A new group for men is starting up. Hosted by our Chaplain Donald, it will meet in his and Netta's apartment for the first time on Saturday May 24th, 10.00-11.30am. Come and enjoy fine coffee and croissants, together with relaxed conversation about life and faith, and the particular challenges men are facing in today’s world. It’s a group, not a clique, and is open to all men. Whether or not you attend St Luke’s on Sundays, you’ll be welcomed. For catering purposes please drop Donald an email (chaplain.stlukesfontainebleau@gmail.com) to let him know you’re coming.
Our charity organisation "Les Amis de l'Eglise Anglicane de Fontainebleau" is hosting a Cheese & Wine Evening tasting on Saturday 17 May 2025, 6-9pm in Arbonne la Forêt. Reservations are first come first serve, see all the details in the attached leaflet - don't miss this fun and convivial event!Contact: lisa.taylor405@wanadoo.fr
Reflections from Bishop Robert attending the funeral of Pope Francis“We said farewell to a great pope, an inspirational leader of Christians throughout the world and an exemplary disciple of Jesus Christ. Many members of the Catholic church told us how grateful they were for the presence and support of ecumenical friends and guests. For me and for us it was a huge privilege, a unique moment of Christian togetherness and an unforgettable event in the 21st century history.”Bishop Robert was part of a small delegation from the Anglican Communion to be invited to the funeral of Pope Francis. He shares his reflections on the moving event here.Safeguarding updateThe Diocesan Safeguarding Team are holding the latest Chaplaincy Safeguarding Conference on 29th May starting at 16.00 hrs BST, 17.00 CEST and at 18.00 EEST. An invitation will be sent to all our chaplaincy safeguarding and assistant safeguarding officers, who may extend this invitation to chaplains, church wardens and council members. Environmental survey - take ten minutesWith your help, we have been able to share money from the National Church of England grant scheme to help local chaplaincies with eco projects. As last year, it is now time to collect a brief update so we can keep tailoring the programme based on your needs.Please complete this survey by mid MayElection for General Synod representative Following the sad death of Clive Billenness in February, an election is now being held to fill the vacant place for a representative from the Diocese in Europe in the house of laity at the Church of England General Synod. Full details can be found here and any questions should be sent to election@europe.anglican.orgOrdinations 2025We are blessed to have six people being ordained deacon and eight being ordained priest this Petertide. All the details about the services can be found in this document. Please RSVP in good time where requested.Thy Kingdom ComeThy Kingdom Come is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. What started in 2016 as an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayerFind out how your chaplaincy can get involvedOur churches and crises of our time How do we as churches care for refugees and creation?The Anglican-Old Catholic International Coordinating Council (AOCICC) is researching how we as churches are responding to two major issues of our time: caring for refugees and caring for creation. This survey asks whether and how your congregation is affected by and taking action on these issues, and which resources you use.The AOCICC will summarize the key findings of the survey and share them with the respondents and participating churches. Thank you for giving 10-15 minutes of your time to complete this survey. Your contribution will be very valuable.Please complete the survey hereChildren and Young People next sessionHead of Children and Youth Revd Iain Bendrey writes: Our next Children and Youth Network Meeting is on May 27th.We will be joined by Kate Irvine from Bible Reading Fellowship who will be sharing about the Parenting Courses that they have developed.Many chaplaincies I visit ask about how they can support parents in teaching their children about faith, so this is the perfect opportunity to find out more.Please pass this date onto anyone who works with children, young people or families, and if they are not part of the Children and Youth Network tell them to get in touch with me iain.bendrey@europe.anglican.orgDiocese in Europe Communications NetworkJoin our growing network of people responsible for communications in your chaplaincies. We meet each month on Zoom for an hour to support each other and share information. If you are interested in joining, please contact us at communications@europe.anglican.orgOur next session is on Thursday May 8th when we will be discussing Thy Kingdom Come.Refugee network If you have projects in your chaplaincy that work with refugees, you may be interested in our monthly Refugee Network call. We meet to share updates, knowledge and prayer for each other across our diocese.Meetings are on Zoom at 13.00 CET the first Thursday of every month. Email communications@europe.anglican.org for the invitation.
The Diocese in Europe is holding a service of Evening Prayer for Pope Francis and all who mourn. Join us this Thursday April 24th at 18.00 CET/17.00 BST on Zoom. This will be a chance for us to come together to pray and reflect. Everyone is invited to join.The service will be led by Bishop Robert.Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81981390710?pwd=wCZSDux1jXCVxk2wxaGORsLCBaCZPQ.1If you have any questions, please send them to communications@europe.anglican.orgPlease also read the message that was published by Bishop Robert on the Diocese web site: Pope Francis, Rest in Peace.
