesman with the comment, "Hundreds of thousands of people are dying every year because we haven't taken the necessary steps to stop climate change. Whilst there's nothing wrong in hoping for a miracle, relying on one does seem to be more than a bit reckless. “

The Archbishop also made this point “To suggest that God might intervene to protect us from the corporate folly of our practices is as unchristian and unbiblical as to suggest that he protects us from the results of our individual folly or sin".

Something to think about while waiting to catch the plane!

For full text click here and BBC Online report here .

This week 22-28 March

Just a reminder that Choir Practice is on Tuesday commencing 18:30. New members are welcome.

The Monthly Eucharist will be held in the West Room on Thursday at 19:00

The Lent Course continues on Saturday 10:30-11:30 and will be tackling Miracles. From the experience of previous sessions, a lively discussion is promised. Do come along even if you have not been to the other sessions. The more the merrier for this demanding topic!

You can then work off the perplexity by helping to Spring Clean at 12:00. Please contact Ellen (see under contacts) in you can volunteer services. It would be much appreciated. Old Bismark needs a brush up so we are told, if not the Church!

Thanks to our children!

Members of Junior Church Amaefo, Chidera, Emily, Frederico, Jannes, Kevin, Kullaya, Osamui, and Svea, have been carefully saving pocket money to donate to those less fortunate than themselves. A couple of weeks ago their donation was given to the Freundeskreis Die ARCHE Hamburg for its tremendous work for less privileged kids.
Please click here to see the thank you note read out in Church on Mothering Sunday (22 March). Well done to all! Keep it up.

Sustainable Farming in the Philippines

Simon Gill who was a member of St Thomas Becket in the 1990's is now running an NGO Bountiful Harvest Rural Development Inc. on the Island of Palawan, Philippines, with his wife to introduce sustainable farming techniques to local farmers on Palawan, Philippines. For their latest news, please look under Mission Projects.

Bishops in Gaza

On March 10, Bishop Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, who is responsible for Christians on the West Bank and in Gaza, was granted permission to go into Gaza to make a pastoral visit to the diocesan hospital, Ahli Arab Hospital. Bishop Suheil was accompanied by Greek Catholic Archbishop Elias Chacour and Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan. The visiting bishops wanted to personally show their support and thank the medical staff, and to pray for peace in the region and reconciliation between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Please click here for a short report.

The Value of Trust

Ethics, Economics and Global Justice, words that don’t quite seem to fit together these days, is the title of a recent thoughtful speech given by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the current economic situation. Trust in the financial system is something we have lost. Our impatience has got the better of us. We need to move away from short term thinking, and learn the value of trust.
Those of you pre-occupied with the current economic situation may like to read or listen to his presentation given in Wales 7 March here and perhaps link this to this month’s Pause for Thought.

Reminder! Young Adults Meeting 20 March 18:30

Just to remind you there will be a meeting of the Young Adults Group this Friday in Church starting 18:30. If you are interested and wish to join the group please refer to the web page "Activities-Young Adults" for contact details.

AGM 26 April

A reminder that the AGM will be held 26 April after the service. To vote at the AGM you need to be on the Electoral Roll. If you have attended church regularly for 6 months and are not yet on the Electoral Roll, please do consider applying. Applications are welcome up to 5th April. It does not cost anything!

Annual Bazaar 2009 Date Announced 21 November

The Annual Bazaar will be held 21 November 10:00-16:00. The next organisers meeting will be in September, but do get in contact if you would like to help. It is fun!

Spring Cleaning

A reminder about the four part Lent Course starting 14th March – see flyer. This may offer some much needed spiritual spring cleaning.

For some physical spring cleaning, please if possible reserve Saturday 28th March to assist with cleaning the Church ready for Easter, or for the physically active, to help out as a volunteer to clean up Hamburg. Please contact Ellen (details under About Us – Contacts) for further information.

Thoughts for Lent

Lent is a good time to think about the situation of others. This Month's Pause for Thought challenges us to consider what we might do about the economic imbalance in the world.

Annual Bazaar 2009 – kick off meeting 9 March 19:00

The Annual Bazaar is one of the most important church activities not least because it contributes significantly to the finances! It is also a lot of fun to participate in the organisation. Past helpers and newcomers willing to help with this year’s bazaar, please come along to a meeting in Church, 9th March at 19:00. Please contact Ellen if you want to know more (contact details under “About us – Contacts”).

Church Wanderers Walk 7 March

The next Church Wanderers walk will be The Alsterwanderweg from Poppenbüttel to Wohldorf, then continuing to Ohlstedt. Approx 10.5 kms. Further details under "Activities - Wanderers".
Please note date has been changed so as not to clash with the Lent course commencing 14 March which we hope many people will join. It's free!