3 RIO DE JANEIRO 4 UTRECHT & AMERSFOOT 6 CAVALLINO 8 IZMIR 11 IBIZA 12 PROVENCE PRAISE 14 LEAVING ROTTERDAM
MISSION AND MINISTRY IN ENGLISH FOR EVERYONE
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IS S U E 65 NOV 16 - F EB 17
Rio
ICS NEWS
WELCOME
Welcome to ICS News. I write this to you having just read through the various articles that are going to make up the magazine this autumn. I particularly enjoyed reading Michael Selman’s account of his time in Izmir and find it encouraging that his experience of the city was the same as mine – a place of great opportunity. The other article that caught my imagination was from David Phillips and Grant Crowe in Utrecht and the church plant they have been involved with in Amersfoort. It has been my belief for many years that healthy things grow and healthy churches like Holy Trinity, Utrecht naturally plant out. There is much happening within ICS and hopefully through the magazine you will catch a glimpse of that but like the proverbial duck there is so much more happening below the water than on top as we continue to seek to resource mission and ministry in English in so many locations. There has been much change on the ICS Council with Thea Price, Sylvia Leyton, Dennis Sadler, Jim Duxbury and Bishop Julian Henderson standing down. At the same time, we are delighted to welcome new council members John Carter, Tim Wright and Chris Weller who all bring their unique gifts and expertise to the ministry. At the AGM we were delighted to make Dennis and Elizabeth Sadler and Michael Gear, Life Members. Their contribution to the work and the life of ICS has been immense and often takes place behind the scenes. It was a great opportunity to celebrate their service with them. It was with sadness that we also said goodbye to Viscount Brentford who has been a loyal President promoting and serving the ministry for many, many years. On my desk is a card that says ‘Change is difficult. Not changing is fatal.’ As you will read, the delight and the challenge of ICS is to embrace change and continually work out how we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to this generation through flexible structures, relevant ministries and a pioneering heart.
Richard Bromley Mission Director
Intercontinental Church Society Unit 11 Ensign Business Centre, Westwood Way, Westwood Business Park, Coventry, CV4 8JA telephone +44 (0) 24 7646 3940 email enquiries@ics-uk.org web www.ics-uk.org
Registered charity no: 1072584; a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales no: 3630342 Intercontinental Church Society (ICS) is an Anglican mission agency. Founded in 1823, we have worked in most parts of the world, ministering and reaching out to people from many nationalities and backgrounds. From the early days we have planted churches in mainland Europe where our work is still strong but also in and around the Mediterranean, North Africa, the South Atlantic and South America. English language ministry has a strategic part to play, alongside national churches, in outreach as increasing numbers for whom English is a second language, attend English-speaking churches. Design by Greyjones Studio • Printed by Swan Print 2
INTERCONTINENTAL CHURCH SOCIETY MAGAZINE | November 2016
Rio
DE JANEIRO
by Mark Simpson
Mark and Jess Simpson, together with Alex and Jane Cacouris, are a few months in to their work together as Chaplains of Christ Church, Rio. The Church has been going since 1819, in this new period in its life, Christ Church discerns its calling is to be the light of Christ in Rio, a light that draws English-speakers of every nation to him, and a light that shines with God’s peace to transform this marvellous city. As I write, Brazil have just won their first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games! Rafaela Silva won the women’s 57kg Judo. And what a story! Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro’s notorious neighbourhood Cidade de Deus, or City of God, she has suffered racial abuse on the national stage on top of the violence of her local community. We spent our first six months in Brazil on placement in the City of God, under the wonderful Revd Nicholas Wheeler. Nicholas loved and laboured there for seven years as Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Christ the King. He taught us to understand what life looks like from the perspective of those who spend much of their lives being done to, powerfully re-reading the Bible’s great narratives of freedom in a context of violence and poverty. Yet he did not seek to excuse individuals where they had entrapped themselves, instead leading them to find mercy in Christ. In the City of God, we held dear the two psalms that mention this. Our daily readings had us read both the day after Rafaela’s victory. Our praying community in the Christ Church, Rio vicarage follows ‘Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals’ (oh yes), which gave us Psalm 46: ‘There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High’. And Common Worship Morning Prayer had us read Psalm 87: ‘Glorious things are spoken of you, Zion, city of our God’. The common theme: There is hope for the City of God! There is of course a danger of finding the Rio 2016 strap line, Um Mundo Novo (A New World), rather trite, rather vacuous. But in a city where nearly half of us are Roman Catholic and over a quarter are Evangelicals, let it inspire us to hope. Let it remind us of the Bible’s final vision, a city coming down out of heaven, God’s kingdom come, here on earth. Let the Church work for peace to overcome violence, and bravely tackle the systems and the sin that would bring us down. A bit like Rafaela.
