August 2017 Issue 13

Northern European Cathedrals' Conference. June 2017

A report from Dean Michael Tavinor:

Every two years, clergy and staff from cathedrals across Europe meet to share insights. In 2015, the conference took place at Copenhagen - this year it was held at Braunschweig (Brunswick) in NW Germany. The conference was attended by delegates from: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland. The Dean attended, representing Hereford Cathedral. The theme was 'Cathedrals - Reformation and Re-Orientation' - and it was held in Germany as a reminder that 2017 sees the 500th anniversary of the 'start' of the Reformation by Martin Luther in 1517. We heard lectures from continental theologians and, as in all these conferences, the

informal links and conversations proved the most valuable.

FAN's NEWSLETTER Friends of the Hereford – Nuremberg Link

Wednesday 13th September 2017 at 7.30pm

St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow

Horrible Histories meets Monty Python in this new historical

comedy, written to mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s

Reformation. The talented three-person cast lead us through a

heady mix of indulgences and indignation, politics and purgatory,

saints and sinners, religion and revolution which helped to shape the

modern world – fuelled by the unstoppable social media of the day,

the all-new Printing Press.

Written by award winning James Cary, co-author of Miranda and

The God Particle, with music and lyrics by James Sherwood, A

Monk’s Tale will be launched at the Edinburgh Festival and will then

go on national tour.

This performance in St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow is being sponsored

by the Hereford-Nuremberg Partnership as part of this year’s

special Luther commemorations.

Tickets cost £12 and £10, and there are 50 concessionary tickets

available at £5 for young people aged 18 or under. They are available

from Ludlow Assembly Rooms Box Office on 01584 878141, or on-

line at: www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk

Kirchentag in Berlin - The General Assembly of Protestant

Churches in Germany

A report by Pfarrerin Brigitte Malik

At the end of May I was in Berlin, from the 24th to 28th. There was this big event that takes

place every other year. The theme was: You see me! God sees us - in four Bible readings

we explored this message.

For the quincentenary of the Reformation beginning in 1517, Berlin and Wittenberg were

chosen as the venues. 200,000 tickets were sold to people who planned to come for the

whole event or just a day. There were international visitors from more than 100 countries.

Most visitors found a place in a sleep-in in schools and churches and other public buildings.

When you have reached a certain age, you can apply for a bed in a private home, which I

did. More than 100,000 people could be hosted in families - I enjoyed a young Christian

family's hospitality, though there was not much time to spend with them as the programme

offered such a lot!

It began on Wednesday evening with three opening services: at the Brandenburg Gate, the

Reichstag and the Gendarmenmarkt. Fewer people than expected took part - it was just two

days after the Manchester attack. Obviously some people were a bit scared of huge crowds.

I went to the Reichstag open air service which was attended by about 40,000 people. After

the service Justin Welby brought greetings from the Church of England. In front of the

impressive buildings with the European and German flags at half mast to honour the victims

of the Manchester attack on Monday, Welby remembered the horrors of the two Mondays in

the Berlin Christmas Market and in Manchester. He underlined in whom we can trust,

quoting in German several times: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott - A mighty fortress is our God.

The next days were difficult: Where to go when there are 30 Bible Studies every morning

and more than 2,000 events going on these three days? Obviously you could not do

everything. Those who wanted to attend the discussion between Angela Merkel and Barack

Obama on Thursday 11 am were already queuing from 7 in the morning. Melinda Gates

talking about justice in the world attracted more people than the huge hall could hold.

Every day there were dozens of services in churches all over the town. Everybody was

deeply impressed by the public transport - every two minutes urban and underground trains

were going to each direction, so the stations were never crowded in spite of so many people

- including thousands of football fans streaming in for the last game of the German cup.

I went to listen to a musical my sister-in-law had produced with her choirs of children and

young people and I spent a lot of time as a steward at the stall of the Anglican-Lutheran

Society - which is always a lovely opportunity to get to know people and refresh friendships.

Someone gave me a tip about the service at which I could meet Colin Williams, former

Rector of Ludlow, now Archdeacon for Germany and Eastern and Northern Europe. It was

lovely to see him and hear about his ministry in Europe over an evening meal.

