December2016 & January 2017
The Bridge No. 13
Newsletter of
Ponte Sant`Angelo
Methodist Church Rome
There will be no January issue of the Bridge, but articles for the February issue should be sent in by the 23rd of January.
Minister’s letter
As I write this, the shops are getting the lights out, the shoppers scurry round looking for suitable gifts for Christmas, and the list of those who should receive cards or messages is resurrected, expanded and trimmed according to the notes we made from last year. The dark nights (even with the brightest moon since 1948) and duller chillier days leave us to get the coats and scarves out, to make sure we have a torch ready in case the lights go out (it`s happened to us twice in the manse in recent weeks – be prepared!).
In some societies and countries, the celebration of Christmas is muted, even prohibited. In others, the message of Christmas is totally obscured by the rampant commercialism and heady hedonism of a season of excess, of overeating and overdrinking while half or more of the world goes without.
Let`s hope we can put Christ into Christmas, Christ at the centre, for “Jesus is the heart of Christmas” as Hymn 207 which we shall sing proclaims.
He is the Light of the world – how we need him to shine in the dark corners of our world at the end of another year of violence in many places, of political and financial uncertainties, of disparities of wealth and poverty.
He is the greatest gift of all, God`s Son, God`s gift of Love for the world he has not abandoned, despite its sin and evil and greed.
And he is the message that we are to pass on to others – which is why I don`t like the merry Christmas cards I get sometimes. Whatever the fanciful overtones of the nativity story made popular in carols and plays and other forms, the essence of the story bears repeating over and over:
- That God chooses the humble and lowly, the maid Mary, the shepherds from the margins, the gentiles from far off
- That God is revealed in insignificant places through insignificant people, Christ born in a dirty grubby stable as a favour
- That God receives the gifts of those who respond to his call, the following of his light and the offer of his own gift
So how are you going to spend Christmas? How will you respond to the offer of salvation which comes in and through the infant Christ?
Christina Rossetti sums it up in her marvellous carol which is one of my favourites:
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;
if I were wise man I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him, give my heart.
May the peace and joy be yours this Christmas, may light and love fill your Christmas season and share it with those whom you love and who look to you to give the gift of love.
Pastor Tim
A day with the Three Kings
The Waldensian Church at Piazza Cavour recently organised a study day looking at narrative preaching based on the account of the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12. Twenty six people from Protestant churches in and around Rome gathered under the leadership of Pastor Hiltrud Stahlberger, of Colleferro-Ferrentino, who also teaches part-time at the Methodist-Waldensian Facolta.
She had arranged chairs in a large circle so the format of the day could be inter-active. So we could get to know each other she started with an ‘ice-breaker’ where we had to find someone we didn’t already know to talk to and recount a story we had heard from our parents or grandparents. Then we had to introduce our partner to everyone and summarise their story. I was very relieved to have Giovanni, one of the Facolta students, to help me out with my faltering Italian!
We then considered why we tell bible stories and the difference between a bible story and a non-religious one and between fables, myths and fairy-tales with their characteristic themes of good and evil. Although not everyone was a preacher Hiltrud helped us to think about 5 stages in sermon preparation, starting with personal meditation on the text. Then we looked at how this could be presented to a congregation , having reflected on the type of community they were and what message the passage could give in that particular situation, with ideas for developing the theme.
The verses from Matthew 2 were printed in large letters on sheets of paper spread out on the floor in order and we were invited to make our own ‘journey’ by walking alongside them and reflecting on them. Hiltrud then asked for comments and questions, such as the reason why the Magi felt compelled to make their journey of homage, the emotions aroused in the characters, including Herod, and the Magi’s response when they arrived at the stable with their gifts for the Christ child. The afternoon session was mainly small group work to share and discuss the individual sheets we had filled in about our own contexts and church communities. Even those of us who were not preachers were able to think more about the sermons we hear and the message they have for us individually and as a congregation.
We had been invited to bring some Christmas food to share at lunchtime from our own cultures/countries and enjoyed tasting pastries from Abruzzo, spiced biscuits from Germany and mincemeat squares from England! We also enjoyed singing some Christmas songs from other traditions. A small group from the Francophone congregation at Chiesa IV Novembre sang a beautiful unaccompanied African hymn about the star the Magi followed. We joined in with an Italian and a German Christmas song and I introduced the carol ‘We three kings of Orient are’, with everyone singing the refrain and the last verse:
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice!
Heaven sings alleluia!
Alleluia the earth replies.
Angela Macquiban
Intern Update
November has been another busy month for me! I have continued to work alongside Tim in administration for PSA and MEOR, as well as managing the space in MEOR and welcoming new visitors to the centre!
The main news from this month is the start of our new Young Adults Bible Study. We have decided to meet every 2 weeks on Wednesday evenings in MEOR to share a meal together, study Ephesians and pray with one another. There are 7 of us committed to the group, and we would love to see more people join! Even though we have only met twice so far, it has been a huge encouragement to me and I am looking forward to the development of the group.
