Advent 2010 - St. Catherine's - Stuttgart

CROSSROADS
The newsletter of St Catherine’s Anglican Chaplaincy Stuttgart
Advent 2010 - www.stcatherines-stuttgart.de
St Catherine’s Church
Katharinenplatz 5
Stuttgart
Chaplain:
The Revd. Ken
Dimmick
Lorenzstaffel 8
70182 Stuttgart
0711 7878783
0151 57989140
vicar@stcatherines-stuttgart.de
The Vicar writes …
It is hard to believe that another year is almost finished. 2010 has sped by.
But with a New Year on the Christian calendar approaching in just a few
days, I can't help but think that this is a good time to look back over this
past year and be amazed. It has been a fast year and a great year, but also a
hard year.
Clearly, the main focus of this past year has been the Pipe Organ Project.
We did all the other, normal things a church should do as well, Holy Week
and Easter, Confirmation Classes, the Bishop’s visit, the Summer Picnic, the
AGM … and all that. Yet it seems to me that it is the Organ Project that has
made this year different from other years.
We actually began the project before the official Kick-off event:
.
1) The First American Fund-raising trip took place in April. I flew back
to Texas. I was full of anxiety about whether anyone so far away
would consider a pipe organ a compelling “cause.” The answer was
yes. The appeal was met with great interest and unbelievable
generosity. I am not sure why, but many, many people opened their
hearts and their wallets to make a great beginning to the fundraising
effort. I hope we never forget that from the beginning we
have been beholden to the missionary spirit of the people of Texas
and Louisiana, who have generously given towards both my basic
support in the first couple of years and now this project.
2. Celtic Music & Whisky tasting. All I can say is: God bless Rebecca
Williams. She put together a programme of Celtic Harp music and
Celtic song and worked with the Men's Group to organise a Whisky
tasting. It was a fun and profitable evening. Who knew that such a
crowd would turn out? Or that sampling spirits could have such a
“spiritual benefit”?
3. American Days: In May, we participated in the DAZ (Deutsch
Amerikanische Zentrum) programme called American Days, by
hosting an English Book Sale in conjunction with the Children’s
English Library and the International Women’s Club.
In conjunction with the International Church of the Nazarene] we
organized another American-German Gospel concert. The proceeds
of both events kept us moving forward in our fund-raising efforts.
Various members of our congregation stepped up to help organize
and execute these events with creativity and energy and both turned
a tidy profit.

CrossRoads – Advent 2010
2
4. Then we came to the Kick-Off Event on
the 5 th June with the unveiling of the Big
Banner in the church. Stefan Bernhart and
the Organ Fund-raising committee did a
great job organizing a formal Press
Conference with our patronal bishops,
politicians, and lots of interested people.
My special thanks go especially to Andy
Ross and Rainer Wellhäußer. Andy’s
advertising agency procured the lifesized
banner of the organ for us, but it
was the daredevil ladder climbing of
Rainer Wellhäußer which meant it hung
on the wall under the Rose Window. Both
the bishops and the local politicians were
impressed by the proposed plan, the
budget, and the amount of money
already raised.
5. In July we had the Royal Holloway
College Chapel Choir of London, come
and sing a benefit concert for our organ
project. This concert was arranged by our
parishioner, Andy Dewar, who is a friend
of the choir director. [How can we ever
repay Andy for all that he has done for
this organ project?]
6. In September I made a second American
Fund-raising trip to the USA, this time
with Andy Dewar. He came with me to
perform a series of organ concerts. The
result of the nine concerts was
overwhelming. Support, gifts, and
prayers just poured in, thanks to Andy’s
superb playing. Everything was going
great….
But let me stop here for a short reality check.
This year has not just been about the Organ
Project and has not simply been one victory
after another. It has also been a hard year. The
hardest part of the year was the departure of so
many of our families all at once. Between May
and July we had over 30 members, including
children, transfer away from Stuttgart to new
jobs elsewhere. I went into a real time of grief as
so many wonderful parishioners suddenly
departed. The bulk of the children in our
Sunday school were suddenly gone, as were the
bulk of our teachers and a good bit of our
pledged income. For many reasons it was hard.
Still I knew that God was with us, and that all
would be well. So we persevered and set our
minds on mission and growth. Yet, not only do
worry and anxiety follow such losses, but one
can’t control the grief one feels in losing friends
to far-away places.
For the first time this year we actually took out
ads in the English language newspaper for the
military community, seeking the incoming
families for St. Catherine's and for the second
time we participated in the CareFair at Panzer
Kaserne raising our profile in the community
and hoping to attract many new church
members. We have had some success in this
area, as many wonderful new families and
individuals have found their way to St.
Catherine's, yet we are still living with a budget
situation, which is troubling.
The autumn fund-raising highlight was the
Andy Dewar facilitated Evensong at the
Markuskirche. It was a great ecumenical event
with a Catholic choir singing an Anglican
Evensong service in a Lutheran Church. I loved
it and hope that something like this can be done
regularly.
But what was my favourite fund-raiser so far? It
was June's Jazz Benefit at Cafe Logo. It was such
a swinging time; with George Bailey and his
musician friends generously donating of their
time and talent so that a treasure chest of
donations could be collected. Over 1000 euros
was collected from people who would probably
never come to visit our church, yet helped us
restore this pipe organ.