What is encouraging: Teenagers in their thousands give their time to work as stewards,

helping people to find their way. Young families with toddlers are around, youth groups find

their events and opportunities for worship, information and prayer. And, of course, as you

find it in the Protestant church: music everywhere.

That was Church at its best; not in a building, but visible all over the Capital.

https://www.kirchentag.de/english.html

https://www.kirchentag.de

Nürnberg Youth Trip July 2017

On the 8th July, a group of 6 went to Nürnberg for a week. We had been invited to join the youth

church for their community week. As part of this we camped in their youth church called Lux for the

week. The idea of the community week was that the young people camped in the church together at

night and went to work or school during the day. They had planned group activities for each evening,

from getting-to-know-you games to improvised drama. We were invited to join in with all of these as

much as we wanted, or were able to.

Our hosts, and Brigitte, had compiled a full schedule for us to get the most out of the trip. The first

full day we had there was a Sunday, and so we went to the Lorenzkirche in central Nürnberg to

experience a ‘normal’ Lutheran service. It was very interesting as, although it was obviously all in

German, it was a Eucharistic service, and so it was easier to follow whereabouts in the service we

were. Two things really struck me in the service. The first was that in Nürnberg, they sit down to sing

hymns and do not stand. The second was what happened after we had shared communion.

Communion was distributed with everyone standing in a circle gathered around the altar, and at the

end we held hands as a sign that we all belong here at the Lord’s table. At the end of the service, we

had an opportunity to look around the church, which was very beautiful.

In the evening of the Sunday, the community week at Lux began and we were formally welcomed to

the week. We had a welcome service, which as it was non-Eucharistic was harder to follow.

However, they helped us to find the right songs and all was well. The church has several worship

bands, made up of the young people, who took it in turns to lead worship in the evenings. Norbert,

the pastor, one of the other workers, or the young people would give a talk and lead prayers. It was

notable throughout the time that we were there that this was truly a youth led church. For instance,

they planned and organised the community week, from chores to activities and worship. This was

seen by Norbert as a key feature of the youth church; if the young people did not have near full

control then they could not be expected to feel ownership of it.

The group on their way to Germany. Pictured from left to right: Ed Hardyman, Jo Burden, Paul Bland,

Lizzie Hackney, Linda Cronin

On Monday we went to the Paul-Gerhardt Kirche in Langwasser to speak to the pastor. I was struck

by the importance of the Hereford-Nürnberg link for him. Although, he had not yet visited St

Lawrence’s in Ludlow (the specific church that they are linked with), there were many photos and

pictures of Ludlow. And even a room in the church hall named after Ludlow. The link is clearly

flourishing there, and they are looking forward to a couple of exchanges over the next few years. It

was at Paul-Gerhardt Kirche that we learnt in detail about the Confirmation classes that they run, as

well as how the church tax is used in the team in Langwasser. It was apparent that the church was a

hub for community work in the area, providing not just space and volunteers but also expertise. This

particularly tied into our visit the next day to the Stadtmission in Nürnberg itself.

I was again struck by how much the church does in the community in Nürnberg. Although the

majority of the work that the Stadtmission does is funded by the state, they nevertheless coordinate

and run a lot of work that here would be left to local councils or the NHS, for example, the work that

they do with the poor, the homeless, the elderly and addicts. There was a very strong element of

praxis, and a real emphasis on a distinctive deaconate, which does not appear to be as visible here in

the UK. Interestingly though, working as part of the Diakonie did not always seem to be a matter of

discerned calling. It was more an expression of the command to all Christians to love one another, as

might be expressed in the UK working in a secular school or charity. It was very interesting to talk

about this, as well as the work that they run for refugees, of whom there are about 2,000 in

Nürnberg.

In the afternoon on Tuesday we went to the University chaplaincy team, which happens to be on the

other side of the road from Lux. It was very different to my experiences of university chaplaincy

whilst at Durham or York. For starters in the UK, the chaplains are often very much part of the

university staff, to the extent that students would be advised to talk to the chaplain in times of

hardship, sorrow or stress. This was inconceivable to the staff at the chaplaincy. The separation

between faith and study seems to be far stricter there. The chaplaincy was also independently

funded by the diocese of Nürnberg, rather than a paid for post of any of the three universities in the

city. As a result it worked with students from each of these and had strong links with Lux. It too, like

much of the city, is carrying out refugee work.

