Pause for Thought updated

It's that time of year when acorns are underfoot in all the parks and woods around Hamburg. Acorns are the starting point, too, for a new Pause for Thought on spreading the Gospel. Click on "Pause for Thought" on the left of the page or follow this link.

No S-Bahn this Sunday

There will be no S-Bahn service to Stadthausbrücke and Landungsbrücken this Sunday, 1 December because of engineering works on the City-Tunnel. Trains between Hauptbahnhof and Altona will run via Dammtor. There will be a replacement bus service between Baumwall and Altona. If you usually use the S-Bahn to get to church, allow plenty of extra time. The HVV website has details.

Elvis spotted at STB!

Wax your quiffs, dust off your winklepickers and get ready to rock. "Elvis" and guest Arco Iris will be singing Christmas songs and others at St Thomas Becket on Sunday 1 December from 6 pm (doors open at 5.30 pm). Entry is by donation and 20 per cent of takings will be given to the Philippines Typhoon Appeal.

Advent and Christmas at STB

1 December is Advent Sunday. All services and events during Advent and Christmas can be downloaded and printed off here.

Thanks for a great bazaar

A big thank you to everyone who helped make yesterday's bazaar a big success, especially to all those from outside the regular congregation who put in so much work every year. And thanks, of course, to everyone who came and bought what was on offer. Apart from raising much-needed money, the bazaar is always an opportunity to meet old friends and welcome new visitors.

The prize list for the raffle can be found here.

New bishop - have your say

Now Bishop Geoffrey has retired, the process of finding his successor has begun. A consultation has started, and the deadline for making your views known is 8 December. You can find out how on the European Anglican website.

Friends of Britain are our friends too

"Friends of Britain e.V." has donated €2,500 to STB. Fr Matthew accepted the cheque on behalf of the church at a reception at the Anglo-German Club on 11 November. Thank you FoB!

Donations totalling €17,000 were made to Hamburg charities, with €10,000 going to Kinderhaus Mignon (Benita Quadflieg Stiftung) which provides family-based residential care for children and young people. Friends of Britain's main fundraising event is British Flair, held in August. Proceeds from a charity screening of a film of the Queen's coronation, for which STB was the venue, also went into the charity pot.

Remembrance Service makes European Anglican

Barely were the poppy wreaths laid at St Thomas Becket and the Commonwealth War Graves memorial at Ohlsdorf Cemetery on 10 November than the commemoration was reported with a photograph on European Anglican - thanks to fast work by Monica Schofield and our Diocesan Communications Officer.

Wanderers head for the woods and fields

The Wanderers will be tackling part of the Volksdorfer Rundwanderweg, from Meiendorfer Weg to Buchenkamp, on Saturday 9 November. The full route is 13km, with the option of stoping at U-Bahn Buckhorn after 5km for the less energetic.

Meet at the exit from U1 station Meiendorfer Weg at 11.30 am. The train (direction Ohlstedt ) dep. Jungfernstieg at 10.53, Hbf Süd 10.58 and Wandsbek Markt 11.07, arr. Meiendorfer Weg at 11.23. For those coming by car there is a Park and Ride at the station.

As usual bring a lunch picnic and come suitably attired.

Please let Cicely know by 12 noon on Friday, 8 November if you're coming: 040/86 07 90; mobile 0162 635 93 98.

Christmas is coming…

…and a sure sign is that recycled Christmas cards are once again on sale in aid of church funds. There is a great variety of different designs – both religious and non-religious – and the cards cost €11 for a pack of 10, including envelopes, and €1.30 singly. The cards are a standard size, have a Christmas and New Year message in both English and German, and are within the 20g limit for normal postage.

Christmas cards can be bought in church after the 10.30 Sunday service, at the Church Bazaar on 16 November and the Victorian Christmas Market on 30 November/1 December at the Baseler Hof Säle, and at many English-speaking and international club events.