All in all, it seems to me that the lasting joy and
success of this project will not really be about
the money raised. Its success will not be judged
just by the music the organ makes, but, I hope,
by the cooperation, friendships, and contacts
made in and around Stuttgart through so many
different “communities”. We have been able to
develop a wide network of friends and
supporters in a variety of different sections of
Stuttgart city society. It will be that network of
friends, co-workers, and colleagues, which will
prove in the long run to be the greatest profit of
this last "hard" yet "wonderful" year.

Crossroads – Advent 2010
I can't wait to see what 2011 will bring: more
new members, a few more fund-raisers to finish
off the organ project, a festive blessing of the
organ in June, a return to the new and improved
St. Catherine’s and a renewed vigour in those
aspects of our church life which mean so much
to us: Worship and Liturgy, Christian
Education, Outreach around the world and our
wonderful international fellowship.
In this issue
KRD+
The Vicar writes … 1
In this issue 3
Notices 3
Sign up, sign up 3
Congratulations 3
Baptisms 3
St. Catherine’s Directory 3
Christian Education 5
Another plea from the Sunday School ... 5
Nativity Play 5
Children’s Christmas Cross Word 6
Fellowship Events 7
Women’s Group 7
Pints of View – a men’s pub night 7
Ladies’ Evening Group 7
Ecumenical International Womens' Group 7
Organ Project 7
Quintessenz concert 8
Fundraising 8
St. Catherine’s Autumn Bazaar 2010 8
Mission 9
Poppy Appeal 2010 9
Schwäbische Tafel 9
Bring a Toy Sunday on 19 th December 9
A book recommendation 9
Parish Centre Renovations 9
Report from CAECG -What is a Kenning?
10
News from friends overseas 12
Daniel Dorr 12
Joachim Feldes 12
A-Z of Anglicanism 13
I is for Intercessory Prayer 13
The Bishop’s Christmas Letter, 2010 13
What’s on at St. Catherine’s 15
Notices
Sign up, sign up
Calling readers, interceders, coffee makers,
greeters and acolytes – Eric Jarman is now
signing up helpers for the services over the
Advent and Christmas period please help him
fill the rota with good names. Contact
warden.eric@stcatherines-stuttgart.de
Congratulations
We were delighted to receive an e-mail from the
Getto family announcing the birth of their
daughter. Congratulations and best wishes to
Aysin, Oliver and Harry on the arrival of Evelyn
Rose Loraine Getto (3 rd November 2010)
Baptisms
On Sunday 31 st October 2010 the following were
baptised during our joint service with the Old
Catholics and welcomed into the family of the
church:
Mila Kate Brandt
Ruyi Kyra Choy
Luke Austin Miller
Madeleine Rose Miller
We welcome you into the family of Christ.
St. Catherine’s Directory
In January, after all the comings and goings of
recent months, we will be releasing a new
edition of the St. Catherine’s directory.
The St. Catherine’s directory contains the names
and contact details of all the members of St.
Catherine’s that wish to share their details with
each other. Only those people listed in the
directory receive a copy of it – so if you want to
know who’s who and you want your name to be
counted you have to sign up!
Over the next few weeks I shall be checking
with everyone who is in the current directory
that their details are correct.
If you are new or don’t think you are currently
listed in the directory please complete the form
on the next page and return it to me by 9 th
January. Any questions just ask.
Frances Buttle
directory@stcatherines-stuttgart.de
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CrossRoads – Advent 2010
For the Directory of St. Catherine’s Anglican Church
1. Names of adults in the family
____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. Names of children
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
________________
3. Birthdates for all in the family
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Physical address in Germany
_________________________________________________________________________
5. Mailing address if different from the physical address
_________________________________________________________________________
6. preferred e-mail address ___________________________________________________
7. Telephone numbers
____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
I agree to this information being included in the St. Catherine’s directory circulated to members OR
I request that this information be used only for administrative purposes
Photos taken at events at St. Catherine’s are occasionally used in CrossRoads or on the church website.
If you have objections to photos of your family being used please indicate them here.
Date ______________________ Signed ____________________________________
Other details you’d like to share, special skills you could offer to the church etc.
4

CrossRoads – Advent 2010
Christian Education
Another plea from the Sunday School
In order to have Sunday School and Children's
Activity Time on a regular basis, we need
volunteers to come forward. It is neither a
difficult nor time consuming job ... in fact, for
the Children’s Activity Time, there is a sheet to
guide you on what to do! (see the Christian
Education section of the church website)
If every Church member took a turn, then I am
sure we could have a wonderful program every
week! We need group leaders and someone to
be present as a second adult. People without
their own children have an equal responsibility
to share in the Christian Education of the
children in their "church family" Children often
respond better to a lesson led by someone other
than their own parents, so, please consider your
role in this ministry!
Thanks to our volunteers who have taught a
lesson after the early service and helped with
the Activity Time during the sermon so far. We
appreciate your time and effort!
Please contact me at education@stcatherinesstuttgart.de
Nativity Play
This year’s Nativity Play will take place on
Sunday 19th December at the 11:15 service – our
first back in St. Catherine’s.
Are you interested in being part of our annual
Children's Christmas Play? We need a good
sized team of people of various skills to cover
the many aspects of the Play ... although we
have been doing it in a very simple way.
In case you've never seen one of our Christmas
plays, please allow me to describe it.
It is done as a tableau ... meaning that there is
narrator and non-speaking actors. No children
have to try to memorize the lines ... nor do we
have to set microphones all around to pick up
the children's quiet voices.
