Eurobishop

From Reykjavik to Riga, from Trondheim to Freiburg, clergy and lay synod delegates gathered from the Nordic and Baltic Deanery and the Deanery of Germany for a joint meeting of the Archdeaconry in Stuttgart, the first of its kind in about 24 years. The meeting was held from 6 to 9 October.  The clergy gathered first for a chapter meeting and were able to share their experiences of the challenges from the COVID lockdowns and the current difficulties facing chaplaincies due to rising energy prices. There was much discussion about the effects of the war in Ukraine. Across the Archdeaconry not only has there been an influx of Ukrainian refugees, in many places being welcomed into our congregations, but also in places like Finland there are now complications arising from the influx of Russians fleeing conscription. Furthermore in Latvia, which has a sizable Russian speaking minority, the dynamics in the country are very complex indeed. The general mood in the countries bordering Russia ...

The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday has many words: the substantial lessons and of course the proclamation of the entire Passion story from the Gospel of St John, plus a sermon. But It is also a liturgy of movement which dates back to the 4th century when pilgrims flocked to Jerusalem on Good Friday to venerate the precious relic of the True Cross, discovered by the Empress St Helena. About the 7th century the practice of devotions before a wooden cross was introduced into local churches for the benefit of the vast majority of Christians who cannot journey to Jerusalem. Of course Christians come to the cross, to kneel before it, touch it, even kiss it, not to venerate a piece of wood but to give honour and praise to Christ who died on the cross. For many, coming into contact with the hard wood is a reminder of the reality of what he has done, for us and for our salvation. So with Christians around the world and across the ages, on this Good Friday in St Thomas Becket Church Hamburg, f r...

Mandatum novum - a new commandment. From this phrase from the Gospel of St John, the Thursday before Easter, Maundy Thursday, takes its name. The new commandment of our Lord was, of course, to love one another, as he loves us. In St Thomas a Becket Church Hamburg, following the solemn liturgy of the Lord's Supper and Washing of Feet, some members of the parish, including some of the adult candidates who will be confirmed at the Easter Vigil joined the Revd Canon Dr Leslie Nathaniel, the Chaplain and me for a simple meal, and some rich conversation. The mood of the sacred rites we had just celebrated seemed to be still among us and we reflected on the meaning of love, and what it means to say that God is love. We spoke about what that signifies for those who are not Christian, or who never will be, in terms of God's gracious embrace of them. We reflected on how we address this central teaching in our dialogue with this of other religions. We spoke of the wonder of our salvati...

In Stuttgart St Catherine's Parish Centre was originally conceived to be the administrative office for the congregation as well as a space for church meetings and gatherings such as choir practice. But the centre has taken on an enhanced role as the parish has responded to the influx of refugees in this city in Baden-Württemberg. It has become a place for refugees to come and find clothing, toys, and essential household goods that they require as they establish their new life in Germany. Of course they also receive care and advice from the volunteers from the parish who give their time to the centre. One of the remarkable aspects to this work is that the parish has engaged two persons who are refugees themselves to work in the centre alongside our church volunteers. They are Salim, a young woman from Eritrea, and Shukri, a young man from Syria. Thus St Catherine's is encouraging refugees to help other refugees. I had a brief interview with Salim and Shukri to give the...

Every Sunday, an English-speaking community in the heart of the ancient university city of Heidelberg meets for worship and fellowship. It is called the "English Church in Heidelberg", perhaps best understood as a home for English-speaking Christians (and those who choose to worship in English) rather than a place for the English. It is  part of our Diocese in Europe, but is home to people from dozens of nations - including a growing number of students from around the world. The first Anglican services in the city can be dated back to 1613 and were held in Heidelberg Castle! In fact, John Donne, the poet-priest, once preached here. In 1971 the services which had been suspended since the outbreak of World War I, were restarted. Now, almost 45 years later, the congregation is growing and developing. Two younger members were confirmed last Sunday, providing a joyous occasion for the parish to celebrate and to be reminded of their own calling as friends of Jesus, each d...

Archdeacon Designate Colin Williams During the Nordic and Baltic Deanery Synod held from 4 - 6 September in Helsinki, I was able to grant a general licence as a priest in the Diocese to the Archdeacon-Designate of Germany and Northern Europe, Colin Williams. This is the first stage of Fr Colin's entry into his ministry among us. He will, over the next few weeks, also receive a commission as Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe as well as a commission as Archdeacon of the East. The clergy and lay delegates to the Nordic and Baltic synod were pleased to have a chance to get to know their new Archdeacon.  L to R: Fr Tuomas Mäkipää, Bishop Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga, and Fr Colin Williams It was fitting that Fr Colin's first official act in this diocese was to preside at the Eucharist for the Nordic Baltic Deanery in the Orthodox Chapel of the Sofia Centre in Helsinki where we were meeting. He was assisted by Fr Tuomas Mäkipää, the Chaplain of St Nicholas's Helsinki...

