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