Between each scene there are one or two verses
of a Christmas Carols, sometimes led by the
organ and sometimes led by a guitar.
Costumes have already been created for the
many roles involved and are stored in the Parish
Centre cellar.
Narrators are older children who no longer like
to perform and are good readers.
Categories of costumes are as follows:
• Holy Family ... Mary & Joseph,
• Big Angels and little Angels, including a
Star Angel, who carries the Star of
Bethlehem,
• Sheep, lambs, and Shepherds,
• the Three Kings/Magi.
A script already exists for the play so there is no
writing needed. These are the teams I hope to be
able to have for the play:
Costume: These volunteers take the costumes
and check them for use-ability, repair the torn
bits, clean, iron, and help the children get into
the costumes on the day of the play.
Sets and Props: These volunteers will see that
the backdrop/night sky is functional, the
twinkly Star of Bethlehem works, and that we
have the props needed for the shepherd, Angels
and Kings.
Narration: this team works with the Narrators
to make sure they know the words, have good
inflection, and understand how far away from
the microphone to stand.
Music: this team selects music, and helps
perform/ lead the songs as part of the play.
Controllers: These volunteers know the script,
and look after the children while they are
waiting to make their entrance ... sending the
right actors down the central aisle at the right
time.
Each team can use several people. Is there one
right for you?
If you are willing to help out, please let Ken
know ... or Lisa Walsh ... nativity@stcatherinesstuttgart.de
Thank you to all who can help with this fun and
meaningful Christian Education event.
Lisa Walsh
5

CrossRoads – Advent 2010
Children’s Christmas Cross Word
Across
1. What gifts did the three wise men bring?
6. Where was Jesus born?
8. What did the Magi follow?
9. Whose town was Jesus born in?
10. What was the first thing the Angel said?
13. What was the name of the Angel who
told Mary she was going to have a baby?
14. What did Mary ride on?
15. Whose feast is the 26th December?
Down
2. If I were a shepherd I would give a …
3. What was John the Baptist’s father
called?
4. What was Mary’s cousin called?
5. What was the wicked King called?
7. What gifts did the three wise men bring?
11. What gifts did the three wise men bring?
12. What was Jesus’ mother called?
6

Crossroads – Advent 2010
Fellowship Events
Women’s Group
The next Women’s Group Meeting will take
place in the Parish Centre on Thursday 9 th
December at 10:00. Join us for fellowship, coffee
and chat.
For more details contact women@stcatherinesstuttgart.de
or speak to Alison Seyerle.
Pints of View – a men’s pub night
The men folk of St. Catherine’s have started
meeting on the second Thursday of the month in
Sophie’s Brauhaus (http://www.sophiesbrauhaus.de)
in Stuttgart, for a pint, fellowship
and maybe some food.
If you would like to know more speak to
Alexander Schmalz pints@stcatherinesstuttgart.de
Ladies’ Evening Group
The Ladies’ Evening Group meets once a month
at selected eateries around Stuttgart for good
food and fellowship.
Our next meeting is Monday 29 th November,
from 19:00 at Pomm & Fred, Böblinger Str. 81,
70199 Stuttgart.
Whether you are a regular or a first timer you
are welcome to join us but PLEASE - if you
intend to come speak to or e-mail Julie Faust
(legs@stcatherines-stuttgart.de) to let her know
so we have enough seats booked round the table
(and don't have the embarrassment of booking
too many and having a half empty table!)
LEGS will not meet in December but will
resume on the last Monday of January 2011.
Ecumenical International Womens'
Group
This year the Ecumenical International Women’s
Group has invited us to an "Adventsfeier" on
Friday, 3 rd December 2010 from 16:00-18:00 in
the Gemeindehaus of the Friedenskirche,
Schubartstr. 12, near the tram stop of the U 9 or
U 14 Neckartor. The theme of the afternoon is
"Krippenspiele" (Nativity plays). Our hosts this
year are members of the Korean Church
community. Come and enjoy a "gemütliches"
afternoon in the company of the other women
from different countries and churches. The
common language is German but many of those
in the group speak English. Please let me know
if you wish to attend so that I can pass on the
numbers in order to make it easier for our
hostesses to cater for us. Any typical English or
German Christmas fare will be welcome. For
further information and on how to get to the
Friedenskirche by public transport (which is
advisable, as there is a lack of local parking
space) please contact me and I will send you a
flyer.
Organ Project
I am often asked, “How is
the fund-raising going?”
Alison Seyerle
I usually have to give a
vague response, “Oh, it is
going quite well, thanks.”
or “Better than we had
expected at this point”. But I am never able to
give a real answer. I don’t really know exactly
how it is going.
We continue to have fund-raising going on in
England, USA, and here in Stuttgart. From week
to week and month to month, the donations
trickle in. Exchange rates and bank transfers
mean we cannot say exactly what amount we
have and because the work in the church is ongoing
there is not yet a finished bill that needs to
be paid. So my answers are rightly vague, but I
can sincerely say that “It is going quite well”.
The best news is that the work in the church: the
foundation, new floor, the organ loft and the
accompanying renovations have gone just as
planned. No unexpected problems arose, no
expensive delays and most importantly, no
World War 2 munitions were found. When we
move back into the church in December, we will
find that it has all been beautifully done as
expected. The Old Catholic congregation has
been making all the decisions on the standards
of renovation and thanks particularly to Dieter
Faller and Wolfgang Nübling, it looks fantastic.