The Revd Dr Elizabeth Koepping I discovered a while back, to my surprise, that the Revd Dr Elizabeth Koepping, the Priest-in-Charge of the English Church in Heidelberg, is a well known theological lecturer in one of my homelands, Burma (also known as Myanmar). Dr Koepping is a researcher in the field of global Christianity. Among her many publications is a magisterial four volume resource entitled Studies in World Christianity, which she edited .  On a recent family visit to Rangoon, I was able to deliver a set of these volumes that Elizabeth had given as a gift to the Association for Theological Education in Myanmar. The Executive Secretary, the Revd Dr Lal Tin Hre was thrilled to know of this connection and was delighted with the gift from Elizabeth. Up-to-date theological reference books are scarce in his institute. Dr Lal Tin Hre During the family visit I was also able to have some conversations on ecumenical matters in particular with my friend the Archbishop of Ya...

The Revd Dr Matthias Grebe, a priest of this diocese currently serving a curacy in Bonn and Cologne, is also a theologian whose work on Karl Barth is now receiving serious acclaim in the academic world. Dr Grebe has studied at Tubingen, Cambridge, and Princeton. A book which carries forward his doctoral dissertation has just been published entitled: Election, Atonement, and the Holy Spirit. Through and Beyond Barth's Theological Interpretation of Scripture . The significance of this study is underlined by Professor David Ford, the Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge. In his Foreword to Dr Grebe's book, Professor Ford writes: Karl Barth’s doctrines of election and atonement are surely among the greatest achievements of Christian theology. They also contain some of the deepest and most daring biblical interpretation ever written. And throughout his works Barth challenges his readers to explore, test and if possible improve on how he understands scripture. Matthias ...

Archdeacon Peter Potter With the resignation of the Venerable Jonathan LLoyd, as Archdeacon of Germany & Northern Europe, I have asked the Venerable Peter Potter, the Archdeacon of Switzerland, to be the Acting Archdeacon as well for Germany and Northern Europe. I am grateful to Fr Peter for agreeing to these extra duties, taking on a large additional area which covers 9 countries from Iceland to Estonia. He is also the Chaplain of St Ursula's in Bern. This is an interim measure. The next Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe will need to make a more permanent arrangement. Canon Jonathan LLoyd, now the incumbent of The Bridge and LIttlebourne Benefices in the Diocese of Canterbury, has accepted my invitation to be Canon Emeritus of the Cathedral Chapter of the Diocese in Europe, so we can keep our contacts alive. He is greatly missed from our Senior Staff team.

Pope Francis loves children and there are already many photos of him taking great joy in blessing a baby, as above. The Bishop of  Rome was probably not aware that this particular young pilgrim is the youngest member of our Anglican Church of St Nicholas, Helsinki, Adelaide Frechette, who happened to be on a visit to Rome with her mother Sarah! Well done, Adelaide!  

During the Great Vigil of Easter, undaunted by the sub-zero temperatures (but blankets were provided for those who wished), the congregation of St Peter and St Sigfrid's Church in Stockholm gathered outside the Church for the lighting of the new fire, and then processed in to the warm Church behind the paschal candle held high by the Chaplain, the Revd Nick Howe. 11 candidates were confirmed during the service. Christ is risen!   Posted with Blogsy

On the Feast of Christ the King, 25 November, the 400 th Anniversary celebrations of St Thomas Becket Church in Hamburg drew to a festive conclusion. There were several confirmations as well as a baptism and a reception into the Church of England – an exciting way to mark the entrance into the next 400 years of life of this vibrant parish, as these new committed disciples carried the light of Christ into the world, symbolising the call of the whole people of the parish to bear witness to Christ’s love in Hamburg. The Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe, the Venerable Jonathan LLoyd, joined St Thomas's own chaplain, the Revd Matthew Jones to help celebrate this significant milestone.   As the eucharist ended I commissioned the parishioners with their new “mission statement” which the congregation had prepared as a description of their parish and as a guide for their life together in the future: “A welcoming, active and inclusive church, growing in our relationship...

Claire Clausen (Copenhagen), Hellen King-Scott (Heidelberg), Archdeacon Jonathan LLoyd, Eric Jarman (Stuttgart) and John Thompson (Stuttgart) Churchwarden is the most ancient elected office in Europe which still continues to this day. The main responsibilities of a Churchwarden for key aspects of parochial life have remained largely unchanged for over 7 centuries, but the details of how the office is exercised have of course changed as the laws and rules of the Church have evolved.   Fourteen Churchwardens from our parishes in Germany, Latvia, Finland, Denmark and Sweden gathered for 24 hours for a training session on their duties on 26 and 27 October. Meeting at St Thomas Becket Church in Hamburg, the course was led by Archdeacon Jonathan LLoyd and the Reverend Matthew Jones, Chaplain at Hamburg. The course covered the nuts and bolts of the duties of the churchwarden - terrier, logbook, externally-examined accounts, stipend review and more - a...

When Danish film director Susanne Bier called Archdeacon Jonathan LLoyd to ask whether she could film a funeral scene at St Alban's Church, Copenhagen, as part of her new movie, he at first said no. After reading the script, he changed his mind and agreed to meet the production crew. "I had never heard of Susanne Bier, having just arrived myself in Denmark. But the movie clearly has a strong ethical message of forgiveness, and so, after consulting my churchwardens, I agreed". The film "In a Better World" won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academcy Awards, announced Sunday in Los Angeles. Fr Jonathan has a walk-on part in the film, acting as himself. The production team wanted to know the exact details of an English funeral compared to a Danish one. "In the end it got so complicated to explain, that I agreed to just do it myself.", explained Jonathan. "We had about 20 takes, and my part was to walk up to the coffin and sh...