No. 1 June 2015 The Bridge Newsletter of Ponte Sant`Angelo Methodist Church Rome “I look upon all the world as my parish.” John Wesley Minister`s letter for June : The visit of Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the British Methodist Church, to help us celebrate the conversion of the Wesleys (see notes at end of this Newsletter) was a reminder to us of aspects of our Methodist heritage which shape who we are today as the people called Methodist in the centre of Rome. Sharing the good news which is for all is an important feature of our Christian discipleship. We do this not just by what we say, in speech and preaching, in “publishing the sinners` friend” but also in our costly acts of service “my talents, gifts and graces Lord, into thy blessed hands receive”. His sermon to those of us who gathered on the evening of Trinity Sunday at Caravita reflected on the Great Commission of Matthew 28: “go to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples”. How we do this from a central church in Rome where many come from many nations with a common purpose to know and praise God and to serve the Son who is our Master is our task for this year and the years to come. In part we need to make sure that whatever our work situation or our home situation we witness to Christ in these places as part of our faithful Christian discipleship, sharing God`s love with others. But another aspect is that the church itself, how it looks and behaves, what it does, the message it proclaims, all bear witness to the Living God. We need to give more attention to this in our common life together as Chiesa Insieme. How we care for each other and learn from each other is important too. Supporting each other in bible study and prayer, in small groups and in networks of pastoral care, puts us in touch with our Methodist origins and roots as Martyn reminded the OPCEMI consultation at Ecumene which I and the Marinellis attended on your behalf. “He bids us build each other up” as Charles Wesley writes in his hymn “All praise to our redeeming Lord (StF 608). We need to spend more time on this aspect of our church life. Later this year (see the report given to the General Church Meeting) we celebrate 60 years of our being the Englishspeaking Methodist Church in Rome. Anniversaries are causes for rejoicing but also for reflection, on what God would have us do in the future. At the Church council in the autumn we will be considering some significant developments to enhance our work and help us to reach out to others who will join this great movement called Methodism and make sure that our Church is one shaped for mission and evangelism through worship and service. Will you be part of this in helping to renew the life of the church? Will you explore ways in which your discipleship can deepen and flourish? Are there ways you can give practical help and support to our planning for revival and growth? If you have particular suggestions as to how your gifts can be used please let me know. A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify … to serve the present age, my calling to fulfil. May God bless us in our work together in these coming months. And have a good summer! Pastor Tim Forthcoming services : worship at 1030am on Sundays will be led by 14th June Pastor Tim with Roy Crowder (followed by Pot Luck Lunch) 21st June Pastor Tim with Rev Philip Richter preaching 28th June Dr Valdo Bertalot 5th July Pastor Tim (to include Holy Communion) 12th July Pastor Tim 19th July Pastor Tim 26th July Rev Dr Jonathan Hustler 2nd August Jonathan Hustler (to include Holy Communion) 9th August Pastor Tim 16th August Pastor Tim with Neil Richardson preaching 23rd August Rev Dr Neil Richardson 30th August Pastor Tim with Richard Clutterbuck preaching 6th Sept. Pastor Tim with Tom Stuckey, including Holy Communion 13th Sept. Rev Tom Stuckey 20th Sept. Pastor Tim 27th Sept. Pastor Tim Introduction to visiting preachers over the summer : It may be helpful to say briefly something about our visitors over the summer. Roy Crowder is one of Pastor Tim`s line managers, working at the Europe desk of World Church Relationships team in London at Methodist Church House. Jonathan Hustler was at Wesley House Cambridge as Vice Principal but now also works at Methodist Church house in London in charge of the oversight and development of all those in training for ordained ministries in the Church. Neil Richardson was one of Tim`s colleagues at Wesley College Bristol where he became Principal after Tim left. He is a New Testament scholar and was a President of the British Methodist Conference. Richard Clutterbuck is bringing a group of theological students from Belfast to Rome. He is Principal of Edgehill College there. Tom Stuckey was Tim`s Chair of District in Southampton until he became President of the British Methodist Conference. He is a theologian and author of a number of books. Valdo Bertalot is Secretary General of the Bible Society of Italy and has been to PSA a number of times before. Church family news : In recent months we have had a number of babies born including Penny, daughter of Jennifer (Marinelli) and Andrea, Nadia daughter of Caroline (Suratos) and Bapy, James son of Joy (Cudiamat) and Janka, daughter of Christian and Michaela Duchek. We congratulate the parents and ask God`s blessing on these new lives. The baptism of Penny will be on 10th July. We pray for those who have had accidents or surgery in these past weeks and ask God`s blessing