The second best news is that we have collect
already enough money to be able to pay the bill
for the work already done. Thanks to the fund-
7

CrossRoads – Advent 2010
raisers and personal donations our account is
ready to make the first instalment which we
expect to be between 30-35,000 euros. This is a
bit more than we had estimated but still within
our ability to pay. Some engineering
requirements from the city permits office
required a more expensive loft than we had
originally planned. But surely in the long run
these required enhancements will prove to have
been prudent.
The third best news is that the Organ renovation
expert, Professor Volker Lutz, of the Stuttgart
Musikhochschule, has received a contract for the
organ renovation itself from the Organ builder/
renovator, Herr Michael Mauch, of Schwäbisch
Hall. This contract contains all that we had
hoped might be done for the restoration of the
organ, and “hooray” it costs nearly exactly what
was estimated: 30,000 euros.
So there is lots of good news to say about the
Organ Project. It is going very well in many
specifics and also well in some vague
generalities. We almost know what it will cost
and we are probably getting close to being able
to pay those probable costs. We hope according
to the euro/dollar exchange rate.
What is left to be done? That is the best
question. What is left is for us to continue
collecting donations from good people who
want to be able to look at the finished project
and say “I helped.” Donations are still needed
for us to be able to pay the second instalment,
for the renovation itself. On the church website,
one can find all the information on how to make
a donation, big or small, to help bring this organ
project to conclusion. If you, dear reader, have
been wanting to donate but just haven’t gotten
around to it, please don’t delay. All donations
are helpful.
---KRD+
Quintessenz concert
To celebrate that the interior of the St.
Catherine’s church has now finally been
renovated the choral ensemble “Quintessenz”
will perform a benefit concert on Saturday 22 nd
January 2011 at 19:00.
The choir will present a programme of a
cappella music by composers including Schein,
Haßler, Mozart, Poulenc and Villa-Lobos.
Alternating with the songs will be violin and
cello duets performed by Katharina Mokwa and
Merlin Schirmer.
This is a free concert. No ticket is needed - but
donations are welcome! All proceeds will go to
the St. Catherine’s Organ Project.
For more information speak to Ken.
Fundraising
St. Catherine’s Autumn Bazaar 2010
A big thank you to everyone who worked so
hard to once again make the bazaar a financial
and social success. Although visitors were less
than last year, everyone who attended enjoyed
food, fellowship and shopping in traditional St.
Catherine’s style. The runner this year was
definitely Ken’s “angels” made of old hymn
books, plastic eggs and CDs!
The money taken is still being counted, but I
believe we have reached the 1200 Euro mark!
Although everything was either sold or has now
been packed away until next year, books will
still remain for sale in the back room of the
Parish Centre for another few weeks. A
donation box is in the room and all proceeds
will be added to the takings. The Parish Council
has approved our decision to dedicate the funds
to the upkeep of the Parish Centre, which is
important to the St. Catherine’s community and
continuing fellowship.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank
Joseph and Bissy Okutubo and their teams for
taking such pride in the upkeep of the Parish
Centre and making it such a welcoming place to
share fellowship.
Julie Faust and the Bazaar team
8

Crossroads – Advent 2010
Mission
Poppy Appeal 2010
A big thank you to all who bought poppies in
October and November. A total of €165.00 was
collected. This sum will be winging its way to
the Royal British Legion shortly. I know they
will be very grateful for this money.
My thanks go also to Alison Seyerle, who
helped me sell the poppies this year.
Hilary Norman
Schwäbische Tafel
On two Sundays in October we once again
collected non-perishable goods for Schwäbische
Tafel. Everybody gave generously and Ken and
I duly delivered several boxes, bags and crates
to the Schwäbische Tafel shop in Stuttgart
Möhringen, where they were gratefully
received.
The shop provides groceries, tinned goods and
bakery items for the less well-off in Stuttgart as
well as employing men and women who find it
difficult to hold down a normal job. Thank you
for giving so generously and helping those less
fortunate than ourselves.
Alison Seyerle
Bring a Toy Sunday on 19 th December
Following last year's success we are asking the
children to bring toys, dolls, teddies, games etc.,
in good condition, to the service on Sunday, 19 th
December 2010. Like last year, the children will
bring their gifts up to the altar to be blessed and
in due course we will deliver them to the SOS-
Kinderdorf near Schorndorf, where I am sure
they will be greatly appreciated.
In this way, children who, I am sure, will be
looking forward to lots of new toys for
Christmas, will be encouraged to pass on their
old, but still good, toys to children less fortunate
than themselves.
Do give generously.
Alison Seyerle
A book recommendation
"The Clumsiest People in Europe " or Mrs.
Mortimer's Bad-Tempered Guide to the
Victorian World
If you want a good laugh and to be highly
amused read this most amazing book written by
a Victorian lady, Mrs. Lavell Lee Mortimer. Her
book has been "rediscovered". It is a most
amazing and hilarious book as Mrs. Mortimer's
comments on the countries which she had never
visited are so astonishing, that she must have
had a terrific imagination. If you are feeling dull,
I am sure this book will cheer you up. Good for
chasing away the Winter blues!
Parish Centre Renovations
Pauline Hauptmann
A group of men retiring to the upstairs room of
a local hostelry is not without precedent
amongst those of Christian faith. By way of
homage, and to avoid the ladies of L.E.G.S.
having all the fun, the gentlemen of St.
