Christmas 2013
Ikon
The Ascension Messenger
Photo by Sue Morris
Anglican/Episcopal
Church of the Ascension
Munich, Germany
Ikon – The Ascension Messenger
Christmas 2013
Table of Contents:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Numbers to Note ............................................................................................................... 2 Ministry Coordinators ........................................................................................................ 3 Advent, Christmas and Epiphany at Church of the Ascension ......................................... 4 Rector's Epistle ................................................................................................................. 6 Editorial ............................................................................................................................. 6 Worship and Music............................................................................................................ 7 Spiritual Formation ............................................................................................................ 7 Mission & Outreach ........................................................................................................... 8 Financial Commitment to Ascension ............................................................................... 12 Fellowship ....................................................................................................................... 12 Ordination of Chris Easthill to the Priesthood ................................................................. 13 Convention of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe ................................. 15 The Sin Album................................................................................................................. 18 Did You Know? ............................................................................................................... 19 Christmas ........................................................................................................................ 19 Answers to Mission Quiz ................................................................................................. 19 1.
Numbers to Note
Rector:
The Rev. Steven R. Smith
089 648 185 (office)
01525 459 9175 (m)
Priest:
The Rev. Chris Easthill
089 9620 1894
Visiting Priest:
The Rev. Clair Ullmann
+43 64 6720107
Senior Warden:
Ian Catley
089 543 9169
Junior Warden:
Barbara Rushiti
089 141 6771
Vestry Secretary:
Lois Stuckenbruck
089 0176 8461 7684
Treasurer:
Kaye O’Connell
08456 2577
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Ikon – The Ascension Messenger
2.
Christmas 2013
Ministry Coordinators
Altar Guild:
Alice Keller
089 5484 3056
Coffee Fellowship:
Joan Case
08024 499 45
Choir Director:
Jeff Leipsic
089 688 6567
Community Building & Fund Raising:
Sue Knowles
08102 72618
Creche/Nursery:
Kurt Strehlow
089 904 68746
Ecumenical Relations:
George Battrick
089 688 1151
Financial Commitment:
Deirdre L. Tincker
08141 70459
Hospitality:
Joan Case
08024 499 45
Ikon Editors:
Dee Pattee
089 616227
The Rev. Steven R. Smith
089 648 185
Mission Committee:
Yvonne Cockcroft
089 812 2262
Prisoner Support Group:
Sue Morris
08122 228 3379
Publicity & Communications:
Ian Catley
089 543 9169
Refugee Program:
Derek Mullinger
089 480 1129
Spiritual Formation:
Laurie Hilditch
08166 992891
Sunday School:
Sarah Antor
089 1795 9069
Taizé Evening Prayer:
Rémy Bethmont
089 691 1120
Ushers:
Phil Cockcroft
089 812 2262
Welcome & Integration:
Jeremy Hamer
089 8953 0159
Orchestra and Chorus:
Margaret Hilditch
08166 922 891
Youth Group
(Senior Group):
Chris Easthill
089 9620 1894
John Breuer
089 3265 0810
Youth Group
(Junior Youth):
Graham Ashley
089 65 64 77
Albie Ashbrook
01577 830 3677
Maureen Fischer
089 8639 9977
Greeters:
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Ikon – The Ascension Messenger
3.
Christmas 2013
Advent, Christmas and Epiphany at Church of the Ascension
December 1, 12.00
Advent I service with Great Litany
December 8, 12.00
Advent and Christmas Lessons and Carols
15.00
Messiah Open Sing with orchestra and soloists (not 14.00)
December 15, 12.00
Advent III service
December 15, 14.00
Christmas Carol Sing
December 22, 12.00
Advent IV service
December 24, 16.00
Christmas Eve service for children (Emmauskirche Gemeindesaal)
December 24, 22.00
Christmas Eve service (St. Willibrord, Blumenstr. 36, Munich)
December 25, 12.00
Christmas Day service
December 29, 12.00
Christmas I service
January 5, 12.00
Christmas II service
January 12, 12.00
Epiphany Lessons and Carols
All events are held at the Emmauskirche, Laurinplatz 1, Munich-Harlaching
(unless a different location is noted)
Church of the Ascension
Emmauskirche, Laurinplatz 1, Munich-Harlaching
Public transport:
Bus 139 to Autharistraße or Tram 15/25 to Authariplatz.
Church Office:
Seybothstr 4, 81545 Munich
089/648 185
[email protected]
www.ascension-munich.com
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Christmas 2013
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4.
Christmas 2013
Rector's Epistle
On the First Sunday of Advent this year, the Sunday school brought into the church an
Advent wreath they had made. When I asked them why the wreath is green and made of
evergreen boughs, one of the children responded it is because the green reminds us that
winter moves into spring, and all of the animals and people do not die but will be better in
spring. What this young girl theologian said reminded me of the C.S. Lewis series “Chronicles
of Narnia,” when a character says, imagine it is winter, winter, winter all the time, and there is
no Christmas.
Whether our winter in Munich is white and cold (which happened in my first two Christmases
in Munich) or brown and cold (which is what has happened in the last two Christmases in
Munich), winter is a part of living in this part of the world. No matter what the outside world
looks like, is it not what is in our hearts which makes Christmas a time of warmth, cheer and
thanksgiving? Christmas is a gift because it gives us the chance to take a breather from
every-day life and spend good time with family and friends. Christmas brings parties and
good food, and for many of us the exchange of gifts lovingly purchased or made. Christmas
provides the opportunity to sing favorite carols and attend once a year seasonal events, like
our Carol Sing and Messiah Sing Along. Whatever the outside world looks like, we are
blessed to have Christmas come to us yet again.