Mark, Jess and Nicholas Wheeler 3
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planting and replanting churches in the centre of the netherlands
The Anglican chaplaincy in Utrecht has been doing some serious gardening this past year! We have a small church building in Utrecht and for the last few years had the ‘problem’ of bursting at the seams. Our church can fit 90 to 100 comfortably but we often had 130 and many more for major services, and even with adding three early morning services per month (and many chairs) we were finding ourselves overfull. A large number of the congregation were from Amersfoort, about a 20-minute drive, so after prayer and reflection on all the possibilities we concluded we were being called by God to plant a church in that city. How many would go? What about friendships and pastoral relationships built up over the years? What would it be like for those remaining in Utrecht, especially for the Sunday School, with many children from Amersfoort? What about language of worship? What about our ecumenical relations? Could we afford and sustain two full-time chaplains and two church buildings? We are now nine months into the church plant in Amersfoort and the ‘replant’ in Utrecht so it is time for an update. All Saints Anglican Church, Amersfoort began on 20 December 2015, a new Anglican church in the geographical centre of the Netherlands. It was born through the blessing of the Lord. There was prayerful reflection and strategic thinking by Holy Trinity, Utrecht followed by sacrificial giving in terms of giving money and people to the project. And now, in September 2016, there is a new congregation averaging 50-70 adults and 20 children. We have so many things to be thankful for to the Lord. Luke 5 talks of the Lord asking Simon and the others to let down their nets in an area they had worked hard and they were (reluctantly!) obedient, and the rest we know. Often we never know what the Lord has planned until we take those steps of faith!
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...we are all saints, through the cross of Christ. And the call to be, in our daily lives, to live as saints—as holy ones, where we live and work...
It has been a great learning curve. The simple things which you take for granted as part of an existing church life, but in a new church, many ministries need to be started afresh. For example, we needed eight Sunday School teachers and at one stage we only had three, but after requests from the front, and prayer by people inside and outside the church, the Lord provided. Our new ministert, the Revd Grant Crowe, moved from England, with his family last November and he was formally licensed in March this year. It was a great service, noted also for the number of local ministers and preachers who made a point of attending in support, apart from the Anglican chapter. And we hope, as All Saints was blessed and encouraged by those local churches, All Saints can be a blessing to our fellow parts of the Body of Christ, and bring blessing to the city in which we are located. One question we faced was, what name to give this new church that would speak to Dutch and international Christians living in and near Amersfoort. We settled on All Saints– so that regardless of background, spirituality, age, or whether someone is Anglican, Baptist or Reformed or other, we are all saints, united. And how we are all saints, through the cross of Christ. And the call to be, in our daily lives, to live as saints—as holy ones, where we live and work… We rent a Roman Catholic church building in the south of Amersfoort. It has been a great home for us to use and to move from being a baby church into a toddler… Unfortunately, that church building has been sold, and next year, after Easter, we will be homeless. We would ask your prayers for a new home— trusting as the Lord began a good work, he will carry it on in Amersfoort.