Catherine's have been meeting at 19:00 on the
second Tuesday of every month in Sophie's
Brauhaus for what has become known as "Pub
Night".
One such evening, towards the end of the last
pitcher, thoughts turned to what those gathered
had been doing for St. Catherine's. Well, there
was the whisky tasting. And who could forget
the wine tasting complemented by Alex's
excellent catering? "Pub Night" itself had been
running for three months which pretty much
guaranteed its place in the parish history as "the
most regular men's fellowship event ever". Yes,
we could vaingloriously bask in our collective
success.
There was, however, one niggling doubt. A
common theme ran through all of these events.
Maybe people would notice. Maybe we should
do something more constructive before we got
some kind reputation. Maybe it was about time
we made ourselves useful and tackled all those
odd jobs that needed to be done around the
Parish centre. It was a good idea. All we needed
to do was to get the beers in, and we could get
cracking...
9

CrossRoads – Advent 2010
We started one Saturday in September with refitting
the store room, moving the light onto the
ceiling and painting the walls in the lavatories.
Those with a keen eye might have spotted that
there are now strategically placed fire
extinguishers and smoke alarms. Those without
a keen eye asked us “Did you do anything? I
can't see any difference.”
In October we decided to attempt the Guinness
world record for door painting. The challenge is
how many doors can you take off, sand down
and repaint in one day? To make the challenge
more sporting, we had special paint that took
three coats before it looked respectable and a
pressing need for everything to be dry and
returned to normal by Sunday morning. By
21:00 the doors were still up on trestles in the
main hall, making it look suspiciously like a
morgue. Joseph, Parish Council member for
facilities and our foreman, was getting
concerned. However, once fortified by fine
vintages plundered from Stuttgart's high
society, we managed to get everything back to
normal just before midnight.
It was yet more painting in November. We now
have the skill to re-create the ceiling of the
Cistene Chapel and are available for
commissions. We fitted a new notice board and,
after a mere 2 years of temporary use, finally
removed the need for the gaffer tape holding the
internet to the wall of the diele.
November also brought the services of the
talented Mr.Schwaigert, Axel's father and a dab
hand at DIY, who has very kindly improved the
shelves in the store room and put up some more
storage behind the curtains in the main room
Come December we'll be sorting out storage for
the kitchen/diele area and hopefully building a
re-cycling point. After that Alex, Chris, Clement,
Ed, Femi, Joseph, Nate, Noah, Steffan, I and
everyone else who has helped will be putting
our feet up with a Gluhwein.
Cheers!
Darren Buttle
Report from CAECG -What is a
Kenning?
I have to admit that I had not come across
kenning before but during the Council of
Anglican Episcopal Churches in Germany’s
(CAECG) meeting in September I was to
encounter this word many times.
The CAECG, comprising all the Anglican and
Episcopal parishes in Germany, meets every
March and September. Usually the meeting
takes place at one of the parishes. This time,
however, we were invited by the British Royal
Army chaplains to hold the event at Church
House in Lübbecke, near Herford. Located in a
tranquil setting on the outskirts of the town it
has various reception rooms, a chapel,
conference rooms, accommodation, dining
facilities (with excellent food, including full
English breakfasts if you want) and the cheapest
bar in Germany with all drinks at military
prices.
Over 30 clergy and laity - including our
Archdeacon, Jonathan Lloyd from Copenhagen
– attended the meeting. The clergy arrived on
the afternoon of Thursday 16 September for
their own meeting which lasted until Friday
lunchtime. They were then joined by the laity.
The Friday afternoon was taken up by CAECG
official business. We heard reports from all the
churches represented – Berlin, Hamburg,
Düsseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Frankfurt, Freiburg,
Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Leipzig, Munich,
Augsburg, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and
Wiesbaden - as well as from the Diocese in
Europe and the Old Catholics. The main news
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Crossroads – Advent 2010
from the Diocese is that they are still looking at
restructuring the diocese by appointing more
archdeacons and this will be debated not only
by CAECG at our next meeting in March but
also by Synod next year. Synod will also be
debating the thorny question (to some!) of
appointing women as bishops. Jonathan also
announced that our Area Dean, Christopher
Jage-Bowler in Berlin, had been appointed an
honorary canon of the diocese.
Several parishes reported that congregational
numbers were rising. We heard of many
different types of fund-raising events and of
other churches which also need substantial
repairs carried out (we are not alone, it seems!).
Several parishes will be celebrating jubilees in
the next couple of years - Hamburg, the oldest
Anglican congregation in Germany, will be
celebrating 400 years of existence in 2012, and in
2011 milestones will be reached by Heidelberg
(40 years) and Leipzig (15 years). Finance,
environmental issues, educational programmes,
ACK matters and the ecumenical Kirchentag
held in Munich in May 2010 were also discussed
at the meeting.
At each CAECG meeting we have either
speakers giving talks of mutual interest to all or
a retreat. This time the Rev. Jane Stranz from the
World Council of Churches in Geneva led us in
a retreat on Friday evening and Saturday
morning. The topic was “Bible study without
bibles”. She introduced us to the world of
labyrinths and mazes and with the aid of
printed sheets of labyrinths we “walked” them
with our pens or fingers, the paths continually
turning inwards, outwards, backwards and
forwards. Then, splitting up into small groups,
we discussed whether the paths could represent
any periods in our lives, whether those periods
were joyful or painful and whether the paths
could indicate where we were going and where
we might have come from. Quoting from St
John of the Cross Jane told us that if a (wo)man
wanted to be sure of the way (s)he travelled,
then (s)he must close her/his eyes and walk in
the dark, for in a dark place the eyes see more.
