Dear Friends in Christ, It is with great sadness that I inform you that John de Wit died peacefully on the morning of Sunday 17th June, only a few weeks after learning he had cancer. John is remembered with much fondness and gratitude for all that he gave so freely and generously to our church and to the Archdeaconry during his time as chaplain at Holy Trinity Utrecht from 2005 to 2012. In particular our prayers and thoughts go out at this time to Pam. John’s funeral will…
This month Charitable Giving focuses on the Mission to Seafarers in Rotterdam and Vlissingen and the Kigama School Feeding Program in Kenya. No matter what problem a seafarer is facing, be it injury, abandonment, non-payment of wages or personal difficulties, they know they can turn to the local Mission for help, advice and support. Chaplains and volunteers offer practical and financial support, advocacy services, family liaison or simply a space to talk in a…
This review was written by Annemarie Huijink of the Utrecht congregation In search of deep faith In Jim Belcher’s book ‘In Search of Deep Faith’ we can read a story with two sides. On the one hand it is a story about a pilgrimage through Europe visiting the places and people that most influenced the Christian faith in Europe. On the other hand this is a story about a family with four young children and…
This month, in place of the Chaplain’s Letter, we have the addresses that the chaplains gave at the AGM. This means that this page is very long. We start with the report on Groningen and then continue with Amersfoort, followed by Zwolle and ending with Utrecht. Chaplain’s Report on Groningen for Chaplaincy Annual Meeting 2018 The Reverend Sam Van Leer ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ (Ecclesiastes…
This month we are supporting the mission at Schiphol airport and Noah’s Ark in Uganda The mission for OCAAM is for all employees, visitors and travellers at Schiphol Airport, to experience the presence of pastoral care and help through the involvement of the Old Catholic and Anglican Churches; the aim is for there to be a place for reflection, where everyone who wishes can pray, meditate and get help. http://www.aam-schiphol.nl/ Founded by a Dutch couple,…
29th June The Martyrdom of Polycarp Friday, Dinner at 6:30pm, talk at 8:00pm After the first evening on Polycarp’s Letter to the Philippians, Christian Classics, continues in June with the second evening on the great 2nd bishop Polycarp (in Smyrna, modern day Izmir, Turkey). Polycarp is among the earliest Christians whose writings survived. His name ‘Polycarp’ means ‘much fruit’ in Greek. It is recorded by Irenaeus, who heard him speak in his youth, and by Tertullian, that…