A rich Christmas Season indeed!

The Season was marked by a series of remarkable Services and celebrations.

 


Sunday Nov 18th, we were invited by RC Bishop Jean-Claude to join in an ecumenical Service called "Messe de la Paix" to celebrate the anniversary of the end of WWI.
Fr Robert Lloyd Richards represented the Caen Anglican Chaplaincy.







Sunday Dec 9th, we had the much appreciated Carol Service with the participation of our dear friends of St George's Choir led by Peter Hicks. Attendance reached more than 130 people!

It was also the first time we were privileged to welcome Fr Mark Osborne, the new Chaplain of St Georges' Paris. 



 


Sunday Dec 16th, the Peace Light of Bethlehem was brought to us by our Reader in training Yvonnic who represented us earlier in the afternoon at the Ecumenical celebration of the Reception of the Peace Light.





 And on Sunday Dec 23rd, we had our own Christmas celebration (slightly in advance) with a large Franco-English congregation gathering on the occasion.

 

Fr Douglas led the celebration assisted with our two Readers in training, Carol and Yvonnic.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

A great surprise visit!

For our Evensong today, we were privileged with a wonderful surprise: we had the visit of a group of students from Trinity Christian School,Hawaii, on their "Grand Tour in Europe".

The group had just visited the "Pointe du Hoc" (cliffs heroecally taken over by US Rangers on D-Day) and the Bayeux Tapestry on the same day.
They wished to worship on Sunday, found us on the internet and very kindly joined in, more than doubling our attendance number!

The group was led by Deacon Ben Moore from Christ the Foundation Anglican Church
in Hawaii, whom we asked to pronounce the "Go in the peace of Christ" at the end
of the Service.

Then, as a sign of fellowship, our Hawaiian friends sung the Doxology in their local language. A truly wonderful experience of the universal dimension of the Church!

Best wishes to our visitors on the continuation of their Tour.

Please keep us in your prayer as we keep you in ours. 

Watch more of our guests' visit to Normandy here.

Service of Thanksgiving

There is a French speaking group led by Yvonnic, our Reader in training, engaged in a path of study and meditation of the "Notre Père" prayer.

After the summer break, we wanted to resume our meetings with a Service of Thanksgiving for the gifts of Grace received and especially the birth of a new baby to a couple among us.

This was a wonderful Service overseen by Fr Douglas in which the family dimension of the Church was profoundly felt and experienced.

We meet about every month and have already planned to carry on with studying the Credo once we've gone through the "Notre Père"!

What is the Kingdom of God?

Listen to the answer given by different Christians

 from www.churchofengland.org

Ecumenical Vespers and Sung Eucharist

As now traditional, we had Sung Ecumenical Vespers at Abbaye aux Dames at the invitation of our Roman Catholic partners and friends on Saturday
with the always much appreciated participation of
St George's Choir led by Peter Hicks.

The following morning at La Miséricorde chapel 

the choir offered Sung Eucharist 

with Father Robert Lloyd Richards as celebrant. 

Père Laurent Berthout, Curate of Caen city centre Ste Trinité parish, an anglophone and anglophile, gave the sermon in English.

We have been privileged with excellent ecumenical relations with the Bayeux-Lisieux RC Diocese for a very long time, which has allowed the building of long lasting friendship and continuing dialogue and cooperation.

From left to right: Fr Robert Lloyd-Richards, Peter Hicks and St George's Choir, Père Laurent Berthout and Yvonnic, Reader in training.

Fr Matthew's last Service in Caen

Auld Lang Syne, Father Matthew

 

Last Sunday's Service was filled with emotion as the Chaplaincy bid farewell to Revd. Canon Matthew Harrison, who celebrated the Eucharist for the last time in Caen before returning shortly to the UK.

The traditional fellowship over tea after each Service was enhanced by champagne
and a delicious buffet prepared by the ladies to express
our profound gratitude to Father Matthew for his outstanding support
and dedication to our Chaplaincy over so many years.

All our best wishes accompany you, Matthew, as you pursue your life and Ministry.

Listen to Justin Welby's Pentecost message