Of course, most of all, Christmas is the annual celebration of God's coming to live among us
in the person of the babe, Jesus. That is what is truly awesome and magnificent about
Christmas – that God cares so much for us that God was willing to leave the heavenly realms
and take on our human form. Fundamentally important in God's coming to dwell as a human,
among humans, is that God did not choose to be born in a palace or into a royal or wealthy
family. No, God chose humble circumstances, born in a stable to a laborer father and an
unwed mother, with peasant shepherds and farm animals as the only onlookers. To me, the
choice God made in “how” to become human tells us of God's priorities. In choosing the kind
of birth that God chose, we see that God values simplicity and humility, the poor and the
meek. Christmas reminds us that God lives through Christ in us when we are humble, grateful
and prayerful. With this faith and knowledge, we say together that while it is winter, winter,
winter all the time in the outside world, Christmas comes to our hearts to remind us of God’s
great love for us.
Rev. Steve
5.
Editorial
Dear Friends, this time of year can seem rather dead in many ways – darkness, cold, no
leaves left on the trees. Advent however can awaken our numbed senses. Our ears capture
the sound of Advent music and carols, our eyes feast on the glittering shop window displays
and the decorated Christmas tree. Our sense of smell absorbs the scent of Glühwein and
Lebkuchen at the Christmas markets and the turkey roasting in the oven at home.
All these things are unique to Advent and Christmas which makes it a special time of year in
many ways. Despite the commercialism there is still something comforting and almost
magical about the Christmas ritual, a reminder that some things don’t really change. Even for
those who are not regular church goers attending a carol service is a ritual they don’t want to
miss, maybe because this and all the other things which are part of Christmas remind them of
their childhood. The thrill of opening the first door on the Advent calendar and lighting the first
candle on the Adventskranz creates a sense of excitement and expectation which can only
be experienced at this time of year and is as relevant today as it was in previous generations.
For Christians it is of course more than just a big feast and a long holiday. The true meaning
of the Christmas story is that it binds together people of all nations, not because of pomp or
fame but because of the message the humble Christ child brings as darkness turns into light.
Barbara Norman
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6.
Christmas 2013
Worship and Music
Stephen Schmidt Stepping Down – For personal reasons related to health issues of family
members, our church organist, Stephen Schmidt, will step down January 2014. Stephen has
served three-and-a-half years, and we will miss seeing him in the choir loft on Sundays, and
we certainly will miss hearing him play his amazing preludes and postludes and his
accompanying us with the hymns. Happily for us, Stephen and his wife Ellen will remain
members of Ascension, so we will continue to see them. Please keep Stephen, Ellen and
their family in your prayers.
Stephen Norton Appointed – Stephen Norton is conductor of the Munich English Choir and
often conducts our Evensong services. He has agreed to take on some of the organist
responsibilities under the title “Artist in Residence.” Stephen (Norton) will not take the position
of organist on a full-time basis. As Artist in Residence, Stephen will assist on the organ from
time-to-time during Sunday worship and continue to lead our St. Willibrord Evensong services
along with Michael Prager. Welcome Stephen!
Taizé Service – This quiet and meditative service, with candles, chant, meditation and
prayer, is held one Thursday each month, at 19:45. The next service is Thursday, December
12. The service is held in the Upper Room of the parish house.
Nativity Play – At our Christmas Eve service for children, December 24, 16:00, we will
present a Nativity Play. We seek people to act the parts of Mary, Joseph, the three Kings,
shepherds, sheep and angels. No speaking is required for this version, only acting. If you or
your child is interested in joining, please let Rev. Steve know. Adults are welcome to
participate.
Guest Choir – At our service Sunday, December 29, our music will be led by the choir of St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Please join us for worship and to welcome
this guest choir.
Choral Evensong – Evensong is held at 7pm on the first Wednesday of each month at St.
Willibrord Church, Blumenstraße 36, near the Sendlinger Tor. Evensong will not be held New
Year’s Day, January 1. Future Evensong services: February 5, March 5, Ash Wednesday
(which will be an ecumenical service with the Old Catholic congregation of St. Willibrord and
will include the imposition of ashes), April 2, May 7, and June 4.
7.
Spiritual Formation
Sunday School – Sunday school is held each Sunday, 11:45, in the Gemeindesaal. Sunday
school is open to children ages 4-10.
DID YOU KNOW that Ascension launched a new Sunday school concept and curriculum this
last month? Weaving God's Promises is a three-year Episcopal Church Sunday school
curriculum. The great stories of the Bible are central to the lessons, with emphasis on the life
and teachings of Jesus. The children also learn about the history of the Episcopal Church and
its practices. The program offers a wide variety of learning approaches –drama, arts and
crafts, music and storytelling. In addition, once a month the children will experience Godly
Play, a creative program which connects stories of God’s people with the child’s experience
and relationship with God. Godly Play respects the innate spirituality of children and
encourages curiosity and imagination and helps to develop a deeper understanding of Bible
stories and Christian symbols and rites.
Thank you to the several new Sunday school teachers, Sarah Antor, Rachel Catley, Huw
Edwards, Paul Gross, Nancy Huber and Rachel McIntyre (who will lead Godly Play), and
continuing teachers Elisabeth Hoffmann and Judy McDonald.
