Emmanuel Eneh RIP

Sad news from Fr Tuomas Mäkipää, Area Dean of Finland, concerning Emmanuel Eneh, Reader:

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Emmanuel Eneh RIP

It is with great sadness that I have learnt the news about the death of Emmanuel Eneh. Emmanuel passed away on Thursday, 23rd April 2020.

Emmanuel was a long-standing member of the Anglican Church in Finland and had a significant lay ministry at the International Congregation of Christ the King in Tampere. He served many years as an Anglican Licensed Lay Reader, working together with the priests of the Lutheran Parishes in Tampere in providing pastoral and liturgical ministry to the international church community, gathering in Vanha kirkko in Tampere. His commitment to the implementation of Porvoo Agreement (between Anglican and Lutheran Churches), and his service to the wider community by participating in local politics in Tampere, were a source of inspiration for many.

Emmanuel remained as a member of the Diocesan Synod of the Diocese in Europe until his death. He was also a member of the Deanery Synod of the Nordic and Baltic states.

We remain grateful for Emmanuel’s ministry and pray for him and his family. He is survived by his wife and three children

  

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Luke 2.29-32

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Over the many years I have known Emmanuel, I found him to be a remarkable leader, a defender of human rights and equality, a promoter of ecumenical relations, and a firm believer in his Saviour, Jesus Christ. May he now be welcomed into the joys of the kingdom, in the company of the saints in light.

The Bible and Creation: an online study led by Clare Amos

Special Zoom Study Meeting announced

Led by Dr Clare Amos, the Diocesan Director of Lay Discipleship

Saturday April 25 2020   10.00am-11.00am and 11.30am-12.30pm CET (BST+1)

Dr Amos writes: 

"Drawing on both the Old Testament and the New Testament this study morning will explore what the Bible has to say about the relationship between human beings and the rest of creation, which is increasingly seen as one of the most significant issues for our time. It will suggest that our relationship to creation is absolutely integral to our Christian faith".

This study morning was originally scheduled as a physical meeting for the parish of Holy Trinity Geneva. It will now be held by Zoom due to the lockdown. Given the widespread interest across the diocese in the theology and care of creation, Dr Amos has widened participation in this study to any who are interested. 

To meet the needs of ‘Zoom’ security issues, and in order to ensure that you can be sent handouts in advance, please let Holy Trinity Church (admin@holytrinitygeneva.org)  know that you are planning to attend (Ideally send your note by lunchtime on Friday 24 April). Guidance can be given to those unfamiliar with the medium of Zoom. Please mention any need for help when you send in your reply.

I know that participants will enjoy this morning and be enriched by Clare's profound theological and biblical scholarship.

Christ is risen!

You rose from the tomb as God in glory, 

and raised the world up with you.

Mortal nature sang your praise as God,

and death disappeared.

Adam dances, O Master,

and Eve, now freed from her chains,

rejoices as she cries:

It is you, O Christ, who grant Resurrection to all.

(Orthodox Kontakion for the Resurrection) 

May you be comforted in this time of trial, and filled with Easter joy and peace.

Χριστός ἀνέστη!
Christ is risen!

Holy Week resources for the Diocese in Europe

To assist the faithful across the diocese with their prayers during this time of lockdown, Fr Louis Darrant has produced a resource specially for us. It is a PDF booklet, which, as Fr Louis states in the introduction  "is to support us in our common prayer during Holy Week". 

You may already have found it among our diocesan resources on the website.If not, the link is here:
https://europe.anglican.org/downloads/praying-at-home-in-holy-week-2020.pdf

Louis writes: "The Church is responding quickly to the changing circumstances in which we find ourselves. With imagination and creativity we will find ourselves caught up in the Easter mystery in such a way as will bear fruit in due time. No Christian prays alone. Together we share the sacred work of the Church in offering praise to the Father through the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit."

Fr Louis Darrant is the Chaplain at St Christopher's Costa Azahar in Spain. He is also one of the clergy representatives from the Archdeaconry of Gibraltar on our Diocesan Synod. 

We thank him for this resource to keep us connected to the liturgy of the Church this Holy Week. 

Fr Louis Darrant

In addition to this guide to our prayer this week, the Director of Lay Discipleship, Dr Clare Amos, has been compiling in the Faith in Europe blog she runs for the diocese, a series of resources and reflections entitled "Discipleship in Difficult Days". The link to this important resource is here:

Clare is always willing to receive contributions to this blog. She can be contacted here: clare.amos@europe.anglican.org. 

Renewal of ministerial vows, by Zoom

In Holy Week in this Diocese in Europe there are normally several Chrism Masses celebrated in various centres. I was scheduled to preside at those masses in Madrid and Rome, for instance, with Bishop Robert presiding in Brussels and Paris. But due to the Europe-wide lockdown, these services were cancelled. 

However, Bishop Robert and I thought it would be fitting to have a service, streamed online, for the clergy and lay minsters to renew their vows, which is normally a part of this rite. A diocesan production team went into action and about 180 priests, deacons and lay ministers joined in the service yesterday. A "screen shot" of some of the participants is above. It was a new experience for all!

I had the privilege of preaching the homily. If you care to listen, it is here:

It was a privilege to give a word of encouragement to the clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) in this strange time, when our ministries are so radically disrupted. Among my words to them: 

“We will emerge after this crisis having discovered that the Spirit has enabled other ways for the life of the Church in its fullness to continue, and it will still be the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. It is the Spirit that will guide us; it is the Spirit who guides the Church in all things; and we believe that the Spirit may even make all things new!......Our public liturgical life might have stopped but the spirit of common prayer and sharing faith and pastoral care has not stopped. You are renewing together with your people the ancient ways that nurture the Church, the daily office, lectio divina, family prayer, and these not only sustain us as we sojourn in this desert but will make us a stronger praying Church when we will have crossed the Jordan.”

The full video of the service and the texts (including the homily) can be found on the Diocesan website here:

https://europe.anglican.org/main/latest-news/post/1559-diocese-holds-virtual-service-for-maundy-thursday