Grant reflects on his first year: ‘It is a privilege to be involved in such a stage. To see people excited—a word often used in conversation— about being part of a new church starting, excited about what is going to happen… As the chaplain primarily responsible, I am thankful for being called here to serve and to be a part of this community of ‘saints’ and we look forward to what God has planned for us in the coming months and years.’ At Holy Trinity Church in Utrecht we experienced the shock of not having an overfull or even a full church, a change in the volume of singing, a lessening of overall energy. Our main Sunday Service now has 70 to 90 but new people have come to both churches. Since starting the new church in Amersfoort the total numbers worshipping between the two churches on a Sunday has grown by about 25%. Practical changes: a change in service times to encourage more to come for fellowship after services and new people have become involved in the many tasks and ministries in the church that have opened up; and we will need to decide if the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday early services will continue. With fewer people attending, our focus on ministry to the many university students in Utrecht has come more to the forefront. As well, greater attention can be given to newcomers. The replanted Utrecht congregation met for an Away Day last June to reflect together and brainstorm on five aspects of being church together—teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers (from Acts 2:42)—in the context of considering our mission to the world. The results of that day will help guide the Council in the coming years. We’re also enjoying new opportunities offered by having two Anglican churches in the neighbourhood, participating in each other’s worship, fellowship and educational initiatives. After a summer of rest, we are excited about the new possibilities opening up before us. We are grateful for your prayers as we enter this new phase of being church here.
by David Phillips, Chaplain, Holy Trinity Utrecht and Grant Crowe, Assistant Amersfoort
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OPEN DOOR FOR ICS IN
! o n i l l a v a C by Patrick Wheaton
Four years ago we went as a family to undertake a seasonal chaplaincy in St. John de Monts. I remember reporting afterwards that ICS could probably use its resources better elsewhere. So it might seem surprising that we undertook another in August 2016. Two things precipitated this; first, the children describe the French adventure as ‘the best holiday ever’; second, Cavallino was an entirely different proposition. And with a church building on site, ministry in a single location, and recognised position as part of the campsite team so in many ways it proved to be. Sunday services were decently attended with an average of twenty-eight, and I think this was similar over much of the season. We actually had a majority of Brits in attendance, which is not always
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the case. Non-English speakers came seeking out communion, and there was great encouragement in sharing the Lord’s Supper as the only common means of communication. In regard to the Brits, one Methodist couple stand out. They were older and holidaying with their children and grandchildren. It is fair to say campsite life was not to their taste and so church was both a refuge and a strength, as well as a taste of home. We caught up with them, and their family, around the site and it felt like parish ministry in a different location. Having read the reports from previous chaplains regarding mid-week ministry, and this being our first visit, I decided to keep it simple. We opened the church on market nights in the central square and sought to engage visitors in conversation. Otherwise I put on my chaplain’s badge and wandered the site either intentionally on my own, or informally when with the family. The former engaged staff more than holidaymakers. Most greet you with a smile, and many tell you a story of a previous chaplain from the season or even previous years. I believe there is acceptance and encouragement drawn from having a chaplain as part of the team. With my family I found personal conversations a little more forthcoming.
the conversation ended and they made their excuses. Not everybody wants to consider the spiritual aspects of life on holiday. My son and I chatted to a German family when preparing for the Olympic fun run. I got to talk a little about my role. At the end of the run the sevenyear old girl in the family had got separated and lost. Amongst a campsite of 11,000 she recognised my face as the one to ask for help. It would be false to present our time in Cavallino as an evangelistic mission. However, returning chaplains who are familiar with the site have developed more creative methods for taking this on. As first-timers I think our contribution was mostly pastoral. I preached on Mark 6 the first Sunday back in England. Jesus saw sheep without a shepherd and Cavallino puts 11,000 of them in one place with an open door for ICS to be active each year. My report this time round will say something quite different.
