February 2020
Convocation Newsletter
February 2020
A Newsletter for Members and Friends of the Convocation of
Episcopal Churches in Europe
Please direct any comments to news@tec-europe.org
Lent approaches....
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Ash Wednesday
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray with us in the  2020 Convocation Cycle of Prayer  -  available here
Convocation Statement regarding the COVID-19
(Coronavirus) outbreak...
To the clergy and lay leadership of the Convocation

The emergence of cases of COVID-19 (the “coronavirus”) in Europe, and recent deaths in northern Italy associated with the virus, should be a matter of concern to all of our communities.

We are writing to suggest some basic steps each of our communities can follow to minimize risks to all of our people and the ministries to which they contribute or by which they are served.

First, the best advice on precautions to take is provided on the website of the World Health Organization. Information is available in  English ,  French , and  Spanish .
We suggest that you summarize this information in communications to the membership of your communities, as well as in a form that is easily available to those attending worship or participating in events or ministries in your church.

The basic information to communicate is:

— Wash your hands frequently, using soap and water or an alcohol-based rub. All eucharistic ministers should use an alcohol-based rub before the distribution of the sacrament, whether in the context of the liturgy or in visiting someone at home or in the hospital. 

— Practice respiratory hygiene. Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing; discard tissues immediately in closed bins.

— Practice social distancing. In general, maintain a distance of a meter between you and others, particular those who are coughing, sneezing, or evidently ill.

— Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

— Any parishes involved in ministries in which food is served should give particular attention to The WHO recommendations regarding food safety.

— Needless to say, we should send a clear message that if anyone feels ill or unwell, they should, as a general rule, seek medical care immediately and not attend parish events.

— Related to this, if someone who is elderly or lives alone does not appear at church in what would otherwise be a regular function, create systems for wellness checks.

Finally, leaders of all Convocation organizations should take account of the increased potential of exposure to the virus arising from travel, and — at least for the time being — exercise a preference for  remote means of meeting whenever possible . The Convocation’s Zoom account is at your disposal for this purpose.

We will provide more information to you as developments warrant. 

Blessings and best wishes,

The Right Reverend Mark D. W. Edington
Bishop in Charge

The Reverend Christopher Easthill
President of the Council of Advice
Download a bulletin insert
regarding responding to COVID-19 HERE
Statement regarding the shootings in Hanau
"Eine Erklärung der deutschen Gemeinden der Episcopal Church zum Terroranschlag in Hanau"
Click on the above image to read the statement in German and English
Upcoming Convocation Events
Spring 2020

  • February 26: Ash Wednesday

  • March 7: Clergy Morning Prayer


  • March 12-14: CAECG Meeting, Hamburg, Germany


  • April 4: Clergy Morning Prayer

  • April 12: Easter Day

  • April 17-19: VOCARE Young Adults Weekend, Berlin, Germany

  • April 24-26: Clergy Spouses Retreat, Pallottihaus, Vienna, AT


  • May 2: Clergy Morning Prayer


  • May 7-10: TEC-ELKB Dialogue Meeting - Augsburg, Germany

  • May 16 - Finance Committee Meeting - Convocation Office


  • May 23-24: Visitation in St. James the Less Mission, Nuremberg, Germany

  • May 30: Visitation at Church of the Resurrection, Orvieto, Italy

  • May 31: Visitation at St. Paul's Within the Walls, Rome, Italy
  • June 1-5: Bishops Meeting: "Living our Vows"

  • June 8: Clergy Morning Prayer


  • June 21: Consecration of the new Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht

  • June 22-23: AOCICC Meeting, Prague Czechia


  • June 29 - July 2: Clericus

  • July 19: US Bishops visiting Convocation Parishes and Missions

  • July 22 - August 2: Lambeth Conference, Canterbury UK

Fall 2020


  • September 10-12: CAECG



  • October 22-25: 2020 Convocation Convention in Nice, France
Youth Ministry Events
YOUTH ACROSS EUROPE (YAE) EVENT - AGES 15-19
  • YAE TO JOIN THE 2020 EPISCOPAL YOUTH EVENT (EYE), JULY 5-12 IN COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND USA

YOUNG ADULT EVENT - AGES 20-29
  • APRIL 17 - 19: VOCARE WEEKEND RETREAT FOR YOUNG ADULTS NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY

JUNIORS ACROSS EUROPE (JAE) EVENT - AGES 10-14
  • JAE IN ROME: MAY 21-24

YOUTH LEADERS' RETREAT - ALL YOUTH LEADERS INVITED
  • Youth Leaders meet in Wiesbaden, Germany, October 9-11

For more information on these events and registration, please visit the Youth Ministry webpage HERE
Mission Fest - April 30 - May 3, 2020
Please Register Here
The closing Eucharist of the Mission Fest will be in the historic St. Anna's Church in Augsburg, which was Martin Luther's center of ministry during his time in Augsburg, and a historic Lutheran congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria.
GROWING TOGETHER IN FAITH
You  are invited to the Convocation’s Mission Congregation Festival! 