Inside Lux Church

On Wednesday, we were taken on a tour of the former Nazi rally grounds. It was very interesting to

see, as, although it was more touristy, it is very much part of their history and culture. The legacy of

the events of the 1930s/1940s is still impacting upon them to this day. That is perhaps why the

university chaplain could not imagine being part of the university staff. We also went to

Sebalduskirche on Wednesday, which was interesting because it, like Coventry cathedral was

destroyed in the war. And yet although it was rebuilt as it had been, it also has pictures of the cross

of nails and makes much of the Coventry liturgy of reconciliation. This was very moving, as both our

nations are responsible for such senseless damage.

Our final day involved a trip to the Wilhelm Löhe Schule. It was interesting to see the schools work

carried out by the church, although it was very different to the Church of England primary schools

that I for one am familiar with. Nevertheless, it was fascinating. It is also rare in Germany as it

provides several different types of school on one site. This is part of the school’s ethos – valuing the

development of the children over their particular skills or abilities.

Overall, I am very grateful to you for allowing me to go on this trip, as we all are. It was a great

opportunity to develop younger links, and I believe that it is working, as I was invited back to join the

community week in Lux again next year. I feel very strongly that the link is vitally important for us

here in Hereford Diocese. It means that we can encourage one another and see new ways of doing

things that we might not have thought of before. It encourages friendships across national borders

at a time when such friendships are more important than they have been for a long time.

Most of these friendships develop by simply spending time together, whether having fun, or praying.

Some of the most beneficial times for developing links were when we were not taking part in the

planned activities. It gave us time to spend with the people there, and to find out more about each

other, such as whilst ice cream tasting in the city centre. A good balance of planned activities to

learn about how they do church in Nürnberg together with free time to socialise and build

friendships, as we had this time, is important for the development of these links. Conversations built

relationships, but there was little shared in terms of the political and cultural experiences of young

people in our respective counties.

s

Some of Lux Church enjoying an impromptu worship session.

Further trips might also benefit from work undertaken together. Although we spent a lot of time

with the young people and did some activities together, more focused work might build rapport

quicker. Contributing to the local community would build links in a broader way and would help to

get an “on the ground” view. However, this really needs improved language skills in order to be able

to get the most out of such an opportunity.

We have really enjoyed learning about the Church in Nürnberg, and we hope that we will be able to

learn more in the future. I pray that the link will continue to flourish for the next 30 years.

God Bless,

Ed Hardyman, Joanna Burden, Paul Bland, Lizzie Hackney and Linda Cronin

What’s it like working in the partner’s churches Rev Judy Dinnen and Pastor Brigitte Malik talk to the Diocesan Synod. July 2017.

Brigitte and I wanted to share our experiences in each other’s countries, in each other’s churches.

As part of our Diocesan link between Hereford and Nürnberg, Brigitte has spent over 3 years in

Ludlow, serving in the churches, homes, hospital and schools. I spent 3 months in south Bavaria

working in the Lutheran church there, as well as the schools and working with refugees.

I started by talking about the Eucharist, how I led both an Anglican

Eucharist and Lutheran services. I described how the congregation

forms a circle round the altar to receive the bread and wine and they

stay there until all have received and then the pastor says a prayer

before they return to their seats.

I spoke too, about some of the differences with the baptism service,

how the godparent holds the child, how the pastor blesses the parents and how the family lined up

and said prayers for the infant. For me it was a special ecumenical gesture as I, as an Anglican Priest,

was asked to baptise in a Lutheran church. I stressed that I had only been in the one group of

churches, so my experiences were not necessarily typical of the Lutheran church in the rest of

Germany. Brigitte agreed that the church I worked in, had a particularly spiritual and imaginative

pastor, Verena Fries. I showed my large wooden angel from the Christmas Market that I was given

and the star that symbolised so much about that town of stars, Hilpoltstein.

I described too how rigorous the confirmation preparation is, every Monday evening for a year plus

weekends and a summer camp. This I believe is common practice.