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Christmas 2013
Youth Group – We welcome new leaders of the youth groups: new junior youth leader
Maureen Fischer joins Graham Ashley and Albie Ashbrook as leaders of the junior youth
group, and Jackie Williams and the Rev. Chris Easthill join John Breuer as leaders of the
senior group. The youth groups meet on the first Sunday of every month, 11:00, for youth
breakfast, followed by class sessions, and on the third Sunday of every month, 11:45, for
class sessions.
Wednesday Bible Study – The clergy lead our weekly Bible study on Wednesdays, 10:45, in
the Upper Room of the parish house. The Bible study explores the lectionary readings for the
upcoming Sunday, and is preceded by Morning Prayer. All are welcome to join us. Please
note there is no Bible study Wednesday, Christmas Day, or Wednesday, New Year’s Day.
Safeguarding God’s Children – This program heightens awareness related to issues of
physical and verbal abuse of children and young adults. We offer the program either Friday,
January 10, 18:00-21:30 or Saturday, January 11, 10:00-13:30. Per Episcopal Church canon,
attendance at one of the sessions is mandatory for vestry members, clergy, youth group
leaders, Sunday school teachers and Creche volunteers. We also invite parents, guardians or
anyone else who is interested to join one of the sessions. Pizza and drinks will be provided
at the Friday session; coffee, tea and Brezen will be offered at the Saturday morning session,
followed at the lunch hour with pizza and drinks. Please RSVP to the church office with the
date you will attend.
Lent Retreat – The annual parish retreat in Lent 2014 is held March 21-23 at the
Oberschönenfeld convent in Gessertshausen, outside Augsburg. The retreat is led by Revs.
Steve and Clair. In addition to group discussion and worship, there will be plenty of time for
walking in the nearby woods, hills and meadows, reading, and rest and quiet time. The retreat
is open to all Ascension members, 14 years and older. Space is filled on a first-come, first
registered basis; please register from January 1 through the church office email or contact
Rev. Steve.
8.
Mission & Outreach
8.1.
Soup Kitchen
We solicit volunteers to serve any Saturday at the Missionaries of Charities Soup Kitchen.
There are two shifts: the first shift is 9:30-12:00; during this shift we help the sisters prepare a
hot lunch for their guests. The second shift is 14:30-16:45; during this shift we serve lunch to
the guests, chat with them and clean up. The Sisters would like 3-4 volunteers for each shift.
It is also possible to volunteer during the week, on the same schedule. To volunteer contact
coordinator Barbara Rushiti, 0177 395 2252, [email protected]. We also collect
food each Sunday for the Soup Kitchen to use in their lunch preparation and to distribute to
the hungry and homeless. The sisters request rice, pasta, cooking oil, tea, coffee, sugar,
bread, UHT milk, beans and lentils (in plastic bags, not tins), toilet paper, general cleaners for
floors, kitchen and toilets, washing-up detergent, kitchen rolls/paper towels, and latex gloves.
The sisters request that we not donate tinned foods. Please bring donations on Sunday and
place them in the wicker offering basket at the Ushers’ table.
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Christmas 2013
8.2.
God’s Mission in Europe
On Saturday 16th November members of the Ascension community gathered in the
Gemeindesaal to talk about what God is calling us in Europe to do to further His mission in
the world.
After a brief morning prayer service, we split into groups to do a quiz written by Rev. Steve
(you can have a go too, it’s just below this article), and despite one group winning
convincingly, due to the advantage of having Chris Easthill on their team, Rev. Steve gave
each team a chocolate prize for their efforts.
We then heard a brief history of the different ways mission has been understood in the past
and how Anglicans currently understand the meaning of the term, and we discussed the
scriptural basis of mission work. Bearing in mind the points raised in this discussion, we went
back into our groups to talk about what we think mission is today for us here at Ascension
and in Europe. The various views and opinions of each group were then shared with
everyone.
Following a coffee break we heard about and discussed the 5 Anglican Marks of Mission,
namely:
1.
To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
2.
To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
3.
To respond to human need by loving service
4.
To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind
and to pursue peace and reconciliation
5.
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the
earth.
We then split into different groups and discussed how we as a community are currently
fulfilling these marks of mission, and what we could do in the future. We talked about how we
can improve our efforts on those marks we are already working on and how we might start
fulfilling those we haven’t yet begun to address. After some very lively discussion, each group
shared their comments and idea with the whole group.
Bishop Pierre joined us during our discussion of the marks of mission and he concluded the
programme by talking about Vision 2012, which is the Vision statement of the Convocation in
Europe. Pierre talked about how this statement was drafted and then concentrated on the 3rd
of the 4 points, which is concerned with mission and reads:
III. Beyond Our Doors: Sharing the Transformative Power
As Christians, we must go beyond ourselves and church walls into our neighbourhoods,
communities and “away to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1-8). This grows out of God’s
endeavour in our lives, recruiting us to serve the divine mission in Creation.
Three concrete visible signs of God’s mission with us will be:
§ sharing of ideas, resources and existing programmes throughout and beyond the
Convocation
§ going beyond the borders of our cities and nations, while not forgetting those at our
doorstep
§ reaching out to other communities of faith.
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Christmas 2013
The morning
ended with us
having lunch
together.
Everyone agreed
that it had been an
enjoyable as well
as a useful
morning and that
we had all learned
things about
mission that we
hadn’t known
before. And the
Mission committee
now has many
new ideas to
discuss and
consider in their
meetings in 2014.
Yvonne Cockcroft
THE MISSION QUIZ:
1.
What is the name of the prison where Ascension currently leads worship services?
2.
