Easter 2011 - St. Catherine's - Stuttgart

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CrossRoads – Easter 2011 No worldly windmill should be allowed to distract us from giving ourselves fully to the Passion, Sacrifice, Resurrection, Ascension, and Glorification of our Lord. When fully focused on these foundational things we find good reasons for doing what we do, … even those things which might otherwise look a bit “windmill-ish”. A case in point is the up-coming city-wide American Days festival. St. Catherine’s will once again sponsor two events, the Used English Book Sale/ Bake Sale, and the American-German Gospel Concert. Are these windmills We are not an “American Church,” so participating in American Days, could be questioned. We are not a bookstore nor library … but a church. We hardly ever use Gospel music in our own worship. I agree that superficially they could be seen as windmill-ish. So why do we do these events We do them, I hope, 1] to preach the Good News in a way that will catch the attention of people who do not normally hear our sermons and 2] to raise money to extend the Lord’s compassion far and wide. Many people in Stuttgart, even Englishspeaking people, do not know we exist. By participating in events with a large and visible impact in the city, we hope to show people that there is an Anglican Church in Stuttgart. People may come attracted by books or music, but if we do it right they end up learning about our church, meeting our community, hearing about our generous and loving Lord and possibly even deciding to join us in our life together. Any money we will make will be given to worthy causes. These events could become a windmill if we ignore the spiritual basis behind them; … or could be seen as Good News events when Christ is present in all we do. Our Christmas Bazaar, the MS Fundraiser, the Organ Project, Church Fellowship picnics, English Music Halls, Organ Concerts ... all these things can be seen as tools to bring grace to the world. So we press on beyond the four walls of the Church venturing out “chivalrously” into the world. … sometimes biting off more we can chew, sometimes dreaming an Impossible Dream, always guided by a hope that lives can be changed, souls can be saved, and that God and Humanity can be drawn closer together. If you ever see me, anxious, stressed out, or looking distracted by what seems to be a “windmill”, please remind me that I am not Don Quixote. Remind me to avoid jousting with windmills and to concentrate my energies on the many Gospel imperatives to be done. And don’t allow yourself to be drawn into windmill ministry either. It is so easy to get distracted by works, hobbies, travel, or the endless driving of children from one activity to the next. Keep the focus of Holy Week and Easter central to your understanding of what it means to be Christian, foundational to your personal faith. It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will give us the vision to recognize windmills for what they are … and to see beyond them to Jesus, the true goal of our life-long quest. In this issue KRD+ The Vicar writes … 1 Annual General Meeting 5 Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 2011 of St Catharine’s Church, Stuttgart ......................... 5 Introducing the new PCC 3 Alexander Schmalz........................................... 3 Laura Bernhart-Wong...................................... 4 Hazel D’Souza ................................................. 4 Brian Johnson................................................... 3 American Days 5 English Used Book / Bake Sale ......................... 7 Outreach 7 Dress for Less this Summer! ............................ 7 Organ Project 8 5C Art Exhibition ............................................ 8 Organ Blessing and Inaugural Concert........... 8 The Good Samaritan is alive and well. 9 Easter Greetings 9 St. Catherine’s Schedule 10 2
Crossroads – Easter 2011 Introducing the new PCC For those who don’t know our new council members and warden here is a little bit about them. (Previous editions of CrossRoads give you glimpses into the lives of other council members – see the website for back issues.) Alexander Schmalz Dear friends, It is an honor to me to work for God and his people in the position to which you have elected me. Let me tell you how I came to be member of St. Catherine’s Church in Stuttgart: It was a late night in October 2009 and I was desperate again. I was searching the Internet for a church where I would fit in. Since my return from England I was back at the Youth Church I had been part of before. It was great then, but I, or the Youth Church, had changed Let’s jump back right to the beginning. I was born and raised in Stuttgart. My parents are Christian and so I grew up in the Evangelical Church of Württemberg. Being quite musical, my mum introduced me to a big choir where I learned to sing Bach chorals. My teens went by with youth work at the YMCA and an apprenticeship in catering with ARAMARK. It was a job opening at a Radisson SAS Hotel, which finally brought me to London Stansted Airport, England. At the time, I was a committed Christian and had always lived in my comfortable Christian bubble. No nightclubs – I had my youth service, no drugs – I had my bicycle and music. I thought nothing could ever stop me. Then came many humbling steps. I was struck to realize, that many of my colleagues didn’t know Christ and that their lifestyle was very different to mine. We worked endless hours through nights and weekends. I went clubbing with them, had wild parties and spent evenings chatting together. Still, life felt shallow, like a dream you might wake up from anytime, something that wasn’t real or a nightmare. After a year I swapped jobs. I was hungry for knowledge and Sundays off to rest and go to church. Slowly I learned about different denominations and their approach to painting the same picture of Christ in different styles. I finally found this diverse Anglican Church “St. James the Great”. Going to different churches at the time, the pastor there would still welcome me very warmly every time. She would listen to my struggles and say things like: ”I can’t tell you where you belong – you will have to find out yourself. But I can tell you that I am extremely happy every time you come through these doors. They will always be open to you”. I found a house group and many friends in this church over the next three years. After four years in England, I went back to Stuttgart in 2008 to go to technical college. The Youth Church in Stuttgart had grown massively. Old friends would still recognize me, but were very busy. I felt lonely in the crowd – I couldn’t deal with the German aloofness, the cold. I decided to change. So this is how I got to this Saturday night in Oktober 2009. I learned that there is an Anglican Church in Stuttgart. The Service would be at 9 the next morning! Anyhow, I got there and was welcomed by Ken, lifting the backpack of my shoulder saying: “Let me take that burden off you!” I felt at home. I just wish that we all can find this sense of belonging to the body of Christ in St. Catherine’s Church. I wish that you and I can grow on the journey together and be a blessing to each other and those around us. Best regards, Brian Johnson Brian and his wife Cindy hail from Atlanta, Georgia and have a black Labrador retriever named Max. Brian and his wife have been in Stuttgart since April 2009 and have called St. Catherine’s home since they arrived. Alex Schmalz, Churchwarden 3
Page 1: CROSSROADS The newsletter of St Cat
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Easter 2011 - St. Catherine's - Stuttgart

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