When :  April 30-May 3, 2020
What :  Sharing, learning, teaching, praying . Together we will discern how each of our mission congregations can grow in God’s love and prosper in this world.
Who : T he Committee on Mission Congregations will pay for your hotel rooms as well as meals on Friday and Saturday and breakfast on Sunday for up to  three delegates . You are responsible for the costs of travel as well as any additional delegates.
Where : Das Hotel am Alten Park, Froehlichstrasse 17,
86150 Augsburg, Germany.
How : Register  here !
Signups close on March 31.

SEE YOU IN AUGSBURG!
Academy for Parish Leadership
June 26-28, 2020
"Living Out the Holy: "
Engaged Spirituality for Concerned Christians
This edition of the Academy for Parish leadership will offer a range of speakers and resources on four topics at the center of the Convocation’s work and witness in the world:

  • Refugees and Migrant
  • Climate and Creation Care
  • Racism and Reconciling the Beloved Community
  • Youth and Children: The Church of Today

Participants in APL 2020 will have opportunities to explore more deeply a variety of these topics, and to benefit from the perspectives of speakers motivated by their faith commitments to engagement in activism and witness. We will explore both the spiritual underpinnings of that engagement and concrete, practical steps that we and our parishes can take to live out that commitment in 21st-century Europe.
New Ministry in Tbilisi Georgia
Tbilisi Ministry now a mission of the Episcopal Church in Europe
At the September meeting, the Bishop and the Council of Advice approved the recommendation of the Committee on Mission Congregations to invite St. Nino's mission in Tbilisi Georgia to be a specialized mission in the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe.

St. Nino's Mission was welcomed to the councils of the church in our Convocation Convention in Geneva in October.

Sacramental ministry and oversight is provided through monthly visits by Convocation priests under the leadership of the Rev. Sunny Hallanan , Rector of All Saints in Waterloo, Belgium.

Please keep this new ministry in your prayers.
Lay Worship Leader, Thoma Lipartiani, being presented to the Bishop by the Committee on Mission Congregations in Geneva during the Convention Eucharist.
The Rev. Sunny Hallanan in Tbilisi with Lay Worship Leader Thoma Lipartiani.
Convocation Communications Committee
At its Winter meeting the Council of Advice chartered the new Convocation Communications Committee (CCC), which had been established by the Bishop in the Fall 2019.

The role of the CCC will be to coordinate and enhance the communications capabilities and capacities of the Convocation. Special emphasis will be given to Social Media, and close coordination with the parishes and missions of the Convocation. Existing modes of communication such as newsletters and the website will also get a facelift.

Members are: Thomas Girty (Paris), chair; Felicity Handford, Marc Smets-Tolley (both Waterloo), Walter Baer (Paris), Audrey Shankles (Wiesbaden), and Ellen Hampton (Paris), ex-officio. Others are being added.

The Convocation will also now be featured with four pages in the cathedral's semi-annual publication Trinité, covering Convocation events.
Congregational Transitions
For more information our congregations in transition see: the Open Positions webpage

Christ the King, Frankfurt, Germany
The Rev. Edda Wolff completed her time as Interim on January 31. The Rev. Thomas Pellaton, former rector of the Church of the Ascension in Munich has returned to the Convocation to serve in Frankfurt as "bridge priest" for a few months. The application period for the "priest in charge" position has ended and candidate applications are being evaluated.

St. James, Florence, Italy
The Rev. Andrew Cooley continues as the Interim. The parish profile is complete and names are being received.

Ascension, Munich, Germany
The Rev. Allan Sandlin has been named long-term Priest in Charge.

Christ Church, Clermont-Ferrand, France
Services and programs are continuing with strong lay leadership and visiting clergy, the Rev. Mary Haddad and the Rev. Thomas Myers. The parish profile is complete and applications will be considered soon.

American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
The position of Canon Pastor is open. The Dean and search committee are evaluating applications. The Rev. Canon Shane Scott-Hamblen served as interim canon in January and February. Other guest clergy will follow in the coming months.
Sermons Online
Francophone Outreach...
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 :
Regarding Allegations of Clergy Sexual Abuse
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:
  Check out the latest edition of The Read Thread
Read the latest on what's going on in the wider church
and much more....
"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 
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