Convocation Newsletter
(COVID-19 special edition #19)
September 11, 2020
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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 an extraordinary time... |
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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.
The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19)
O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule ourhearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Guest Preacher at Cathedral - "Mayor Pete" |
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Sunday, September 13th, at 11:15 a.m.
Mayor Pete Preaches (by video!)
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From the Cathedral...
We are very pleased and proud to announce that Mayor Pete Buttigieg will be the preacher at our 11:15 service on Sunday, September 13. Mayor Pete was a leading candidate this past year for the Democratic nomination for President, but he will not be speaking as a politician. Rather, he will be speaking as a national leader who is a committed Episcopalian, and one who is remarkably articulate about his faith. Episcopalians can be proud of him, no matter how similar or different our politics.
The American Cathedral in Paris is, of course, home to many Americans, but also to English-speaking people from around the world. The United States is not alone in being a place where there is enormous division, as well as fear, in the midst of the current health and economic crisis; it will be exciting for all of us to hear someone talk about his Christian faith at this time.
It’s Rentrée, normally a time of excitement and new beginnings, but this year is not normal. So – neither is our Rentrée preacher! Join us in church or on-line this Sunday to hear Mayor Pete’s response to the gospel.
You can join us on our Facebook page on Sunday, September 13th at 11:15 a.m. CEST for our service livestream, or watch the sermon afterwards (from 4 p.m. CEST) on our Facebook, YouTube or on our website.
Full links:
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Convocation Convention, October 22-24,
now to be held entirely online
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2020 Convention moves entirely online |
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The Bishop and the Council of Advice of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe met September 4-5, and determined that our 2020 Convention, which was scheduled as a "hybrid" event with the in-person part in Nice France, will be moved entirely online. This is due to the changing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and new travel restrictions being imposed by various European countries.
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The Bishop and Council thank the organizing committee at Holy Trinity Church in Nice for the countless hours of preparation put into this event. The Convocation looks forward, God willing, to being in Nice in October 2021 for our Annual Convention!
The convention website has all the latest information available.
Read the latest Council of Advice update here
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In 1989, the Eastern Orthodox Church, at the behest of the Ecumenical Patriarch, recognized September 1 as the Day of Prayer for Creation.
Today that has evolved into the Season of Creation, which starts on September 1 and ends on St. Francis Day, October 4. The Season of Creation is a global ecumenical celebration hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC). It is observed in many church traditions, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Methodists, the Reformed, and many others.
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Online Resources for the Season of Creation
For the Season of Creation 2020, leaders from the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church in Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada collaborated on a set of beautiful weekly devotionals.
In Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s words, “Liberating, life-giving God, help us to know that we and the world you have created are truly the work of your hands. Give us knowledge and wisdom to care for your handiwork now and for future generations. Amen.” Also available as double spread pages here.
Season Of Creation Website that includes the Season of Creation 2020 prayer, information on events and how to take action to celebrate the season, with ideas for an outdoor prayer service, Creation walk or pilgrimage, sustainability event, or preaching about creation throughout the Season.
Creation Care Resource Page: This Episcopal list provides resources on loving formation, liberating advocacy for environmental justice, and life-giivng conservation and sustainability efforts.
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Fr. Andrew Cooley bids farewell to St. James in Florence, Italy |
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If you cannot attend this celebration in person, you can join
the farewell event for Fr. Cooley via Zoom - Link Here
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Fr. Cooley retires after 35 years |
The Rev. Andrew Cooley will retire from active ministry in the church on September 30, 2020.
Fr. Cooley was ordained in the Diocese of Colorado in 1985 and continues his canonical residence in that diocese. He served in various parishes in Colorado for 25 years, until he began a new career as a trained interim minister.
Over the last ten years, he has skillfully helped parishes in transition to move to a place to call a permanent priest. His last assignment has been St. James in Florence, Italy, where he arrived on January 1, 2019. After 21 months, the vestry will call a new Priest in Charge in a few weeks time. His work at St. James has been highly valued by the parish, the bishop, and the convocation.
On October 1, Fr. Cooley will head to Tacoma, Washington, USA, where he will rejoin his wife Terri, and where they intend to settle. Terri left Florence in February for a visit to Tacoma, but was unable to return due to the pandemic. Their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter live in Tacoma.
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Digital Ministry Coordinator |
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Convocation welcomes Digital Ministry Coordinator |
Maleah Rios comes to us as a relatively new expatriate from Western North Carolina in the US. Before moving to Rome as the spouse of The Rev. Austin Rios at St. Paul's Within the Walls, she owned a small wine bar and retail shop, taught English literature and life skills to high schoolers, helped start an arthouse movie theatre, and co-founded a family business of making artisan chocolates. Confirmed in 2011 at the Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, Maleah's heart and soul are centered on helping The Episcopal Church find and welcome all those who practice their faith at the edges, drawing anyone and everyone toward the mystery and joy of being included in shared meals at shared tables.
As the new Digital Ministry Coordinator for the Convocation, Maleah's unofficial role of "convocation cheerleader" has now evolved to formally encourage and support the newly discovered tech leadership emerging in each of our parishes, missions, and ministries across Europe. Working closely with the CECE staff, Maleah will be helping our digital events run smoothly, reviewing our social media presence and website, as well as connecting techies with resources and one another. Your tech help requests and comments are always welcome: connect@tec-europe.org
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Upcoming Convocation Events |
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Sept. 12: CAECG (Online)
- October 15-18: TEC-ELKB dialogue - Augsburg, Germany
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- November 7-8: Consecration and Seating of the new Archbishop of Utrecht - Deventer NL
- November 27: COABICE in Paris
- May 28-29, 2021: Mission Fest in Augsburg, Germany
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Task Forces to Report to 2020 Convention |
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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 Nice.
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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Online Worship in the Convocation |
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Church of the Ascension
Munich, Germany
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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.
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Online and In-Person Worship opportunities may be found here
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Bishop Edington to speak at Cathedral Forum |
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We Shall Be Changed
Questions for the Post-Pandemic Church
Parish Hall and Zoom, 13 September, 10:30am
Over the summer, Bishop Edington edited a book with contributions from thought leaders across the church on the questions the church will face as a consequence of this season of pandemics—both COVID and racism. He’ll speak about the process of pulling the book together and the questions that are emerging to shape the world God is calling us to re-enter. You can read his preface to the volume here.
Please note the change of time for the Forum: this is to allow maximum participation as we move to two full services on Sunday morning, in an effort to allow more people to attend church in person safely.
Please email william.tompson@gmail.com if you need a Zoom invitation.
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A Prayer for Cities
Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the cities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Offered in remembrance of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania)
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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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Convocation Communications Committee |
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Trinité Magazine
Spring 2020 issue
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The Convocation Communications Committee (CCC) coordinates the communications of the Convocation. Special emphasis is 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 are getting a facelift.
Members are: Thomas Girty (Paris), chair; Felicity Handford, Marc Smets-Tolley (both Waterloo), Walter Baer (Paris), Audrey Shankles (Wiesbaden), Helena Mbele-Mbong (Geneva), Maleah Rios (Rome) and Ellen Hampton (Paris), ex-officio. Others are being added.
The Convocation is now also featured with four pages in the cathedral's semi-annual publication Trinité, covering Convocation events.
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Did you miss Church?
Check out an on-line sermon:
See Bishop Edington's August 16 here - here
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Other pulpits in the Convocation:
Check other congregational webpages
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See also:
The Bishop's Pastoral Message
from June 5 on YouTube - here
Read: Bishop Edington's op-ed
from June 10 in Le Monde - here
(French and the original English version - here)
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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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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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