Category Archives: Homepage Posts

Back inside the church again!

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As from this coming Sunday, 7th August, we will be able to celebrate our Sunday worship back in the church of the Dominican brothers again. Since Whitsun, nearly two months ago, the church has been closed and emptied for restoration and cleaning. Both the Dominicans and Anglicans used the upper room in the Centre Mounier as as provisional chapel. However, last Sunday, 31st July, frère Francois of the Dominicans joined us at the end of our service and announced the good news that from the coming Sunday on we would be able to worship in the church again.  He invited us to visit the church after the service to experience it as we would never see it again: completely empty.

A unique view of the Dominicans’ chapel.

It really was a revelation; all the soot and accumulated dinginess of past decades on the stonework has disappeared, the church is much lighter now. The space feels generous and welcoming.  It is a remarkable building because it is a prefabricated concrete structure, designed by the architect Alfred-Jacques Nasousky (1864 – 1943) and completed in 1930 for the Dominican community which was re-established in Strasbourg in 1927.  Read more http://havraisdire2.canalblog.com/archives/2018/06/03/36441118.html

The organ loft will remain untenanted until Christmas, when – if all goes to plan – the new organ will be installed.

ACAS AGM Assemblée Générale 26 March

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The Association Caritative Anglicane de Strasbourg (ACAS) exists in order that members of St. Alban’s may contribute to organisations that help people in need.  This is so as to comply with French law which does not permit “associations cultuelles” (i.e. churches) to give any of their income away. All those who attend services at St. Alban’s are invited to come to the Annual General Meeting of ACAS this coming Saturday, 26 March, 15.00h at Café Rivier, 40, rue de l’Université, Strasbourg, and put forward any suggestions for causes which ACAS could support.  ACAS usually contributes to CASAS and CIMADE, two organisations in Strasbourg which for many years have provided aid and advice for asylum-seekers and refugees. Through our Malgache members strong links have also been established with the Anglican church in Foulpointe which has repeatedly been ravaged by cyclones. All ideas are welcome !  Also welcome are ideas for fund-raising during the coming year, so that ACAS can continue to respond to calls for help.

Bishop’s Lent and Easter Appeal for Aid to Ukraine

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This year the Diocese in Europe is asking for donations to a special appeal fund for the crisis in Ukraine.  This fund will be managed by the USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), the Anglican mission agency that “partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice” (https://uspg.org.uk/ )

Bishop Robert writes: “There are now over a million refugees in Europe and thousands of internally displaced in Ukraine. They have left everything behind to escape the conflict. Christian Charities and our Churches need our help as they support these people in all aspects of their lives. … We are calling this a “Lent and Easter Appeal”. Partly that just reflects the timing. But more profoundly, we want to signal that our donations are a sign of hope.  The Christian story ends not with crucifixion but with the hope of resurrection.” For more see https://europe.anglican.org/main/latest-news/post/1784-ukraine-appeal-to-churches ´

You can donate to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal through ACAS (Association Caritative Anglicane de Strasbourg). For account details go to “Activities” on this website and click on “Solidarity with people in need”. Cheques should be made out to ACAS and marked “ACAS 2022 Lent Appeal”.

Every Wednesday in Lent at 5pm (GMT), the Diocese in Europe is putting time aside to pray for peace in Ukraine.  See https://uspg.org.uk/communications/news/prayers-for-ukraine-during-lent.php

How else can we help:

The following items can be brought to the mairies du quartier during regular opening hours. These will be transported to Ukraine and to neighbouring countries by the Protection Civile.

  • Logistics: cots, sleeping bags, survival blankets, electrical equipment (spotlights, lights, extension cords, generators)
  • Hygiene: body gels and soaps, toothpaste, toothbrushes, nappies and baby formula, non-expired medicines, razors, shaving foam, sanitary napkins
  • First aid: single-use gloves, surgical masks, suture materials, medical gowns, elastic bandages, tourniquets, blood glucose meters, dressings, antiseptic solutions

 Also…
If you can volunteer your time or you are able to host an individual or family fleeing from Ukraine, tell fr Mark or contact solidarite.ukraine@strasbourg.eu

World Day of Prayer at the Dominicans

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World Day of Prayer is an international movement of Christian people in many different traditions who have a continuing relationship of prayer and service. People from various denominations gather in one another’s churches to celebrate, using a Worship Service prepared by women of a different country each year. This year’s service on 4 March was prepared by women from England, Wales and Northern Ireland and  was held in Strasbourg in the Dominicans’ church. Grace Egesi from St. Alban’s helped prepare the service with its theme “Un avenir à espérer” based on Jeremiah 29, 11: “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”  This theme resonated particularly in view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine a week earlier.