on their recovery: Elena Garro and Dinah Guillamon. Sandra Mi reports that the Sunday School has been delighted to see a growth in numbers this past year, going from three children to ten. Ages range from 6 to 15. All the children participated in the Christmas carol service. She is grateful that Angela Macquiban is also taking a turn at teaching and some members of the congregation are volunteering to help out with the classes. Sandra also reports that the Wednesday Bible study group has just finished a year-long study of the Life of Moses where the group has seen Moses exhort the Israelites to teach God’s truths to their children “when at home, when away, when resting and when working”. The group has been challenged by the need for Christians to pass on what they are privileged to know, especially to the next generation. Finally, Sandra invites everyone who is able to join the Wednesday group when it resumes in the autumn – it is not just for ladies! Outreach and Service : The Lent Rice Bowl Appeal for Syria launched by Churches Together in Rome has raised nearly 15,000 euros. PSA raised 2,350 euros, either by direct giving or through the proceeds of a coffee morning sponsored by Janine Archer and Lindsay Twomlow. The last meeting of CTiR heard how the money was to be channelled through Helen Pope who came to speak about the project in March. She reported to CTiR that conditions in Aleppo and its environs were worsening and the hardships of people in the refugee camps were increasing. Easter Offering service by Angela Macquiban It is wonderful to be part of such an international congregation here at PSA, with members from so many different countries. As we are supported by the World Mission Fund of the British Methodist Church we thought it would be good to celebrate being part of the world church by holding an Easter Offering service on 26th April. We dedicated the gifts of money donated for the WMF by the congregation, amounting to £300, which followed generous giving to the Lenten Rice Bowl appeal. This year’s EO service, The Leaves of the Tree, was inspired by the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women’s 75th anniversary theme, 75 years of healing leaves, based on the WFMUCW logo, the Tree of Life. The order of service had been prepared by Methodist Women in Britain on behalf of the World Mission Fund. As it was held on a Sunday morning we had a good congregation of around 80, including about 10 visitors. The three stories used in the service told of healing and reconciliation in Kenya, Croatia and Sri Lanka. The first was by Dr Claire Smithson, an HIV/Aids doctor at the Maua Methodist hospital. It was read by Lindsay Twomlow who moved to Rome last year from Kenya. She said it had particular relevance for her as her family's home-help had been on Anti-Retroviral Treatment. Jenny Smith, one of the readers of the Croatia story which used different voices to tell of the church as a reconciling community, had worked for the UN in connection with the Balkans at the time of the conflict. Members of the Wednesday Bible Class, Mary Hull and Janine Archer, also read the voices along with Luke Twomlow. It was good to have Najomi de Mel from Sri Lanka reading the third story, an account by former British Methodist Youth President Tamara Wray of the impact of the World Mission Fund scholarship programme in bringing vision for the future in Sri Lanka, after the war. We wrote prayers of intercession on paper leaves, in a variety of languages, and hung them on the small tree we brought down from our terrace, which was just beginning to produce buds - a tree of life indeed! This was done in silence and was quite moving. Our African choir led us in a couple of songs and all the hymns from Singing the Faith, including one from the Caribbean, were sung well and with enthusiasm. Unfortunately we didn't have the technology to show the slides accompanying the stories but an email was sent round the congregation afterwards with the website details so people could see them and read the stories again for themselves. But at the Church Council meeting after the service the decision was taken to get a digital projector so next year we can do it all as intended! A special appeal for victims of the Nepal Earthquake was made the Sunday after the tragedy. This raised 300 euros. On the morning before the hot weather broke, Lindsay Twomlow invited friends to join her and Janine Archer who put on a splendid Strawberry Cream Tea (yes – it`s good whatever the time of day!!) and raised a further 500 euros. These monies have been channelled through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which routes money through agencies working on the ground in areas hit by disasters. They have promised to keep us in touch with developments as that country comes to terms with the terrible loss of life, the destruction of homes and much of the cultural heritage of this poor Himalayan nation. News from the Church Council and General Church Meeting: The following report of 2014-15 was given by Pastor Tim to the General Church Meeting. General : We have now been here over nine months and are well settled, despite the difficulties of getting the technology always to work and with some health issues for me now being resolved. We were well welcomed, both in August when those around at PSA kept an eye on us in the early days with advice and practical help – a special word of thanks to the Marinellis – and in October with the official