What is the name of the town in Romania where Ascension is helping to build a
community center with hands-on labor and financial assistance?
3.
The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society is the legal name for what
organization?
4.
When Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori visited the Innere Mission’s asylum
seekers center in June, what is the name of one of the two countries from which she
was told most political refugees are fleeing to Germany?
5.
In 1701, Thomas Bray founded in England the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel (now currently known as US, a relief and development organization which
Ascension supports with an annual Mission grant) in order to strengthen the
Christian life and faith of Church of England members, which he believed was in
need of desperate help, in what location?
6.
Who is the founder of the order of the Missioners of Charity, who run the soup
kitchen in Munich which Ascension supports with hands-on and financial assistance?
7.
The Church Mission Society, founded in England in the 19th century, did most of its
work building churches, schools and hospitals on what continent?
8.
When St. Nikolaus (from Ascension) visited the Innere Mission asylum seekers
center last December, what did the children knock over in their excitement to sit on
St. Nikolaus’s lap?
9.
Name one of the two officially-appointed missioners of the Episcopal Church to the
European Continent.
10. Name the location where the other officially-appointed missionary works on
Continent.
(The answers are on page 19)
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Christmas 2013
8.3.
Innere Mission
On the evening of December 6, St. Nikolaus
visited the children of asylum seekers living
in the Bayern Kaserne (the former German
army barracks). St. Nikolaus was the guest
of the Innere Mission, the Christian social
agency supported by Church of the
Ascension and Lutheran and Roman
Catholic churches in the Harlaching and
adjacent neighborhoods of Munich, which
runs the asylum seekers center for the
Bavarian government. St. Nikolaus was
accompanied by Derek Mullinger,
Ascension’s long-time liaison to the Innere
Mission and its treasurer.
Entry into the asylum seeker center reminded St. Nikolaus of entry into Stadelheim prison.
Photo i.d. is required, and a check that the guests are truly invited. The comparison to
Stadelheim does not end with the ingress. The barracks feel much like a prison, dark, drab,
with 6-8 people living a room that would have housed two German soldiers. Cooking is done
in communal kitchens, with different nationalities and ethnicities vying for space. Yet despite
the sorry conditions, St. Nikolaus was struck by the vibrancy and joy of the people living in the
barracks.
Vibrancy and joy were the take-aways for St. Nikolaus. From the moment he walked down
the hall and into the kindergarten room, the children started to shout with joy, and pushed to
shake his hand. Parents too wanted to shake the hand of the dressed up saint.
St. Nikolaus gave out many gifts to the children, and he told me he found it ironic for a
Christian saint to be giving gifts to so many Muslim children. Then St. Nikolaus reflected that
the original St. Nikolaus was from Turkey, once a staunch Christian land but now mostly
Muslim, and so he said he felt the irony brought a nice synchronicity.
As happened last year on St. Nikolaus Day,
refugees from Syria and Afghanistan were
the largest groups represented. St. Nikolaus
was amazed that the best English speakers
are from Afghanistan. He wondered, is this a
result of the influx of U.S. and English troops
during the war? Frau Elisabeth Ramzews,
who runs the center, also reminded St.
Nikolaus that many of the Syrian children are
Christian. There also were children from
Congo, Nigeria, Mali, Kosovo, and
Macedonia. Following the gift giving to
children, St. Nikolaus went into the common
room to shake hands and chat the older
refugees, mostly men in their early 20s.
This is the fifth year in a row which this particular St. Nikolaus has visited the asylum seekers.
Great progress has been made in the distribution of gifts in that, despite the push of the
children to get near St. Nikolaus, this year the children did not knock over the Christmas tree.
All in all, St. Nikolaus told me that he is excited to go back next year.
Rev. Steve
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Christmas 2013
8.4.
Expenditure of Mission Funds
In June the Vestry approved the Mission Committee’s recommended allocation of mission
funds, in the amount of 9,500 €, and in November the Vestry approved an additional
allocation of 1,200€. These funds are made possible by the annual financial commitment of
parish members and contributors. The total amount of 10.700 € has been distributed as
follows:
OUTREACH BUDGET 2013
(in euros)
2013
2012
Local Partners
ESPSG
Innere Mission/Asylum Seeker Center
Soup Kitchen
Subtotal Local Partners
900
1.500
1.000
3.400
600
800
600
2.000
International Partners
Romania
Subtotal International Partners
4.300
4.300
2.000
2.000
Grants
Episcopal Relief & Development Fund
Haiti
United Society: Anglicans in Mission
Subtotal Grants
1.100
800
1.100
3.000
800
400
800
2.000
10.700
6.000
Grand Total
9.
Financial Commitment to Ascension
DANKE SCHÖN, THANK YOU, MERCI, GRAZIE, Сюкпря, ARIGATO, MEDA WO ASE,
MUCHAS GRACIAS, TAKK, SALAMAT, DIOLCH
Many thanks to everyone who returned a form and made a Financial Commitment to The
Church of the Ascension for 2014. To date, 101 individuals and family units are committed to
support Ascension next year for a total of 134,000€. Special thanks to the seven people who
are making first-time commitments to Ascension and to the 11 who increased the amount of
their commitment. Ascension is dependent on our generosity. Each gift enables our
community to focus on its vision and achieve its mission through ministries and service
opportunities. Thank you for helping us as a spiritual community to do the work God has
given us to do.
Kaye O’Connell, Treasurer
10.