She also asked us if God had crossed our paths
whilst walking the labyrinth. She explained that
labyrinths were distinct from mazes. Mazes
have dead ends; labyrinths do not. With a
labyrinth you set out trusting the path; you do
not expect it to be against you.
She also introduced us to the world of kennings.
A kenning is a much-compressed form of
metaphor, originally used in Anglo-Saxon and
Norse poetry. In a kenning an object is described
in a two-word phrase, such as 'whale-road' for
'sea'. We were asked to compose kennings
describing God and we came up with a large
variety, such as Dawkins lover, sheep finder,
water giver, wood worker, crowd feeder, purse
opener. She then asked us to find out how well
we knew God and how well he knew us. She
told us that we all carry the stories of the Bible
within us and by illustration of three examples
we discovered how much we actually
remembered. We discussed Christ’s passion and
betrayal, the story of the road to Emmaus and
we recalled the stories where bread is
mentioned in the Bible. We remembered the
Bible using our own interpretations and
feelings. As Jane said in her blog written after
the meeting “By the end I felt we had all walked
a fair way together, seeing how our paths and
God’s were crossing and intertwined, how even
seemingly dead ends might hold the
opportunity for new life and challenge.”
Our speaker, Jane Stranz, and the Deputy
Convenor, Christopher Easthill from Munich
It proved to be yet again a very interesting
meeting and an excellent chance to meet
delegates from all over Germany and exchange
ideas and information. The warden and his staff
at Church House were wonderful hosts and all
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CrossRoads – Advent 2010
the delegates enjoyed themselves. The next
CAECG meeting will be at Freiburg in March
where the topic for the speakers will be training
for the ministry.
12
Hilary Norman, CAECG Secretary
News from friends overseas
Daniel Dorr
Some of you will remember the Dorrs family.
Well Daniel published his first book in
September - Kissing Kilimanjaro: Leaving It All
on Top of Africa. As the review puts it :
Daniel Dorr's Kissing Kilimanjaro is a
marvellous story, the kind of narrative that
will appeal to readers of hardcore
mountaineering literature and casual travel
mis-adventure stories alike. His observations
about East Africa, the cultures and wildlife,
and the adventure he ultimately circles in on--
that is, climbing 'Kili'--are a delightful escape. -
- Cameron M. Burns, author of Kilimanjaro &
East Africa: A Climbing and Trekking Guide
Kissing Kilimanjaro is being short-listed for the
St. Catherine’s Lent book to tie in with our
theme of pilgrimage – so if you know anyone
who likes mountains and might need a stocking
filler – this comes recommended.
Joachim Feldes
Dear friends at St Catherine's,
Greetings from Cambridge, where Jutta and I
have settled in after a quite peculiar start.
Everything began really wonderful, topped by
the fact that on the first weekend here we
celebrated our 1 st wedding anniversary and we
enjoyed a marvellous trip to the Norfolk seaside.
Yet, the very next
day it became
obvious that a
part of the staff
felt somewhat
uncomfortable
having another
priest in the
house. This
ended up
in rather
ridiculous and
time wasting
debates and made us wonder whether our
choice to come here was the right one.
However, the college has turned out to be a
good base for my studies and pastoral work. I
have now joined a particular ministry
team serving an Anglican-Methodist-United
Reformed Church congregation
(www.churchatcastle.org) and I am enjoying
that very much. All of the team (apart from me)
are women, very down to earth, inspiring and
filled with a wonderful spirit of fellowship. So
far there hasn't been a second when I have
regretted my choice. We have met people in the
parish who have friends at St Catherine's (and
others at Heidelberg)!. The world is very small
indeed, isn't it?
The other particular group I have become a
member of is the 'Cambridge Clarinet Choir'.
Believe it or not, we are a group of about 13 folk
who every Wednesday night squeeze into one of
the group's living rooms and practice from
7:30pm until 10pm. All of the clarinetists are just
brilliant musicians, which means it’s a struggle
for me to keep up with them. Yet, they cope
with me and have even encouraged me to join in
with a concert on 4 th December (which I'll do).
Thankfully on that weekend Jutta will not be in
Cambridge, so I hope no one will tell you how I
ruined our
performance ...
I am also enjoying the
lectures I choose for
this term, covering
Anglican theology,
Islam and Hinduism.
This term has become
a really good time.. On
the other hand, we
already sense (and
regret) how fast our
time in Cambridge will
pass by.
We are looking forward very much to meeting
you again (hopefully on the 12 th for the Carol
service) and send you our best regards,
Jutta & Joachim

Crossroads – Advent 2010
A-Z of Anglicanism
I is for Intercessory Prayer
At St. Catherine’s, where many of our
congregation were not necessarily brought up
Anglican or English speaking, we often try to
avoid complicated and unfamiliar words.
In our service sheet each week, where the Book
of Common Worship has Prayers of
Intercession, we have Prayers of the People.
Observing our Sunday Service one could easily
assume that “Prayers of the People” meant
prayers led by the laity rather than the clergy or
prayers voicing the people’s concerns, as
opposed to prayers led by the priest concerned
with absolution and consecration.
However, this is not what Intercessions are.