A few incidents will stay with me in memory. On the first day we met an English family returning to the site from a previous year. They knew nothing of there being a church and chaplain but clearly found it somewhat strange that the campsite would think to have one. Standing by a children’s playground I chatted to another set of parents as our children played. On telling them I was the chaplain,
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K Y R I E eleisons During July and August, Michael and Jo Selman were locums at St. John’s, Izmir, the church ICS is partnering in the appointment of a new chaplain. Locum ministry is always rewarding, often challenging and sometimes surprising. ‘Never a dull moment in Turkey’, texted one of our sons on the morning after the attempted coup in July; but that was only one of the interesting events we experienced for the first time. In forty-three years of ministry, I have never before experienced a young woman coming into the church, and saying that she had to because a friend of hers had had a dream about her, in which she came and lit a candle in a church. This had to be a green candle, and we hadn’t got one of those, so she said she would buy one and come another day. Nor have I previously been asked for permission to bring into church the body of a woman who had just died, so the family could have a time of prayer. Then we discovered, when they arrived two hours later, that they were from a Georgian Orthodox background and scarcely spoke any English (or Turkish, for we had asked a Turkish-speaking minister to help.) So I improvised some prayers from the Funeral Service, adding some ‘Kyrie Eleisons’! Izmir (Smyrna) was one of the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation. Christian worship has continued in the city; the first Anglican chaplain was appointed in 1636. St. John’s Church was consecrated in 1902. The congregation at St. John’s is not large and during the hot summer it is depleted. But they were an interesting multi-national group, who showed a real commitment and prayerfulness. There could be up to eight different nationalities present. Holy Communion was celebrated each Sunday in English, though the Gospel was also read in Turkish. Most weeks, music was provided by young worship leaders from one of the Turkish evangelical churches in the city—a typical piece of Turkish generosity.
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We joined the Tuesday morning prayer meeting of the lsık Kilisesi (Lighthouse Church) a Turkishlanguage international church which shares the church building. In turn some of their members joined our weekly Evening Prayer. At these, prayers were spoken in English and Turkish. We also led a weekly Bible Study on St. John’s Gospel. The group was a joy, with members from six countries, including refugees from Iran. We baptised two children, one from an Iranian family, the other from a Turkish-Kenyan couple; also another Iranian woman, who had come to faith. (Turkey provides hospitality for over 2 million refugees from the Middle East.) Another experience was spending a day with an English/Turkish prayer group that meets near Ephesus, they asked us to talk to them about prayer and spiritual direction. It was a lively, Spiritfilled group who asked many questions. It was moving to hear from two women who had become Christians as a result of dreams about Jesus: something we had only heard about, third hand before. It is clearly a not uncommon event, which is exciting. St. John’s is ideally placed: it is a prominent building, very obviously a church, at the meeting point of three boulevards and opposite the busy Alsancak station. Every time the church is open, passers-by come in. An unexpected surprise for us was an evening of prayer and praise in St. John’s, led by Graham Kendrick, who had been invited by some local churches to conduct a weekend for worship leaders. It was great to join in some ‘golden oldies’. His songs are very popular with Turkish Christians, particularly Shine, Jesus, Shine which was sung twice, in a mixture of Turkish and English, with great enthusiasm. We have left some good friends in Izmir, and pray for the guidance and blessing of the Holy Spirit on the appointment of their new chaplain. Michael and Jo Selman 9
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DEVOTIONAL
REMAIN IN ME JOHN 15:4
Jesus said, ‘Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.’ ‘Perfect for young photographers, this durable smartwatch has more memory so kids can take tons of pictures and videos.’ So reads the packaging around the watch I bought my son for his birthday. A day after wearing it and taking tons of photos and videos he came running enthusiastically up to me saying, ‘Daddy! Daddy! my watch can tell the time as well!’ My son is growing up in a generation where technology is integrated in ways that just weren’t possible before now. Technology is valuable as it enables us, for instance, to connect with people across the world. But, as Shery Turkle1 reminds us, we can be connected, but alone. Longing for relationship and being connected is part of what makes us human. But take any train or go to any café or dinner table and you’ll probably see people connecting, though not necessarily with the people they’re with.
also where the pruning takes place—in the presence of God and his people. Tom Wright says that ‘the vine-dresser is never closer to the vine, taking more thought over its longterm health and productivity, than when he has the knife in his hand(!)’. Assuringly though, it’s all for the good as we realise that our life in Christ is a shared life and aimed at fruitfulness. Pruned yes, but also knowing the joy of being connected and not alone.
