Convocation Newsletter
(COVID-19 special edition #22)
October 3, 2020
The 30th Week in Coronatide
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A Newsletter for Members and Friends of the Convocation of
Episcopal Churches in Europe
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Ordinary Time in Extraordinary Times |
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The "Season of Creation" is marked each year from September 1 to October 4, and is observed in many church traditions, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Methodists and many others. This prayer and other resources can be found here.
Prayer in the Season of Creation
Loving God, we thank you for the gift of life in all its diversity and beauty. Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we praise you that you came to redeem all of creation. Holy Spirit, we rejoice that you breathe in the life of the world. Grant us faith and courage to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus as caretakers of, and justice-seekers for, your beautiful and bountiful creation. For the blessing of your people, the sustaining of the earth and the glory of your name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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Collect for St. Francis of Assisi, Friar and Deacon, 1226
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may, for love of you, delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For a Church Convention
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in the Convocation Convention for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Changes in Clergy Leadership.... |
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This week we announce clergy changes in Florence and Munich.
In the last few weeks, we have announced clergy changes in the Episcopal Church in Europe in Paris and Frankfurt. Next week there will be yet another....
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In Paris:
The Rev. Nathaniel Katz joined the staff of Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris as Canon. He arrived mid-September from a staff position at All Saints in Beverly Hills, California, USA in the Diocese of Los Angeles. link to previous article
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In Frankfurt:
The Rev. Stephen McPeek was appointed Priest in Charge at the Church of Christ the King in Frankfurt, Germany. He comes from the Diocese of Hawaii, but was curate at St. Augustine of Canterbury in Wiesbaden, and has already been active in many areas of the Convocation. He begins his ministry in Frankfurt on October 8. link to previous article
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New Priest in Charge at St. James' Church in Florence, Italy |
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News from the St. James Vestry....
The Co-Chairs of the St. James Priest-in-Charge Search, Haswell Beni and Nevin Brown, together with the Interim Rector, Reverend Andrew Cooley, and the Bishop in Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches of Europe, the Rt. Rev. Mark D. W. Edington, are pleased to share this important and long-awaited update with our St. James community: after more than a year of discernment, we have called the Rev. Richard Easterling.
Please click this link to view our joyful video announcement!
We give thanks for a successful search, and lift up our prayers for a continuing smooth transition as we work to welcome Richard and his family to our community.
Pax+
The Vestry of St. James Episcopal Church
Florence, Italy
The Rev. Richard Easterling is a cradle Episcopalian and native of Alexandria, Louisiana USA. He was ordained deacon in 2002 and priest in 2003 in the Diocese of Louisiana. Prior to his ministry at St. George's, Richard served in parishes and Episcopal school ministry in New Orleans and in Metairie, Louisiana.
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Interim Priest in Charge at Church of the Ascension in Munich, Germany |
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The Bishop has appointed the Rev. Kenneth Dimmick as Interim Priest in Charge at Church of the Ascension in Munich, Germany. An Episcopal priest of the Diocese of Texas, Ken comes to Munich from Wharton, Texas, USA. Ken will arrive, deo volente, on October 14.
He is know to many in the Convocation and especially in Germany because from 2006 to 2017 he was Vicar at St. Catherine's Church in Stuttgart, Germany, a Church of England chaplaincy in the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe.
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Born in Wyoming to a military family, Ken spent his youth in many parts of the world. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, followed by service in the US Army in Germany, where he became fluent in German. After seminary, he was ordained deacon and priest in 1984 and served parishes in Louisiana and Texas before moving to Stuttgart in 2006. While in Germany, he also served as Dean of Germany for the Church of England, and was very active in CAECG. After his 2017 retirement, he has served in various places in the Diocese of Texas and in Malta. We welcome Ken back to Europe and to the Convocation. |
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Convocation Convention, October 22-24,
to be held entirely online
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Online Convocation Convention
All delegates and clergy will receive their convention packets this week. This promises to be an exciting convention. Do keep especially the bishop and the convention prep team in you prayers as they venture into a new and untested virtual realm this year. All the latest information about the online Convocation Convention, including the latest updates on resolutions and nomination process may be found here:
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A focus of Convention: Racism, Reconciliation, and Beloved Community
A major focus of convention will be on Racism, Reconciliation and Beloved Community, Our program on Friday afternoon will focus on this important matter in the life of the church and the our world. This presentation will be live-streamed for all.