     

Confirmation with Bishop Richard Chartres

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Sunday 27th February was a joyful occasion at St. Alban’s.  We celebrated the confirmation of five young people and adults: Roman Demptos, Chinomso Egesi, Louise Koenig, Nkechi Onwuzurumba and Ahayana Pollonais.  Bishop Richard Chartres, a former Bishop of London, conducted the service and conferred the sacrament of confirmation  through the laying of hands. The families of the newly confirmed celebrated the occasion with a wonderful feast.  Bishop Richard gave a talk afterwards on “Europe and the Church: a view from Westminster” (he has a seat in the House of Lords, and is responsible for ecumenical contacts with Orthodox churches), in which he described how the relationship between the Church and civic society has evolved and changed over the years.

Ahayana is confirmed

Bishop Richard and Roman, Chinomso, Louise, Nkechi and Ahayana.

Nuit des Religions – Evensong at the Dominicans

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De nombreux événements sont organisés dans le cadre du Forum des Religions pour découvrir des traditions spirituelles différentes qui existent à Strasbourg. https://www.forumreligions.fr  Within the framework of the “Forum des Religions” in Strasbourg a number of events take place every year to explore the many different spiritual traditions which exist within the city.  One of these events is the  Night of Religions (Nuits des Religions)  which took place on 26th February. The Anglican Chaplaincy joined the Dominican community in their church, our place of worship for the past 50 years, for the service of Evensong.  A small group of singers from St. Alban’s contributed Anglican hymns and a setting of the Magnificat by Thomas Morley in Anglican chant to the service, while the Dominican brothers sang their traditional settings of  psalms and prayers. There is a distinct musical bond between both traditions, and it was a welcome opportunity to share the rich heritage of Anglican music with visitors from all over the city.  For St. Alban’s it was also another opportunity to explain the “middle way” that Anglicanism holds between the two major Christian denominations.

 

The singers.

Fr. Mark & Frère Jean-Francois welcome the     visitors.

World Day of Prayer Journée mondiale de Prière

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“I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope”.  (Jeremiah 29, 11.)

“Un avenir à espérer” is the theme of this year’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 4 March.  It has been prepared this year by women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the service in Strasbourg will be held this year at the Eglise des Dominicains, the church Anglicans have been worshipping at for the past 50 years.  All are welcome to take part in the service

Join us for the service at 15.00h on Friday 4 March, Eglise des Dominicains, bld. de Victoire/rue de l’Université.

“When you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 29, 12-14.

Peace for Ukraine

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“In these days of uncertainty and fear, we pray that each of us might again turn to the Lord and receive God’s gift of peace, work for God’s justice, know God’s reconciliation and love, and choose paths not of hatred or destruction, of violence or retribution, but God’s way of justice, mercy and peace.”

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written a pastoral letter to the clergy and people of the Church of England, calling on them to pray for peace in Ukraine.  Read the letter below:

Ukraine Pastoral Letter from the Archbishops

 

 

Celebration of Christian Unity Week

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Last Sunday 23 January St Alban’s joined with the neighbouring congregations of  St Matthew’s Protestant and Christ Ressuscité/ Très Sainte Trinité for the annual commemoration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  The Anglican, Catholic and Protestant churches came together at St Matthew’s around the theme : “We saw his star in the East and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2.2)  The theme for 2022 was proposed by the Middle East Council of Churches, where Christians face many hardships.

The church of St. Matthieu was packed! There was a special programme for children of all ages, and for the bilingual order of service translations were provided. There was a tangible feeling of celebration within the congregation and a real sense of  mutual esteem amongst the clergy.

The pastor of St. Matthieu bids everyone welcome

 

 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was first established in 1908 by an Anglican religious order as an eight-day period of prayer (octave) between 18 January (Confession of St Peter) and 25 January (Conversion of St Paul). The octave has since been observed by Christians of all sorts from around the world.

St Alban’s Mark Barwick gives the final blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was first established in 1908 by an Anglican religious order as an eight-day period of prayer (octave) between 18 January (Confession of St Peter) and 25 January (Conversion of St Paul). The octave has since been observed by Christians of all sorts from around the world.