Fellowship
Mens Night Out – The men of the parish and their friends gather for food and fellowship,
from 19:00, Thursday, January 23 - Swagat Indian Restaurant
(http://www.swagat.de/English/E_Index1.htm), Prinzregentenplatz 13, near Prinzregentenplatz
U-Bahn. Questions? Contact Ian Catley: [email protected]
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11.
Christmas 2013
Ordination of Chris Easthill to the Priesthood
On 17th November the Church of the
Ascension was very proud to see another
former layperson of its community become
ordained to the Episcopal Church.
While Christopher Mark Easthill, as we learned
Deacon Chris is known in full, had spent
several years in seminary preparing for this
day, other members of the congregation spent
a rushed few hours preparing their gifts to him
before this, his special occasion. The choir,
under Jeff’s calm leadership and expertly
accompanied by Stephen, endeavoured to
rehearse their pieces while the hospitality
team, efficiently coordinated by Joan,
decorated tables in the parish hall all around them. The choir’s attention became increasingly
distracted by the smells wafting in from the various delicious foods being delivered. As a
steady flow of clergy entered and crossed the hall, ranging from the Bishop to Chris, robed at
this stage (to my personal disappointment) unspectacularly in plain white, the tension grew.
Shortly after 12 noon the service proper began to music chosen personally by Chris. While he
himself seemed to manage to remain calm and steadfast throughout the ceremony, members
of the choir and the congregation found it a great deal harder to withhold their emotion. I, for
one, was interested to hear the vows Chris was asked to repeat. Particularly moving were the
moments when Chris was adorned with colourful robes by his children, Clara and Philip, and
when Bishop Pierre acknowledged that behind every successful man there’s a great woman.
Chris will know better than any of us the unfailing love and support he’s been given by his
wife, Heidi, who herself has given Ascension so much of her time and energy. After his
sermon, the Bishop invited Chris to share the Peace with us, who in turn invited the
congregation to share this conciliatory gesture with one another.
The choir, gratefully reinforced by members of Stephen Norton’s Munich English Choir and
other extras, sang from the heart and in full voice Parry’s anthem I was glad when they said
unto me and Elgar’s The Spirit of the Lord is upon me — both testimony to Chris’s English
background (and rest assured, Chris, we Brits all convinced ourselves we were singing in
Westminster Abbey, not in the Emmauskirche, Harlaching!). We acknowledge with sincere
thanks the participation of no less than seven soloists from the choir —Mitchell, Tonda,
Harriet, Jo, Andrew, David and Robert — during this ordination ceremony.
Following a longer than usual, beautifully festive service, all were glad to retire to the parish
hall, where a wonderful buffet reception including celebratory ordination cake (tastefully
decorated in cream-coloured icing and brown lettering) was savoured with glee.
Jackie Williams
11.1. A Talk with The Rev. Chris Easthill
Reporter: Chris, what made you decide to become a priest?
Chris: I just felt that full-time ordained ministry is what I was supposed to do. My job----as a
manager at Allianz Versicherung----became less and less satisfying and fulfilling and the idea
of becoming a priest more and more ‘attractive.’
Reporter: Had this been growing for a long time? When did you first come to Ascension?
Chris: No, it was gradual. Heidi and I came to Ascension in 1989 when we moved from
Hamburg. There was no Internet then, so we opened the Yellow Pages and found the Church
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Christmas 2013
of the Ascension. I became a reader, then an usher, later a LEM and after we’d been there
for a while, Tom (Pellaton) suggested I take a Morning Prayer service, as he had no curate at
that time. I was nervous about it, but then decided that it felt right, that I’d like to do this again.
And I helped lead monthly evening church services in Ismaning as part of a small group that
included the Paynes, (Philip Payne is now an ordained priest in the Church of England) and
the Parkers (Janet is also now an ordained priest.) and the Hilditches.
Reporter: Have you always been a churchgoer?
Chris: Yes, you could say so. I remember going to Sunday school, and when I was eleven at
boarding school, and just sitting in the pews listening to the service, and finding that boring. I
wanted to participate, so I became an acolyte, and I guess I never left the altar!
Reporter: How else have you served, at Ascension?
Chris: I’ve been on the vestry, was senior warden, chair of the building committee, served on
two search committees….Lots of different things. And of course Heidi was Ascension’s
treasurer for over ten years…
Reporter: What made you choose Virginia Theological Seminary?
Chris: The Bishop (Pierre Whalon) suggested it, he went there. So did Clair (Rev. Ullmann)
and Dorothee (Rev. Hahn.) But we also looked at General Theological Seminary and Yale
Divinity School. VTS seemed most open to taking Heidi and me on as a couple, they were
adaptable and flexible. “You tell us what you need to study and we’ll make it possible.”
Reporter: How was your time there?
Chris: It was a wonderful opportunity. I learned a lot about myself. On the academic side, I
was pleasantly surprised, it was easier than I expected, after such a long time away from
university. And I had to go out of my comfort zone, working as a hospital chaplain and doing
prison ministry at the Alexandria Jail. As a relatively introverted person, I was nervous at first.
But that too turned out to be easier than I thought. The prisoners were interested, wanted to
hear what we had to say, and they taught me a lot too. Faith was something very real and
concrete for their lives. As with the hospital chaplaincy (at Georgetown University hospital) I
had no time to think about what to say or to prepare answers. You just go into the patient’s
room and are open to whatever comes along.
Reporter: And you were deacon/seminarian at St. David’s Church in Washington:
Chris: Another great experience. It was not as international as Ascension, but there were
parishioners from the UK, New Zealand and the Caribbean and many of the American
members had lived abroad. I assisted at and sometimes led worship, preached regularly,
taught Sunday school and adult formation classes---and so many of the parishioners have
become good friends…..