Brigitte talked about her three plus years in our Diocese, how she

has worked not just in the Ludlow parishes but also has been invited

to other parts of the Diocese, including the Cathedral. She has also

been invited into schools to talk about the Reformation. She shared

a little then about the inspiration of Martin Luther and his zeal in

relation to the nature of God’s grace, that it’s available for all and

doesn’t need to be earned. Brigitte has been asked to give a series of talks about the Reformation.

So this year, her fourth year with us, her emphasis is on the Reformation from a German

perspective. I commented that this is a welcome insight, as a contrast to the common view of the

Reformation in our country.

Both Brigitte and I wanted to share something of the ethos of the twinning group and its members;

how we are encouraging diverse links, not just schools and choirs but now also a new link between

German Landfrauen and the W.I. It has also been a concern of this group to promote understanding

and friendship and fresh ways of marking anniversaries of the last war. Bishop Michael Bourke, the

chair of our committee, has produced a book of writings, stories and poems from English and

German contributors, available for us to use in our remembrance services. Not surprisingly Brexit

came into the discussion and our repeated view that it is regrettable.

We could have said so much more but it was getting late and we had to close. Bishop Richard gave

special thanks to Brigitte for all that she has given to the Diocese. Brigitte and I found considerable

interest among the synod members, as we met informally on the way out of the meeting. One

woman didn’t share our regrets about Brexit! People spoke to us about other things that happen in

this Diocese and that we might be invited to be involved with.

we

Snippets of news

Course on Luther This will be at Shrewsbury RC Cathedral on Monday evenings from 11th September to 31st October.

Luther 500 Service This will be in Leominster Priory on 31st October at 7:30pm. Pfarrerin Stephanie Reuther will come over from Nuremberg to be the preacher.

School links Tristram Jenkins continues to work hard to persuade local secondary schools to make links with very keen secondary schools in Germany. There are several current possibilities.

West Hereford Team link with the Old Catholics A group from Hereford visited Nuremberg in mid-June.

Hilpoltstein-Madley As a follow-up to Rev Judy Dinnen’s time in Hilpoltstein last year Pfarrer Johannes Ammon will be visiting Hereford this year and hopes to bring a group for Pentecost next year.

Bishops’ visits Bishop Ark will visit Hereford, 21–23 October 2017. He will be in the Cathedral at the 10:00am Eucharist and at a 3:30pm Harvest Songs of Praise service on Sunday 22nd October. He will be accompanied by a group of 6 Landfrauen. It is hoped that these ladies will be able to link up with some WI members and make some farm visits. Bishop Richard and Kaye and Preb Brian and Liz Chave will visit Nuremberg, 29 October – 2 November 2017 for the Luther 500 commemoration including a special ecumenical service led by the Lutheran and Roman Catholic bishops .

Date of next newsletter

The next newsletter will be published after the committee meeting which is to be held on 4th October 2017.

The FAN's Newsletter (Friends of the Anglican Nuremberg link) is produced by the Hereford-

Nuremberg Link Committee of the Diocese of Hereford. It is only available by email but recipients

are encouraged to forward it or print it in order to increase circulation.

To join the mailing list, please send an email to the editor, Graham Bennett.

mailto:gbennett1001@gmail.com

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

The Chairman of the Committee is Bishop Michael Bourke.

Change of email address If you have been using my graham@archenfield.fsnet.co.uk email address please would you replace it with gbennett1001@gmail.com as Orange/EE are closing down their email service in May and the old address will no longer be active. Printing this Newsletter One FAN has quite rightly pointed out that while the blue background looks good on screen it does use a lot of ink if the newsletter is printed. I therefore include a link to a .docx (Word) version of the file. Although it still has the blue background when you look at it on the screen it does not print when you send it to the printer. Please go to this link and download the file if you wish. I distribute in .pdf format in order to be sure that formatting is preserved so the .docx might not look quite the same but should be almost the same.

http://tinyurl.com/ybl4eelq

For your prayers

Our Bishops Richard and Alastair and the Nuremberg Bishops Ark and Elizabeth.

Especially for the reciprocal visits in October.

Development of schools’ links

The Luther 500 Service in Leominster on October 31st

The worldwide Lutheran Church in this significant year; especially on October 31st.

The visit to Hereford by the Landfrauen

Follow up to the visit by the young people