James Hill Assistant Chaplain Christ Church City Centre
Jesus holds out for us a radical, comforting and yet deeply challenging image of connection with the vine and branches. It’s not an image I see every day in Amsterdam but like many cultivated fruit-bearing plants, grape vines have a cycle of growing, pruning and harvesting. This cycle has a purpose, it is for producing fruit. But, according to Jesus, it doesn’t produce fruit without at least two things: the branch’s connection/remaining in the Vine and the inevitable pruning from the Father. Connecting with God and his people through worship, prayer, meditation, Bible reading, small groups and socialising are all vital for God’s life to flow in us and through us. Especially when many of us live so far apart. Disturbingly though, this is
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1
Her Ted Talk makes for challenging and important viewing on the subject of technology and connecting: www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together
INTERCONTINENTAL CHURCH SOCIETY MAGAZINE | November 2016
by Herrick and Judy Daniel
INCIDENTS THAT LEAD TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVANGELISM Having accepted the challenge from ICS to go on a mission to carry ministry for Englishspeaking people in Ibiza in August 2016, the first thing that greeted my wife Judy and I as we left the plane was the hot weather. We were met by Sarah, the link person for ICS, who drove us to our apartment—through a village called ‘Jesus’—pronounced ‘Hay-zus’. This unusual name was in evidence on several street signs and could not escape my attention. Curiosity drove me to make some enquiries into the background of the village. It is located in a suburb area, approximately one and a quarter miles from the town of Ibiza. I discovered that the village was named after its church ‘Nostra Maria de Jesus’. The church has a fascinating history having been founded in 1466, was taken over mysteriously by the Franciscans who seem to have occupied it for only five years (1493-1498). History shows that the Dominican Monks dwelt there for seven years (1580-1587), and eventually moved to Dalt Vila. The church miraculously survived the traumatic period of the civil war, and has been regarded as the most precious treasure amongst the churches in Ibiza because of its inner objects. Each time we drove through the village, its name reminded us of our mission in the island. During the very first week we were there, unfortunately, a little boy from England almost drowned, so I went to the El Pinar hotel where the parents were staying to offer help, support and prayer. Talking to the receptionist about the incident then led to a conversation about ICS and the church in Cala Llonga.
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She revealed to me that her father-in-law had made the cross in the open-air chapel in Cala Llonga, and that people in the village would welcome a service there. I took the opportunity to evangelise to her, which resulted in me establishing an evening service there. This service had a good attendance throughout the period that we were there, and included us forming a small choir. There were several other instances which opened doors for evangelism. We had opportunity to speak with, encourage and pray with many people in many different places we visited. These included, beaches, bars, restaurants, boats, campsites, shops and primarily in the two churches where we encouraged people to gather for worship. We thank God for seeds planted, and for His love, grace, and mercy in our mission to the English-speaking people in Ibiza. During my time there, I even appeared on television once and in the Ibizan newspaper twice; publicity brought about by God’s grace and as a result of prayer support and encouragement. Thank you to all who supported us in many and various ways. The day before I left Ibiza I had a vision of a cross while I was in my apartment early in the morning. It reminded me of the chorus ‘At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.’ This combined with Hebrews 12:2 seems to summarise our mission in Ibiza; ‘Looking to Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’ We thank God for the seeds of faith and hope planted in the hearts of the people we met, and pray that in time to come they will germinate, grow, and bear fruit through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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This year a new venture—Provence Praise—was birthed at the 2015 ICS Chaplain’s Conference when Bob Hurley, chaplain in Grenoble, felt God telling him to hold a New Wine-type event in France. He prayed that if it was right, John and Anne Coles (New Wine), who were our speakers at the conference, would sit opposite him at the next meal. You can guess what happened! For a fuller account, see Richard Bromley’s interview with Bob in ICS News March 2016. As Bob said: ‘Anyone who fancies hanging out with Jesus in the South of France is welcome to come’. There was a wonderful atmosphere throughout the week as sixty adults and twelve children from several chaplaincies in France, and some from the UK, pioneered this new event in the Var. David and Angela Marshall (Assistant Chaplains at Condom, Aquitaine and Angela is Vice-chair of ICS Council) together with Alan and Val Golton (Alan is Assistant Chaplain at Grenoble) tell us about the week.