Reporter: I gather that Heidi also learned a lot during your time at VTS.
Chris: She did - and VTS got a lot in return. She worked in the seminary`s business office
and learned a lot about accounting and finances (and fund raising) in an American
church/non-profit context. She coordinated the spouses and partners group, and together we
took part in a workshop to become Marriage Preparation facilitators. (The couple has been
married 24 years!)
Reporter: So how does it feel to be back at Ascension?
Chris: It’s been great to have Ascension as a temporary base while we discern where God is
calling us to serve. I’m enjoying my new role here, among friends old and new, and it was a
wonderful experience to celebrate my ordination to the priesthood in the community that
helped me identify and grow into my calling.
Dee Pattee
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11.2. Chris Easthill: My Time at Ascension
Yes, three of my six months at Ascension have already passed. At least for me the old
saying, “time flies when you are having fun,” really does apply!
So what have I done, and what’s happening in the next three months until my contract ends
at the end of February?
I have been most visible when assisting or occasionally leading our worship and when
preaching: until November 17th as a Deacon and now, since my ordination here, as one of
your priests. It has been a real privilege to be able to live into and practice my role as deacon
and I look forward to doing the same as priest over the next three months.
Rev. Steve and I have been sharing responsibility for the Wednesday Morning Prayer and
Bible Study and I have enjoyed (and will continue to enjoy) learning with and from that small,
but faithful group.
As you may remember, the vestry specifically tasked me with assisting in the creation of the
new Sunday School curriculum, helping lead the Youth Group and training Lay Eucharistic
Visitors.
We successfully identified and launched a new Sunday school curriculum in October,
Weaving God's Promises, and we have recruited a great team of Sunday school teachers,
new and continuing. Youth group also resumed in October, and together with Graham Ashley
and Rev. Steve I attended a Convocation Youth Leaders’ Workshop in Frankfurt at the end of
November. In January the Youth Group leaders will meet to review our program and offerings
to make sure they are both relevant and attractive for our youth.
We have found a small team of volunteers to act as Eucharistic Visitors, “lay persons
authorized to take the Consecrated Elements to members of the congregation who, by
reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present,” and I will be training them for this
role in December and ‘supervising’ them in the new year.
In October, while Barbara Rushiti was away, I coordinated the Ascension volunteers for the
Soup Kitchen we support – and I now help there twice a month: a very rewarding ministry that
I can only recommend.
Thank you all again for letting me serve at Ascension. It’s a great preparation for whatever
ministry God has waiting for us when our time here comes to an end in February!
The Rev. Chris Easthill
12.
Convention of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe
Convention 2013 was held in Rome in the splendid
surroundings of St Paul's Within the Walls. If you get the
chance, go and visit. The Ascension contingent were Rev.
Steve, Rev. Chris, Yvonne Cockcroft and Kaye O'Connell as
delegates, and David Case and Rev. Clair Ullmann as
members of Council of Advice. Other attendees were Heidi
Easthill, Rainer Ullmann and Joan Case.
The theme this year, as you will have noticed from the Bishop's Pastoral Letter, was Vision
2012. Having passed what has been described as a landmark document at Convention last
year, the intention was, as a pilgrim people, to now pause and reflect as we figured out what
we needed to learn in order to be better disciples, mustering our courage to go beyond our
church community to learn what the world around us needs, and be better managers of the
assets that belong to God for God's mission – people, ideas, money, properties. Challenged
and encouraged by Bishop Tim Ellis, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Lincoln, an excellent
keynote speaker, and supported by members of the Council of Advice through breakout
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Christmas 2013
sessions, we took a fresh look at the four strands of the vision having been prompted by
Bishop Tim's exposition of the four Abrahamic altars – fascinating!
In addition to Bishop Tim, Convention this year was graced by the presence of two other
visitors who provided inspiring contributions to our deliberations, namely the Most Rev. Joris
Vercammen, Archbishop of Utrecht, of the Old Catholic Churches, and the Rev. Gay
Jennings, President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church (TEC).
Since 1931 Anglicans have been in full communion with the Old Catholic Churches which,
incidentally, trace their origin back to St Willibrord in AD695. We are therefore partners who
recognise each other as being members of the one holy catholic and apostolic church.
Archbishop Vercammen's stirring address challenged us to look closely at how we could
better work together as brothers and sisters in Christ to witness to the Gospel in Europe. A
lot of food for thought.
The Rev. Gay Jennings brought greetings from the heart of TEC and outlined some of the
things currently at the centre of considerations back in the US. More particularly, as a pivotal
person in the organisation and running of the General Convention that will meet in 2015, she
was able to give a comprehensive but succinct insight into matters relating to the governance
of the church and how it is trying to discern how best to fulfil its role into the future.
Importantly, she took the time to meet, get to know and offer guidance to the Convocation's
newly elected deputies to General Convention which, by the way, include Rev. Steve, Yvonne
and David – a substantial representation from Ascension.
In addition to the special contributions of our visitors Convention worked through the normal
sort of business including elections to various positions, a review of the budget, and
consideration of reports from various Convocation bodies such as the Commission on the
Ministry of the Baptised (COMB), the European Institute of Christian Studies (EICS) and the
Youth Commission (YC). The latter input from the YC once again was both informative and
highly entertaining and there is no doubt that we are very fortunate in having a forward
looking, enthusiastic and dedicated team of volunteers working tirelessly to advance the
provision of resources and opportunities for our Christian youth across Europe.
