Liebfrauenberg Weekend

Liebfrauenberg Weekend, April 26th-28th 2013

St. Catherine’s is planning a parish weekend in 2013, to which all families, couples and singles, long-serving members of the congregation and newcomers are cordially welcome. We have been invited by the Anglican chaplaincies in Heidelberg and Strasbourg to join them at Liebfrauenberg from Friday, 28th to Sunday, 30th April 2013.

Liebfrauenberg in the northern Vosges, France, is a conference and retreat centre built on the site of an old convent, and is run by the Protestant churches of Alsace. Surrounded by trees, it gives impressive panoramic views over the fields towards Strasbourg where the cathedral steeple can be seen on a clear day. It is a 2-3 hour drive from Stuttgart.

The chaplaincies of Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Stuttgart have been coming together for a weekend every year since the mid-1970s. They have visiting speakers from England and this year we will be welcoming Revd Dr. Gillian Bunce from the Weston-super-Mare area. She will give us food for thought and discussion in several sessions spread over the weekend. We will explore how we discover who we truly are and what we are about and why. We will reflect on what makes us tick, and how that is expressed or frustrated by our past and present context and circumstances. It is a time for study, worship, relaxation and making and renewing friendships with members of the other chaplaincies. No part of the weekend is compulsory – most people attend all sessions but if you want some quiet time in the library or fancy a long walk in the woods, you are free to do so. If there are enough children coming, it is hoped to run a parallel children’s programme.

The weekend starts with dinner about 6 pm on Friday evening and ends with tea around 3.30 pm on Sunday, but it is possible to arrive later or leave earlier or just to come for one day. There are services in the beautifully restored chapel, with a chance to sing in the choir or play your favourite instrument. There are plenty of opportunities for just relaxing: walks, chats over coffee, Saturday night entertainment with contributions welcomed from our congregation and afterwards, for those with stamina, “tarte flambée” in the village pub!

St. Catherine’s has been reserved one third of the places, which will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. The cost per person per day (full board) will be 71 euros for adults, 50 euros for young people (13-17), 38 euros for children, and under 4s are free. (An adult attending the whole weekend would therefore pay 142 euros.) This includes the speaker’s travel costs and some administrative expenses. Those visitors just attending for part of the time are charged accordingly for meals taken. Registration forms will be available from the beginning of March. The accommodation fee should be paid in cash (euros) during the course of the weekend. Single, double and family rooms are available. The centre caters for vegetarians. Water is provided at mealtimes and wine and soft drinks can be purchased if wished. The separate “tarte flambée” costs are shared amongst those visiting the pub and will be around 10 euros, plus drinks. We plan to meet up on Friday about 2 pm in Stuttgart to fill cars, sharing the cost of petrol between us. Each driver will be given route details / sat nav data and mobile phone numbers to keep in touch.

Please don’t let finance deter you. If there are any problems just have a word with our vicar, Ken. Any questions you may have about the whole event can be sent by email to:

Hope to see you there!

Susan

For more details see Liebfrauenberg Details