‘Where can you combine the glorious light, scents and warmth of the Midi, with warm fellowship, Christian teaching, lively worship, and Bob’s ‘deal of the day’? At Provence Praise, of course! Too hot for you, even under shady trees? Not where we met, in the subterranean, black-tiled, former disco of the Les Cadenières campsite in the Var!’
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‘Ready for anything?’ This was the theme for the week; with Bob at the helm it was an appropriate choice (!). It was developed through excellent talks and seminars by John and Ann Coles, Dr Craig and Anne Smith (Bible teachers from Canada) and children’s ministry leaders, Robert and Caireen Warren from the Episcopal chaplaincy at Clermont-Ferrand. We met each morning beginning with worship led by Matt Hurley and a group from his church in Swanage followed by teaching on our theme. Seminars were held after coffee. Evening meetings began with worship and looking at Ezekiel 47: 1-12 with John and Anne. ‘The appropriateness of Craig and Anne’s theme was brought home to us by the attack on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, on Thursday, 14 July. Bob and Jane were in Nice (to fly early next day to their son’s graduation) and thankfully were safe, but our hearts went out to the many bereaved and injured. Friday’s seminar time became a prayer meeting, as the most appropriate response to this tragedy for France.’ So, what about the camping? Sitting on the terrace of our cabin with a glass of chilled rosé listening to the cicadas and watching the sun go down, Shepton Mallet seemed a long way away… The setting of the campsite is beautiful with an area to bring your own tent or you can hire one of the many sized and priced cabins or mobile homes, all on tree-lined terraces. You could even hire an air-conditioning unit!
‘The facilities of the campsite: the bar, the restaurant, the swimming pool and the optional events of ‘Moules Frites and a Paella evening’, were enjoyed by most of us. However, Bob, assisted by Ben Harding (Chaplain at Lyon), also organised some excellent fun events just for us: a lunch at a restaurant, followed by wine-tasting at a nearby vineyard; picnics in the park at Villecroze and at Lac de Ste Croix, near the Gorges du Verdon; a visit to the Mediterranean coast at St. Maxime. All according to our inclinations and circumstances, with a quiet siesta as another possibility!
Fellowship and networking A highlight for us was the fellowship and sense of unity. It is easy to feel isolated in our different far-flung chaplaincies and this is a wonderful opportunity to receive teaching and encouragement and worship together. 2017 Pray for Bob and Ben as they plan next year, there are lots of possibilities for developing Provence Praise. The underground meeting room was perfect as a cool space to meet but it has limited capacity and we know that a lot more folk will want to come next year so there will be two weeks to choose. See the back page of this magazine.
‘We believe a holiday like ours brings much blessing, and we strongly commend it to all ICS chaplaincy members, their friends and families!’ ‘I didn’t know anyone, but I have been made so welcome by everyone!’