As ever, Convention was framed by worship. This year as a special part of the programme
we participated in a service of Solemn Evensong which took place at the Oratorio di San
Francesco Saverio del Caravita, home of an English-speaking Roman Catholic community.
This is an exquisitely beautiful place and in the joint service with our hosts plus the Anglican
Centre and All Saints' Church (the CofE community), we were blessed with equally beautiful
music including Spem in alium nunquam habui by Thomas Tallis (c.1505 – 1585) a piece for
8 choirs each with 5 voices.
Not surprisingly we ate well in Rome and although there wasn't much time to see the sights of
the city many of us did manage a bit and a walking tour was included in the programme on
one evening. As is customary, we took part in what is grandly called the Bishop's Banquet at
which awards were made. This year one of the recipients was our very own Dr Rainer
Ullmann the outgoing Chair of COMB who was recognised for his many years of selfless and
exceptional service – congratulations and thanks!
Returning to the theme, Convention this year allowed us to step back so that we could reflect
on Vision 2012 and then step forward to bring it to life. The question to ask is what am I
doing and what are we doing, so that as a community – Church of the Ascension and beyond
– we can progress along our journey of faith as witnesses of Christ. Take another look at the
Convocation's statement of mission and the four priorities below and go and explore the new
Convocation website www.tec-europe.org.
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OUR STATEMENT OF MISSION:
The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe is a welcoming community that knows
God loves all people – no exceptions.
We celebrate our diversity of languages, cultures and nations. Worshipping together, we
rejoice in reaching out to the world and becoming One in Christ.
The four priorities are:
I. COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY
Who I am/ who we are: called to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.
Each of us has an ongoing and changing relationship with Jesus Christ, “by grace through
faith,” unique for every person. At the same time, we share the one Faith and live that
Faith in community. Individually we are a facet of the image of Christ, together we make
up Christ’s image (Ephesians 2: 4-10, 19-22).
II. LIFELONG FORMATION, LIFELONG TRANSFORMATION
All our life is learning to appropriate the transforming event that is Baptism. We are not
only to love God with all our hearts and souls, but also with our minds (cf. Matt. 22:34-40;
Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28). Formation makes for transformation – growing in love for
God, others and self through prayer, study and action.
III. BEYOND OUR DOORS: SHARING THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER
As Christians, we must go beyond ourselves and church walls into our neighborhoods,
communities and "away to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This grows out of God's
endeavor in our lives, recruiting us to serve the divine mission in Creation.
IV. MANAGING GOD’S ASSETS: PEOPLE AND OTHER RESOURCES
Proclaiming the Faith, being formed and transformed in the Faith, reaching out in love; all
these require people, planning, tools for mission and money (cf. Luke 14:28). Of all the
resources God gives us, the gift of people is the most important. Stewardship is the
responsibility of all the baptized, all year round, and it concerns all of God's assets
including stewardship of the earth and its resources.
David Case
Each autumn, the Annual Convention of Episcopal Churches in Europe is held in a town or
city of one of the parish or mission congregations. This year’s Convention was held in Rome,
the eternal city, and hosted by the The Rev. Austin Rios and the congregation of St. Paul’sWithin-the-Walls.
Ascension was represented by lay delegates Yvonne Cockcroft and Kaye O’Connell, and
clergy delegates Rev. Steve Smith and Rev. Chris Easthill, and also Heidi Easthill, Rev. Clair
and Rainer Ullmann and David and Joan Case.
The Convention opened and closed with celebratory Eucharists. The time between filled with
a mixture of business, worship and social events.
Business centered on the necessary reports and recommendations from various committees,
review and approval of budgets as well as elections to key positions within the Convocation.
Yvonne was elected to the Council of Advice of the Convocation, and she was later elected
secretary of the Council. There were also presentations from several distinguished guest
speakers, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Tim Ellis, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Lincoln, Church of
England, The Rev. Gay Jennings, President of the House of Deputies and the Most Rev.
Joris Vercammen, Archbishop of Utrecht and head of the Old Catholic Churches.
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Christmas 2013
The highlight of the social events was the traditional Bishop’s Dinner, during which three
awards for outstanding service in the Convocation were presented. One to St. Paul’s Junior
Warden, Yvette Manigold, one to Rainer Ullmann, outgoing chair of the Commission on
Ministry of the Baptized, and one to the Bishop’s Secretary Vicky Millet, who is retiring at the
end of the year.
Music played a central part in this year’s proceedings. During the various worship services,
the Bishop’s Dinner and most notably during an ecumenical Evensong held on Saturday
evening and hosted by The Oratory of the Caravita. This service ended with what can only be
described as a stunning performance of Thomas Tallis’ 40 part motet, Spem in alium sung by
a choir consisting of St. Paul’s Choir members, The Coro da Camera Italiano and
convocation delegates.
It was a memorable, busy and fun filled three days for the clergy, delegates, representatives
and spouses. Special thanks must be extended to Rev. Austin Rios, Rector and the
congregation of St. Pauls- Within-the-Walls for their hospitality, enthusiasm and hard work.
Next year’s convention will be held on 2nd-5th October, 2014 and hosted by the Church of
Christ-the King, Frankfurt.
Kaye O’Connell.
13.
The Sin Album
One of the joys of living in Germany is the ‘blitzer’ – traffic cameras. They are unforgiving. If
you happen to be caught going over speed limit, a light goes off, your picture is taken and
sent to you with a traffic ticket. No policeman with which to discuss the situation. No mercy for
having a clean record or an ill child. No you were caught, you will pay up.