welcome, even though I`d taken 10 services by then! Worship : I have taken the pattern set by my predecessors and adapted it, trying to involve as many others representative of the congregation as we can, with some flexibility in the use of Singing the Faith supplemented sometimes by other material. This is not always helped by not having a regular organist though we have been blessed with the arrival of Alessandro who is so much more responsive to our needs. We have been helped by two gifts which have enabled us to buy more copies of Singing the Faith so that no sharing should in future be necessary. The introduction of all All Age Worship service quarterly (including the Scouts service in March) has only been possible thanks to a revival of the Sunday School and the dedication of Sandra and Giulia Mi and others. The Easter Offering Service on World Church Sunday was well appreciated as have been the contributions of our African and Filipino singers at services. The attendance at services is approximately 20 up most Sundays, averaging over the year so far 73 (compared with 55 in 2013) within the range of 28 (Marathon Sunday!!) to 140 (Welcome Service). We have had a number of visiting preachers on special occasions or when I am away. We grateful to the help we have had from the clergy of All Saints as well as Dr Valdo Bertalot. Gillian Kingston has taken part in two services this year, bringing a group from Ireland with her on the last occasion. Two school groups from the Netherlands have been (the last one singing in the service very effectively) as well as a number of smaller American groups mostly from Colleges and Universities. The decision of the Church Council to revert to the previous practice of the use of red non-alcoholic grape juice for communion services, in line with many of those partner churches in Methodism from which we have come has been overwhelmingly accepted. Social : It has been good to have a number of pot luck lunches as opportunities to greet each other as well as to welcome newcomers. In this respect those who have volunteered to act as ushers on Sundays perform a valuable role in making people, especially visitors, welcome and accepted and to help them familiarize themselves with our services. A particular thanks to all those who week by week provide the refreshments for us after the services. Membership and Pastoral: We were pleased to welcome three new members at Easter (Jennifer, Luke and Kwame) but sorry to see Joanna return to Ghana. In her place Love has come. So our membership is slightly up on last year but we expect some moves in the summer. Such is the fluid nature of our congregation. Various babies have been born so we can expect some baptisms in the next few months. Christian Education : The fortnightly bible class led by Sandra Mi continues to have a core membership of 6 or 7. Those bible classes after service on Sunday have attracted about 12 people for the hour. taking as their themes so far an introduction to the readings from Mark`s Gospel for Advent and Lent. A series on the creeds is planned for the next year. Church Council: Two projects discussed are the plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the English-speaking congregation at PSA (see below) and a heritage project with an application to OPCEMI for OPM funding to create a cultural visitors` centre at the church. A small working group has been established and some professional advice is being sought regarding the use of space in the church and hall, their acoustics and use of equipment and seating arrangements. If you have any comments about concerns you have please mention these to Sandra Mi or Marcello Marinelli or Pastor Tim. Wider Methodist Involvement in Italy : I have attended the annual Synod at Torre Pellice. We hosted the annual circuit meeting here at PSA in October, and I went at the invitation of a circuit in North Italy to lead a study day for preachers in Padua in November. I was pleased to be invited to preach at Via Firenze (in Italian!) with Pastor Eric coming here. We hope to repeat this in the autumn. Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome: Half my time, theoretically, is devoted to being Director of MEOR and developing ecumenical links and dialogues here in Rome on behalf of British, European and World Methodism. In practice it has been rather less than this with more time devoted to PSA. Some areas overlap as with my acting as Secretary of Churches Together in Rome. I am grateful to Jenny Smith for representing us on the Consulta as also Marius de Gaay Fortman for being on CTiR (see reports below) . My membership of the European Methodist Council and as Co-Chair of the Methodist Baptist international dialogue has taken me respectively to Dublin in September and Singapore in February for periods of 4 and 8 days respectively. As a member of the Roman Catholic/Methodist British Committee I have attended one meeting in May. I have tried to balance the need to be at these meetings with preaching and pastoral needs of the local congregation. Wherever possible I am anxious to feed in the insights of the ecumenical and diplomatic contacts I have back to PSA through sermons and newsletters. And our ecumenical role brings many visitors to PSA including the groupo who recently worshipped with us from Garrett Evangelical Seminary Chicago with Professor Jim Papandrea. All told it`s been a busy but enjoyable first year - thank you! I look forward to working with you