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51°55′N 4°30′E
SOUTH HOL L AN D I write this in August, as I sit amongst packing cases and leaving gifts, cherished memories are invoked of the four busiest and demanding, yet most blessed and fulfilling years of my thirty years’ ministry. On 29 September I will be instituted as Rector of Greyfriars Kirkcudbright and St. Mary’s Gatehouse of Fleet in the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway. At the outset I have to express my deep gratitude to Richard Bromley and everyone in ICS for their prayers, encouragement, and the lively conferences over four years. A big tough place and a seafarer’s living room Twelve years as an Industrial Chaplain in Sunderland in some ways helped me prepare for the tough job as Port Chaplain to Rotterdam with the Mission to Seafarers (MtS), and parttime Priest-in-Charge of St. Mary’s, Rotterdam. But nothing could have prepared me for the sheer size of the place and how overwhelming at times the circumstances. Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, third largest in the world. To put that in context, the UK’s biggest port is Felixstowe, with some 13,000 ship movements per year. Rotterdam has 133,000 such per year!
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Harsh rules and how to get around them One of the hardest parts of the job has been the extremely strict local interpretation of ISPS (international security) rules. Rotterdam is one of the most stringent ports in the world and there is sadly too a Dutch secularism which takes a dim view of a vicar wandering around a busy dock-side. International maritime laws allow recognised chaplains to board ships and crews to leave ships for rest and recuperation ashore. However, the wee man at the security gate who last week worked for the local supermarket and this week has a uniform and a hut and a John Wayne swagger does not necessarily feel that UN registered laws apply to him. This is hard work but we get there. Indeed, we have increased ship visiting from about 8 ships per month to 80! One of my heroes is Brother Andrew the Dutchman known as ‘God’s Smuggler’, who brought bibles into Communist Eastern Europe in the 50’s and 60’s. He once said that he would never lie, but he would pray hard to God that he would not have to tell the truth! I operate on roughly the same principle. When I had paperwork cleared to visit one ship, I just went ahead and visited the other ships alongside. In theory only the captain can throw
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you off! It never actually happened, but one day I climbed EIGHT outside ladders to speak to my ‘parishioners’. What greeted me at the top was a large scowling Ukrainian chief mate whose only vocabulary was ‘njet’ (no!). I had thought of sharing with him the Bishop of Europe’s Five Points of Mission but thought that might land me back down the short way! Instead I simply said ‘Mission to Seafarers’. He smiled, well kind-of, and let me on board with my bibles and telephone cards. He knew the ‘Mission’ was something that made the men, well, happy. Identity is important.
luck, told the officers I had just dined with the Norwegian Ambassador to The Hague (partly true, but it was me and about 100 others) and she would love to hear all about it. Now the officer concerned did not want to be responsible for having Norway kicked out of the UN for human rights abuses, so the cook got his stockings! I have also been known to take on the mighty Port of Rotterdam and won, they have donated thousands of euros whereas before nothing was contributed. I also helped set up a welfare committee which refers to the mission for welfare and justice issues.
