What did you expect?

Dear Friends,

Well, I had a great time in Spain, although it did not go as I expected. It was too cold to swim, so after one attempt at the beach we headed inland to look at old moorish ruins. Instead of Sevilla, which I expected, we went to Granada and visited the wonderful Alhambra. I recommend it highly, as I do the Spanish ice cream, the tapas, the cerveza in chilled glasses, and pretty much everything about Andalusia. But it was so chilly we needed to wear our jackets! ....Totally unexpected for the part of Spain which generally is boiling hot. Well, ...so often in life we don't get what we expect.

Who knows what to expect anyway? Last Tuesday night, as week ago, I did certainly did not expect the Jazz Night Benefit to be a full house of listeners and a full list of musicians all wanting to play... nor did I expect that we could possibly earn over 900 euros for the Organ Project. It was more than expected. [Thanks be to God!]

Getting what you expected is sometimes less.

Nor did I expect that the Vicar's letter would be delayed so long today by a medical emergency. At 9 a.m. I began the process of trying to get one of our members into a local hospital for tests. He wanted to know what was making him so ill. It turns out that he tested positive for malaria. Who would expect that? He had been home in Nigeria visiting his family and working on this thesis research in the jungle. He came back to Germany and immediately got sick. Now we know why and he is getting the treatment which should restore him quickly to good health. But definitely unexpected.

So now, that you understand the theme of this vicar's letter is "The Unexpected", let me tell you some news that will probably be unexpected: When we move to Leonhardskirche on the first Sunday of July, we'll not only be changing places but also changing times. The Evangelisch congregation meets there each Sunday at 10 a.m. and so we must work our services around theirs. We cannot yet publish the new times until they are approved by the 'powers-that-be' at Leonhardskirche,... but be on the look-out. It will not be totally 'Unexpected'... But it will be temporarily different. We will probably be switching the early services and the late services... so that the 1st and 3rd become the 2nd and 4th. Or something like that. By next week it should be much clearer... or so I expect. K+

Announcements and Notes

1. The Women' Coffee Morning will meet next week on Thursday, 24 June at 10 a.m. in the Parish Centre. All the women of the parish are encouraged to drop in for a cup of coffee or tea so we can get to know one another and keep up to date on happenings in each other's lives. It's all for fun.
3. The Concert sung by the Royal Holloway College Chamber Choir will be offered free of charge at the Herz Jesu Kirche, Schurwaldstrasse 1, in Stuttgart-Ost. The choir will sing beautiful classical style music, mostly religious, at the same church where we hosted the bell choir two years ago. Let me know if you want to go and help as part of the organizational volunteers.
4. A Wine Tasting Event will take place Saturday, 26 June at the Parish Centre. "Wines of Western Europe" will be offered for 30 euros. 6 wines and hors d'ouvres. Tickets are available at the parish office. Call Gregg Walsh for more information... or email him at
5. An American Football Experience will be part of the St. Cat's Summer Fellowship programme, this comong Saturday, 19 June...at Gazi Stadium in Waldau. Tickets are sold at the gate for 12 euros per person or 25 per family. We'll sit together in the unreserved section at the far end of the main grandstand, around the 30 yard line. The Vicar will have his handy, 0151 57 98 91 40... so if you can't find the group, call that number and we'll come and find you.
6. Seeking a Lost dish: Have you seen a chafing dish, metal frame, glass dish, etc. which has gone missing? Owner wants it back. Maybe you know where it has been stored for "safe keeping". If so, please contact the vicar. Thanks.
7. Truck needed for freezer.... a departing family has offered the parish a nice stand up freezer if we can simply come and get it. Do you have access to a vehicle capable of carrying a freezer? Speed is of the essence! Please let the vicar know immediately.
8. During the Summer: The Bible Study on Wednesday Nights will change from Gospel to Epistle. We will still follow the lectionary as a preparation for the coming Sunday, but focus instead on the Epistle Reading. Are you interested in being part of discussion-style Bible Study, show up at the Parish Centre Bible in hand any Wednesday night... Our group often has 10 people, sometimes less, sometimes more. But more are always welcome. We begin at 19:00 with Evening Prayer, 19:30 light supper, 20:00 the Bible Study itself. Finish: 21:00... Interested?
9. St. Catherine's Ladies' Evening Group, Stuttgart (LEGS): All ladies of St. Catherine's are invited to join us at Amadeus for our next opportunity for fellowship and food. Monday 28th June, 19:00 at Amadeus, Charlottenplatz. This venue is very appropriate for St. Catherine's. From 1846 a prayer-room in the Orphanage in Charlottenplatz (now the Amadeus bar) was paced at the disposal of the Anglican community for their services! If you would like to join us please let Julie Faust () know so that enough seats are reserved.
10. New Members are always welcome at St. Catherine's Church. If there is someone moving into a new apartment in your area, English-speaking,... give them one of our parish cards. Direct them to our website. Invite them to come with you to church. You never know what to expect!

Your brother in Christ,

Ken +