Prayers of Intercession can be, and in some
parishes frequently are, led by clergy or laity
alike. The issues they cover are not just the
concerns of the people, but should also concern
those in Holy Orders. So what are Prayers of
Intercession?
Intercessory prayer, Prayers of Intercession or
Intercessions are prayers, not for ourselves, but
for other people.
To intercede means : to plead on another’s
behalf. They are not so much Prayers of the
People, as prayers for other people.
Traditionally in the Church of England
following topics are covered in the Intercessions,
prayers for: the Church of Christ, the Sovereign
and those in authority, the local community,
those who suffer and the communion of Saints.
Intercessions may follow a standard set
liturgical forms or litany, set out in Common
Worship or the Book of Common Prayer or they
may be written specifically for the occasion
focusing on specific needs and concerns. If
you’re interested in reading some prayers of
Intercession from another church, there is a
collection here that is well worth perusing
http://www.thisischurch.com/prayer_worship/
weekly_church_prayers.htm and possibly using
in your own prayer life, because, intercessory
prayer – prayer for other people - is not
something we should limit ourselves to doing in
a set format, once a week, at a particular point in
a Sunday morning service. We should
continually be interceding on behalf of our
friends, neighbours, families, those in trouble,
those is need, the sick, the dying, those in
authority, both temporal and spiritual, as St.
Paul writes:
1
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for all
people— 2 for kings and all those in authority,
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all
godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and
pleases God our Saviour, 4 who wants all
people to be saved and to come to a
knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God
and one mediator between God and mankind,
the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a
ransom for all people.
I Timothy 2: 1-6
The Bishop’s Christmas Letter, 2010
Not long ago I came across a Christmas
meditation by Michael Stancliffe, a fine preacher
whose ministry encompassed time as Speaker’s
Chaplain in the House of Commons, and later as
Dean of Winchester. In this meditation he points
out that the Christmas story is concerned with
small things.
‘At the heart of it is a human being at its
smallest, and that newborn child is surrounded
by no greatness – no palace, no pomp, no grand
people. Nor had the first to join that little group
anything impressive about them – shepherds on
night duty don’t look princely – and it was only
later that more imposing personages put in an
appearance. Christians believe that what
happened in that small setting was of cosmic
significance.’
The birth of Jesus at Bethlehem which we
celebrate at Christmas is the burning glass
which concentrates in the vulnerable fragility of
a new-born child the immensity of the Divine
Love by which all things were made and which
holds the vastness of the universe in being.
What is God like? God is like – indeed God is –
this totally dependent, tiny bundle of life. That
bundle of life grew unseen in Mary’s womb, and
that unseen growth to birth was also where God
was. In ‘Once in royal David’s City’ we sing of
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CrossRoads – Advent 2010
the child of Bethlehem that ‘day by day like us
he grew’ – but like us that growth was from the
moment of conception, from before being born
as well as the child growing to maturity. The
real Feast of the Incarnation, of God emptying
himself and coming down to the lowest part of
our need, is not Christmas, the Feast of the
Nativity, but the Feast of the Annunciation, of
God taking our human nature in the womb of
the Blessed Virgin. When Christians hail Mary
as the Theotokos, ‘the God-bearer’, it was
because it was her unique vocation to be the one
in whose body God chose to dwell, to be one
with us. As an ancient hymn puts it:
How blest that Mother in whose shrine,
The great Artificer divine,
Whose hands did frame the earth and sky,
Vouchsafed as in an ark to lie.
It is because God is with us as unborn life before
he is with us as the child of Bethlehem, that we
rightly are concerned to reverence unborn life,
and to protest at the attitudes so prevalent in
our society which regards such life as
disposable.
William Blake saw eternity in a grain of sand.
Julian of Norwich saw all that was made as a
small hazelnut. We see the love of God in this
vulnerable child, and, as a wonderful prayer
puts it, ‘knowing the love of God made visible,
we are caught up into the love of the God we
cannot see.’ In our human experience of love we
at one and the same time know most fully the
person whom we love and who loves us, and at
the same time know that this is a mystery which
can never be fully known, never fully expressed
in words. Charles Williams, the friend of
C.S.Lewis and J.R.R.Tolkien liked to say that we
ought to pause over how we so easily speak of
‘being in love’ and remember that in saying this
we are saying no less that we are held in love.
At Christmas as we come to adore the God who
reaches out to us in the weakness and humility
of a child, we are in an even greater way held in
love, the love which came down at Christmas
and which is far greater than anything that we
can imagine or express. As so often the poets
point us to the heart of the matter, as Richard
Crawshaw does in his Hymn of the Nativity:
Welcome all wonders in our sight
Eternity shut in a span,
Summer in winter, day in night,
Heaven in earth, and God in Man;
Great little one! Whose all-embracing birth
Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth.
And what is this about? Christopher Smart asks
‘where is this stupendous stranger?’ and finds
his Lord and Saviour in a manger.
O most Mighty! O MOST HOLY!
Far beyond the seraph’s thought,
Art thou then so mean and lowly
As unheeded prophets taught?
He comes at last to the truth and the mystery of
Bethlehem.
God all-bounteous, all-creative,
Whom no ills from good dissuade,
Is incarnate, and a native
Of the very world he made.
As God gives himself into the world in love, so
he gives himself in love into our lives, sharing
his life with us in the Bread and Wine of the
Eucharist, that we may be transformed into his
likeness and be the bearers of his love into the
world he created and sustains. A more recent
Christian poet, R.S.Thomas, writes of
communion at a Hill Christmas in Wales.