Santa Clause and the Norwegian connection Praying on board Maybe in my dotage I will write a book on this, it certainly is entertaining yet salutary. I make no apology. The first seafarers’ chaplain was that fellow who looked after the fishermen on Galilee—yes Him. Much of the Gospels are narrative in the form of human interest stories. The severe strictness of Rotterdam was brought home to me when I went around the port giving out Christmas boxes to the crews who would be stuck there over the holiday. As always, they contained woollen hats knitted by arthritic old ladies, many of them from my home church of Sunderland Minster. These presents HAD to be delivered. A large unsmiling ‘lady’ security guard would not let me through to the nearby ship. Maybe she was miffed at having to work Christmas eve, or maybe I put a comma wrong in the paperwork, but she would not let me on board. She queried my identification. This was a laugh—I was dressed head to foot as Father Christmas! She said the papers said ‘Father Stephen’ so eventually I agreed to give my home address. As I was writing the words ‘North Pole’ the captain came to the rescue and I gained access. Another more recent incident reminded me that intractable attitudes don’t just exist on vessels with national security restrictions such as Russian and Saudi Arabian flagged ships. A squeaky clean Norwegian vessel would not allow their 60 years old Filipino cook off to purchase stockings. I had best explain he needed surgical stockings for severe varicose veins, but he worked 7 to 7 and no, he was not allowed to go to the chemist or doctor to have them fitted. So, yours truly, pushing his 15
One of the most exciting things I undertake is to stand on the deck of a ship, or in the crewroom, and bless her on a maiden voyage or after extensive repairs. I blessed one such ship with not much cooperation from a taciturn Bristolian captain who did not believe in such nonsense but the crew persuaded him. A few weeks out at sea an American ship in front of her sank in the so called Bermuda Triangle with the loss of all thirty crew. He wrote a salutary email to me recalling the words of St. Mark 4: 41 ‘Even the winds and waves obey Him’. The very words I had used in the ship’s blessing. A happy marriage The relationship between MtS and St. Mary’s, Rotterdam is excellent and I am pastor of both. St. Mary’s has existed with a maritime connection since 1635, and many of our thirty-five volunteers are from the church. In my farewell sermon I said that if a martian spaceship were to land outside St. Mary’s and the wee martian captain were to say ‘take me to your mission’, you would bring them to the Seafarers’. MtS will be recruiting a full-time chaplain for the port ministry. S/he will work closely with the Priest-in-Charge of St. Mary’s. I am really sad to be going. I am chuffed that I may be replaced by one and a half people; but this alone will mean a far better job will be done. Mission accomplished! Stephen D. Hazlett
INTERCONTINENTAL CHURCH SOCIETY MAGAZINE | November 2016
is an English-speaking Christian holiday experience to connect with God in a friendly and relaxed environment. Week A 1-8 July 2017 Week B 8-15 July 2017 Set in a pine forest in a beautiful area of southern France called The Var you will have the chance to recharge your batteries, make new friends, and experience God. There are inspiring talks, dynamic worship, and opportunities for ministry. www.provencepraise.com Booking is now open!
PRAYER MEETINGS Cambridge Wednesday 23 November at 7 pm Impington Church Hall, Histon CB24 9JE Contact Dennis Sadler 01223 232 194
Northern Ireland 74 Demesne Road, Seaforde, Ballynahinch, BT24 8NS Contact John Dinnen 028 44 811 148
Cheltenham Contact Audrey Martin-Doyle 01242 510 352
South East Thursday 10 November, 8 December, 12 January, 9 February at 10 am The Rectory, Cock Lane, Hamstreet, Kent TN26 2HU Contact Rod Whateley 01233 732 274
Edinburgh Wednesday 7 December at 10.45 am 10 Kirkhill Terrace, Edinburgh EH16 5DQ Contact Chris Martin 0131 668 4071 revchris.martin45@gmail.com Keighley Thursday 3 November at 10.30 am 42 Hollins Lane, Keighley, BD20 6LT Contact Michael Savage 01535 606 790 Norfolk The Vicarage, 37 Church Road, Tilney St Lawrence, Kings Lynn PE34 4QQ Contact Martin Dale 01945 880 259 North Birmingham Thursday 1 December at 7.30 pm 12 Trinity Close, Shenstone, WS14 0NU Contact Tim Cox at timcox45@yahoo.com
Warwick Thursday 10 November at 7.30 pm 11 Verden Avenue, Chase Meadow, Warwick CV34 6RX Contact Anna Hopkins 07745 223 580 The Wirral Monday 21 November at 7.30 pm 11 Stanford Ave, Wallesey CH45 5AP Contact Peter Jordan 0151 639 7860 Worthing Wednesday 9 November at 2.30 pm Ramsay Hall BN11 3HN Contact ICS office 024 7646 3940 If you would like to start up an ICS prayer meeting in your region, get in touch with Jeannette at ajspaanderman@ics-uk.org and we will help organise this for you.
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Exeter Tuesday 6 December at 11am 8 Hanover Gardens, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1XA Contact John Philpott 01395 225 044