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Task Forces to Report to 2020 Convention
At the 2019 Convocation Convention in Bossey Switzerland, Task Forces were appointed to examine and four priorities in the coming year. These Task Forces will report to the 2020 Convention.
In June, these four priorities were examined in considerable depth at the annual Academy for Parish Leadership (APL) sponsored by the European Institute for Christian Studies (EICS). These reports are being finalized and updates will be available in upcoming newsletters.
The four task forces and their chairs are:
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Refugees and Migrants - Thomas Huddleston (Waterloo), Chair
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Climate and Creation Care - Stephen Squire (Geneva), Chair
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Racism and Reconciling the Beloved Community - Stephen McPeek (Wiesbaden), Chair
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Youth and Children: The Church of Today - Joyce Chanay (Paris) and Caireen Warren (Rome), Chairs
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Bishop Edington's announcement regarding Convocation Convention moving online:
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Upcoming Convocation Events |
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- October 15-18: TEC-ELKB dialogue - held online.
- Oct 31 - Nov 1: Visitation to All Saints - Waterloo, Belgium
- November 7-8: Consecration and Seating of the new Archbishop of Utrecht - Deventer NL
- November 27: COABICE - online
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Looking to 2021
- May 28-29, 2021: Mission Fest in Augsburg, Germany
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Online Worship in the Convocation |
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St. Paul's Within the Walls Episcopal Church, in Rome, Italy, will reopen for worship on Sunday, October 4. Extensive interior renovations, which had been planned to extend over several more years, were entirely completed during the COVID-19 shut-down. Link
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Online Worship Opportunities for Sundays and Weekdays
With many of our church buildings closed to public worship, many of our parishes and missions have moved their Sunday and weekday Worship online. Consider taking part in worship with your sisters and brothers in Christ across Europe.
Online and In-Person Worship opportunities may be found here
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Convocation COVID-19 Webpage
Information in one place
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Convocation COVID-19 Response |
Please visit our webpage dedicated to our COVID-19 response, as well as other resources.
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Congregational Plans for reopening churches - see the Bishop and Council of Advice directives on Regathering the Church Prayerfully and Intentionally here
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The new book edited by Bishop Mark Edington, We Shall Be Changed: Questions for the Post-Pandemic Church, is available for preorder from Church Publishing.
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The Convocation in cooperation with the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris will be offering a weekly Eucharist in French on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., starting October 3. It will be held in the choir/nave area of the cathedral, under the direction of a committee including the Rev. Jean Dumond Chavanne, the Rev. Thomas Myers, and Thomas-Xavier Martin.
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Did you miss Church?
Check out Bishop Edington's latest sermon:
September 27, 2020
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Other pulpits in the Convocation:
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A la radio : le Magazine Anglican
Le « Magazine Anglican », animé par Laurence Moachon, paroissienne de la Cathédrale de la Sainte Trinité à Paris.
À propos du Magazine Anglican :
Depuis septembre 2012, Laurence Moachon présente le 4e samedi du mois, le Magazine Anglican. Avec l’objectif de faire mieux connaître la tradition anglicane au public français, elle traite de sujets d’actualité culturelle, historique, liturgique ou ecclésiologique dans la Convocation et la Communion Anglicane.
ÉCOUTEZ OU TÉLÉCHARGEZ LE MAGAZINE ANGLICAN sur :
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The Convocation's Francophone Mission
Le samedi à 17h
La Convocation des Eglises Episcopales en Europe vous propose :
la Sainte Eucharistie en français
du 3 octobre 2020
Vous êtes tous et toutes les bienvenues à cette sainte eucharistie en français, présenté par la Convocation des Eglises Episcopales en Europe. La première messe aura lieu samedi le 3 octobre à 17h à la cathédrale de la Sainte Trinité. Quand vous entrez, vous devez fournir vos coordonnées pour la recherche des contacts.
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Regarding Allegations of Clergy Sexual Abuse |
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Important information on the lifting of the Statute of Limitation regarding clergy sexual abuse...
Let it be known that for three years in the Episcopal Church there is no statute of limitation on clergy sexual abuse. Every diocese has a confidential way to make a report. In Europe here is ours:
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"Go forth for God; go to the world in peace; be of good courage, armed with heavenly grace, in God's good Spirit daily to increase, till in his kingdom we behold his face."
Hymn 347 - Holy Eucharist; Music: Litton
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The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe | 23 avenue George V, 75008 Paris, France
+33 (0) 1 53 23 84 06 | office@tec-europe.orgl | www.tec-europe.org
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