The first time this happened to us we lived near Kiel, and I am happy to report that the person
my husband said he would be transporting was the person in the car with him, and they were
going where he said they would be going. Yes, the pictures are that clear. And yes, there are
some spouses who aren’t so lucky. The traffic camera photos are regularly presented in
divorce court as evidence of marital misbehavior.
Since we have arrived in Munich, my husband has been photographed twice – both times
during one of his long trips to London to deliver our oldest son to university. So you can
imagine his immense joy when he came home one evening to discover that the newest traffic
photo was of me! I was a whole 8 km over speed limit coming into town (just didn’t slow down
fast enough, probably because I had a speedy gonzales on my tail. There are a lot of those in
this area.). At any rate, my husband suggested that we keep all our traffic ticket photos in an
album and call it our ‘sin album’ – to keep us humble. We had a good laugh about it, and will
probably do it, though we are in no hurry to add to the collection.
This got me to thinking. I was wondering if snapshots were taken of all the bad things I had
done and collected into an album, and that album was set next to an album of all the good
works I had done, which one would be bigger? But that is very simplistic, isn’t it? Some deeds
have huge consequences – so the album might be weighted not by number, but by quality as
well. And then I heard in my head the words that I spoke to comfort my brother-in-law in the
final weeks of his life. He was shedding tears of regret for some of his actions, and I told him
that the Lord ‘does not deal with us according to our sins. He takes them and throws them as
far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more.’ (Psalm 103: 10 – 12) Through
his tears, my brother-in-law looked at me and said, ‘Really?’ Yes. Really.
The Lord doesn’t keep albums. He looks at your heart, and then what he sees is the blood of
His Son, and all is forgiven. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to
you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
John 27:14.
Lois Stuckenbruck, Secretary of the Vestry
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14.
Christmas 2013
Did You Know?
This year’s Carol Sing will be on the 15th led by Janet Day-Strehlow?
The Emmauskirche sells fair trade items once a month in the church foyer to benefit its
mission relationship with a Lutheran parish in Tanzania?
In late November Graham Ashley, Rev. Chris and Rev. Steve attended a youth leader
seminar and retreat in Frankfurt with 12 other youth leaders and clergy from parishes of the
Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, and that Ascension will host the retreat next
year in Tutzing?
Rev. Steve will lead the clergy retreat this February in Nice, on the topic of global and local
mission?
15.
Christmas
Christmas came at seven forty-­‐five I knew it would I knew that in spite of all the rush and the wrapping of last-­‐minute purchases bread rising, silver still to clean, and a dog that needed walking, yes, in spite of shortening tempers, tired legs and empty minds, Christmas would come, the dam would break... and past the silly barricades we try to hide behind, God's love would pour forth, carrying all before it… exhaustion, exasperation, everything that Christmas isn't into the world where all that matters shines in the face of a little child. Janet Morgan (1907-1977) (relative of Dee and Dick Pattee)
16.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Answers to Mission Quiz
Stadelheim
Vaslui
The Episcopal Church
Syria, Afghanistan
The English colonies in what is now the U.S.A.
Mother Theresa
Africa
Christmas tree
Rev. Dorothee Hahn, serving in Romania
or the Rev. Canon Jere Skipper, serving in the Bishop’s office in Paris.
see Answer to #9.
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The Church of the Ascension is a Parish of the Convocation of Episcopal
Churches in Europe and of the Worldwide Anglican Communion
Parish House and Church Office:
Seybothstraße 4, 81545 Munich
Tel: (089) 648 185, fax (089) 644 428
Office Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 12:00-17:30
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ascension-munich.com
Worship Services:
Sundays, Emmauskirche, Laurinplatz 1, 81545 Munich
10:15 Choir Rehearsal (Gemeindesaal)
11:45 Sunday School and Youth Group (Youth Group meets first and third Sundays of the month)
12:00 Holy Communion, with Choir and Creche (Church)
Wednesdays, Parish House, Seybothstraße 4, 81545 Munich
10:45 Morning Prayer, followed by Bible study
First Wednesday of the month, St. Willibrord Church, Blumenstraße 36, 80331 Munich
19:00 Evensong (no service January 1, 2014)
Clergy:
The Rev. Steven R. Smith, Rector
E-mail: [email protected]
The Rev. Chris Easthill, Priest
E-mail: [email protected]
The Rev. Clair Ullmann, Visiting Priest
E-mail: [email protected]
The Rev. Henry H. Wilson, Rector Emeritus
In a pastoral emergency, please contact the Rector at 089 6993 7933 or 01525 459 9175.
The Church of the Ascension is exclusively supported by the contributions of its members and does
not receive funds from any governmental body.
Donations and Pledges to the Church can be made by bank transfer to:
The Church of the Ascension
Deutsche Bank
IBAN: DE49 7007 0024 0459 8702 00
or
Konto Nr: 459 870 200
BIC: DEUT DEDB MUC
BLZ: 700 700 24
Other Episcopal/Anglican Worship Services in Bavaria
St. Boniface, Augsburg, Apostelin-Junia-Kirche, Siegfried-Aufhäuser-Str. 25
16:30 Holy Communion (first and third Sunday of the month)
Website: www.st-boniface.de
St. James the Less, Nuremberg - St. Jakob Kirche, Jakobsplatz 1
17:00 Holy Communion (second and fourth Sunday of the month)
Website: www.st-james-the-less.de
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