They came over the snow to the bread’s
Purer snow, fumbled it in their huge
hands, put their lips to it
like beasts, stared into the dark chalice
where the wine shone, felt it sharp
on their tongue, shivered as at a sin
remembered, and heard love cry
momentarily in their hearts’ manger.
This Christmas, as we come to worship and
adore the Child who is Emmanuel, God-withus,
and receive him in the Eucharist may his
love cry in the manger of our hearts, transform
our lives and strength us to live and pray for the
peace of the world and the unity of the holy
churches of God.
May God bless you, and may you, and all for
whom you love and care, have a holy and a
joyful Christmas.
GEOFFREY GIBRALTAR
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CrossRoads – Advent 2010
What’s on at St. Catherine’s
Sun 28 th November 11:30 Advent I
Holy Communion
Leonardskirche OT: Isaiah 2: 1-5
Psalm: 122
NT: Romans 13: 11-14
Gospel: Matthew 24: 36-44
Mon 29 th November 19:00 Ladies’ Evening Group Pomm & Fred See p. 7
Wed 1 st December 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 1 st December 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Fri 3 rd December 16:00 Ecumenical Women’s
Group
Sun 5 th December 08:30 Advent II
Holy Communion
Friedenskirche See p. 7
Leonardskirche OT: Isaiah 11: 1-10
Psalm: 72: 1-7, 18-19
NT: Romans 15: 4-13
Gospel: Matthew 3: 1-12
Sun 5 th December 10:30 Sunday School Parish Centre Find out more about John the Baptist
Sun 5 th December 18:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 8 th December 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 8 th December 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Thurs 9 th December 10:00 Women’s Group Parish Centre See p. 7
Thurs 9 th December 19:00 Men’s Pub Night Sophie’s Brauhaus See p. 6
Sat 11 th December 10:00 Parish Centre Working Day Parish Centre See p.9
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CrossRoads – Advent 2010
Sun 12 th December 11:30 Advent III
Holy Communion
Leonardskirche OT: Isaiah 35: 1-10
Psalm: 146: 4-110
NT: James: 5: 7-10
Gospel: Matthew 11: 2-11
Sun 12 th December 16:00 Shortened Holy
Communion
Leonhardskirche
A said service of Holy Communion prior to the Service of
Nine Lessons and Carols
Sun 12 th December 17:00 Service of Nine Lessons and
Carols
Leonhardskirche
Our annual carol service in the traditional Church of
England style.
Wed 15 th December 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 15 th December 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Sun 19 th December 11:15 Advent IV
Holy Communion with
Nativity Play
St. Catherine’s OT: Isaiah 7: 10-16
Psalm: 80: 1-8, 18-20
NT: Romans 1: 1-7
Gospel: Matthew: 18-25
Wed 22 nd December 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 22 nd December 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Fri 24 th December 14:00 Christmas Eve St. Catherine’s A service for families with small children
Fri 24 th December 20:00 Christmas Eve
Holy Communion
St. Catherine’s
Festive Candlelight, carols and Holy Communion for
Christmas
Sun 26 th December 09:00 Christmas I
Holy Communion
St. Catherine’s OT: Isaiah 63: 7-9
Psalm: 148
NT: Hebrews: 2: 10-18
Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-23
Fri 31 st December 22:00 A Sylvester Blessing St. Catherine’s A service to welcome the New Year
16

Crossroads – Advent 2010
Sun 2 nd January 11:15 Epiphany
Holy Communion
St. Catherine’s OT: Isaiah 60: 1-6
Psalm: 72: 10-15
NT: Ephesians 3: 1-12
Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12
Wed 5 th January 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 5 th January 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Sun 9 th January 09:00 The Baptism of Christ
Holy Communion
St. Catherine’s OT: Isaiah 42: 1-9
Psalm: 29
NT: Acts 10: 34-43
Gospel: Matthew 3: 13-17
Wed 12 th January 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 12 th January 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Thurs 13 th January 19:00 Men’s Pub Night Sophie’s Brauhaus See p.7
Sun 16 th January 11:15 Epiphany II
Holy Communion
St. Catherine’s OT: Isaiah 49: 1-7
Psalm: 40: 1-12
NT: 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9
Gospel: John 1: 29-42
Wed 19 th January 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 19 th January 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Sat 22 nd January 19:00 Quintessenz concert St. Catherine’s See p.8
Sun 23 rd January 09:00 Epiphany III
Holy Communion
St. Catherine’s OT: Isaiah 9: 1-4
Psalm: 27: 1,4-12
NT: 1 Corinthians 1: 10-18
Gospel: Matthew 4: 12-23
17

CrossRoads – Advent 2010
Wed 26 th January 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 26 th January 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Sun 30 th January 10:30 Epiphany IV
Holy Communion
St. Catherine’s OT: 1 Kings 17: 8-16
Psalm: 36 : 5-10
NT: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Gospel: John 2: 1-11
Mon 31 st January 19:00 Ladies’ Evening Group TBC See p. 6
Wed 2 nd February 19:00 Evening Prayer Parish Centre
Wed 2 nd February 19:30 Bible Study Parish Centre
Sun 6 th February 11:15 Proper 1
Holy Communion
St. Catherine’s OT: 58: 1-9a
Psalm: 112: 1-9
NT: 1 Corinthians 2: 1-12
Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-20
18