CHAPLAIN’S MUSINGS 010119
#thoughtforthisweek
May God’s blessing be yours this year and may you know his loving and abiding presence whatever awaits you and those dear to you, in it.
For those of us, Anglicans and Old Catholics, who were able to join together for worship together this last Sunday, two features were key: one is the precious gift of time and its role in our lives. The other came at the end of the service, having been blessed ourselves, we faced the back of church, with all doors open wide, in order to bless all that lay beyond those doors.
Something of that second theme stays with us through these coming weeks of Epiphany, the first Sunday of which is a great and noisy and colourful celebration usually, but it continues until the beginning of February allowing us to reflect on how we share the blessings of God with those beyond our doors, at work, in school, in our neighbourhoods.
Later this spring St Catherine’s will host the WeltGebetsTag – World Day of Prayer, under the leadership of Lauris and Alison, and while we pray for their team in their preparations, we pray too that such hosting is a part of our ‘being a blessing’ to the community around us.
Further afield, the donations received at the Carol Service (not too late to add to that!) will be going to their destinations this month and we pray for the impact those monies will have on the lives of those in need. This too is a part of our ‘being a blessing’ beyond our doors.
Some of you will have made new year’s resolutions and perhaps for one or two of you that included the intention to pray more – if that is You – be encouraged!! for our prayers are also a part of our ‘being a blessing’.
The biggest surprise I had on Christmas Eve, at both services, was that I recognised almost nobody. Well over 90% of our congregations at those 2 services were visitors and I am glad we were able to be there for them. Some of them live in Stuttgart and we pray that they were blessed by their visit.
Don’t forget to ‘chalk your doors’ (unless you are expecting a visit from the Sternsinger) and if you have no idea what I am talking about you need to be in church this Sunday.
#forourprayers
- we pray for the soul of Eva (from Ulm) may she rest in peace and rise in glory and we pray for her family and friends as they prepare to say their farewells on 08.01.19
- we have been asked to pray for the International Christian School of Stuttgart as they seek a new site
- we pray for all those of the St Catherine’s family who are travelling that they may stay safe
- we pray for Ada as she prepares for her baptism and for her parents and godparents
#justsoyouknow
we are still needing sermon topics for the Sundays in the next couple of months
#foryourdiaries
upcoming services:
- Epiphany Eucharist with blessing of church @11.15 on 6.01.
- Baptism of Ada on 20.01.
- looking well ahead – the Annual Meeting will be on Sunday 7.04.19 after the service – please pray whether joining the Council is something God may be calling you to (in whatever capacity)
#comingsandgoings
we pray for the two families who have returned to India and their new lives that await them there. We give thanks to God for their friendship while they worshipped here with us.
#chaplain@theoffice
Chaplain – every Monday: 14.30 – 16.00 and every Saturday: 11.00 – 12.30
If I am not there at these times there will be a very good reason !
Chaplaincy Administrator aka the lovely Lauris – every Thursday: 10.00 – 12.00
I am also at the Centre at other times so feel free to drop in – no appointment needed !