in the coming year and to have your support for what we are doing as a Methodist witness on this strategic site in the middle of this great city. Pastor Tim A report on Consulta by Jenny Smith The statute formalizing the creation of the Consulta of the Evangelical Churches in Rome was registered recently. The purpose of this umbrella organization is to improve contacts and awareness of the various activities and initiatives of the small member churches, to offer a joint testimony of faith in the Roma area, to promote projects in the religious, cultural and social field and to provide solidarity and assistance for those in need, particularly refugees and migrants. Member churches include Methodists, Waldensians, Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Adventists and the Salvation Army. Current activities: work integration project providing advice and access to training for job seekers, promotion of the young people's centre at Via Firenze, programme for the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther in 2017. A report on Churches Together in Rome by Marius de Gaay Fortman Most of you have heard about the Ricebowl Appeal. Every year during the period of Lent, we are invited to raise funds for a specific project outside Italy, that has been presented by one of the participating churches. This year we have contributed funds to assist Syrians affected by civil strife.. The Ricebowl Project is an initiative of the Churches Together in Rome (CTiR). CTiR is an informal Organization of churches in Rome, which was established in 1971. At that time a number of mainly English speaking churches decided to work together in a spirit of ecumenical solidarity for specific projects, such as the Lenten Rice Bowl project and the week of Christian Unity. Representatives of these churches, members of the clergy as well as lay men and women get together once a month to exchange information and to discuss specific projects. There are about 20 Churches or religious groups participating, while the monthly meetings are attended by 10-15 participants. The Presidency is changing every year, having Father Steve Bossi of the Roman Catholic Santa Susanna Church as its President this year. Our PSA Church is represented by Reverend Tim Macquiban and Marius de Gaay Fortman. Reverend Tim has been elected as Secretary this year and was member of the Preparatory Committee for the Service in the week of Christian Unity in January. I was Chairman of the Nomination Committee , which proposed the Office Bearers for 2015. Reverend Ken Howcroft was the President for the last two years. As representatives of PSA our main task is to pass on the information coming from the other churches to our own congregation and vice versa. This year I submitted a project proposal for the Ricebowl Project to the monthly meeting. Under this project migrants and refugees in Algeria are assisted by an NGO, headed by a Dutch White Father Jan Heuft. There was however more interest for an assistance project of internally displaced persons in Syria, to which you all contributed. Plans for the 60th anniversary year of the English-speaking Methodist Church Rome : Among other special events and activities, we have some guest preachers lining up to return to PSA. The year will be launched on Advent Sunday 28th November when the Revd. Gareth Powell, who will then be Secretary of the British Methodist Conference, will preach. He preached at Pastor Tim`s farewell in Cambridge and also at Pastor Ken`s farewell at PSA. It is hoped there will be an ecumenical colloquium on Saturday 28th November at the Anglican Centre. Former ministers have accepted the invitation to return to preach; Pieter Bouman on 13th March, Richard Grocott on 8th May and Trevor Hoggard on 19th July. If you have other ideas as to how we should mark the year with a special projects and other special events, please sperak to Pastor Tim or a member of the Church Council. Notes on the Aldersgate Experience : The conversion experience of Charles and John Wesley occurred in the Aldersgate area of the city of London on 21st and 24th May 1738 respectively around the feast of Pentecost. John Wesley recorded in his journal that he ”felt my heart was strangely warmed”. These two clergymen went on to engage in an evangelistic itinerant ministry which stretched over 50 years. They died in 1788 and 1791 respectively. They established small groups, or classes, grouped in societies which became centred on chapels built in the later 18th century as the number of the “People called Methodist” increased. These met to encourage one another in the growth in holiness to which the Wesleys aspired, a holiness which was both personal and social. Eventually, after the establishment of an annual conference to succeed Wesley and the ordination of preachers as presbyters/ministers to celebrate the sacrament of holy communion which was so important for the brothers, the movement drifted away from the parent Church of England and took on denominational features. The Methodist Church of Britain and the Church of England signed a Covenant in November 2003 and are working towards closer understandings of ministry and mission and work together. The World Methodist Council has signed up to the Declaration on Justification between the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutherans, a doctrine which formed the core of Wesley`s conversion experience in reading Luther`s Preface to the Romans. Our Founder – John Wesley