I have also been busy working on our Heritage project. Part of my work has been research – trying to gather information about notable Protestant sites in Rome. I have also been working on grant application forms, and discussing with the Heritage office in the UK about how best to move forward.
And finally, work with refugees and migrants has proved slow in terms of finding somewhere I can serve on a regular basis, but thankfully things are looking up! I am going to start helping with a programme Sant’Egidio run for feeding the poor once a week, and in December I am going to start working with St Paul’s on a regular basis.
Lucy
CONSULTA
The Consulta of the Chiese Evangeliche del Territorio Romano was set up in April 2015 to bring together the activities of the Evangelical Churches in Rome after the closure of the Servizio Rifugiati e Migranti which previously provided social advice and support to refugees and migrants. The national committee of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy is now concentrating its social services on the project Mediterranean Hope - bringing groups of Syrian refugees to Italy direct from Lebanon (thus avoiding the risks of the boat crossing) and hosting them in a centre at Aprilia before their cases are processed and they are either recognized as refugees in Italy or are able to resettle elsewhere. The two SRM social workers have been transferred to the Mediterranean Hope project.
The Rome Consulta however has four projects under way, some of which are partly funded by the 8x1000 and partly by monthly contributions from the member churches (euro 20 per month for small churches, euro 30 per month for larger churches). Ponte Sant'Angelo, for its part, provides the accommodation for the Italian school for migrants and refugees; the teachers are voluntary, we provide the accommodation for the classes 3 afternoons a week; minor expenditure for books and other materials, exam fees for the Italian diploma, etc is covered under the Consulta funding.
The four Consulta projects are:
(1) and (2) a Work Integration project and a Migrants project, which operate side by side. The main aim of the Work Integration project is to provide orientation and support to Italians, refugees and migrants in finding jobs, training courses and protection of rights. It also promotes social integration into the Italian environment for those coming from other cultures. The Italian school for migrants at PSA comes under this heading. The Sportello Lavoro at Via Firenze 38 is open everyFriday9-12 and 14.30-17 hours. The cellphone contact is 3892330920.
(3) the project coordinating activity for the Fifth Centenary of Martin Luther's Reform in 2017. Martin Luther pinned his 95 criticisms on the church door at Wittemburg in Germany at the end of October 1517 - and the 500th anniversary is therefore being celebrated from October 2016 to October 2017. Piazza Martin Lutero in the Colle Oppio Park was inaugurated by Rome Mayor Marino last year and special gathering to commemorate the opening of the 500th anniversary year of Luther's Reform was held there on 30 October; a number of the member churches participated in the occasion, and further events are being planned.
(4) a Communications Group which endeavours to promote exchange of news and activity between the churches, as well as providing external news.
Whenever possible I participate and , if Pastor Tim is unable to attend, represent Ponte S Angelo in meetings of the Consulta and in meetings of the Commissioni Lavoro e Migranti (4-6 times a year). As a member church of the Consulta, we would also be entitled to representation on the Reform project and the Communications Group; If you might be able to help in this, please have a word with Pastor Tim (remembering of course that these meetings are held in Italian).
The Consulta of the FCEI met on 28 September 2016 to discuss the projects under way, the important contribution which member churches can make, and the upcoming programme.
Emphasis was given to preparations for the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 articles in 2017, and the "FestadellaRiforma" proposed for 30 October 2016 to start the anniversary year. All member communities were invited to participate. (This duly took place at Piazza Martin Lutero on Colle Oppio (near the Colosseum) on the sunny afternoon of 30 October. Pastor Tim and Angela Macquiban, Lucy Cowpland, Sandra Mi and Jenny Smith, went along from PSA. In addition to Bible readings, a testimony by Joylin Galapon, pastor of the Via Firenze church, and a short homily by Pastor Ferrario of the Waldensian College, there were numerous presentations by Sunday School/Young People's groups, several hymns led by a joint choir, and music/ drumming sessions).
Jenny Smith
SERVICES AT PSA FOR 2016/17
BB = Birthday Basket, CC = Church Council, HC = Holy Communion , PLL = Pot Luck Lunch
4Dec Pastor Tim HC
11 Dec Pastor Tim
18 Dec Pastor Tim – All Age Worship and Carols PLL
24 Dec Christmas Eve Carol Service and Mince Pies [Mirella Manocchio to preach]
25 DecPastor Tim and HCBB
1st JanuaryPastor Tim
8th JanuaryPastor Tim – Covenant SundayHC
15th JanuaryPastor Tim – Migrants and Refugees Day
22nd JanuaryVisiting preacher for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Late afternoon – WPCU service at the Lutheran Church
29th JanuaryPastor TimBB
CHURCH FAMILY NEWS:
Sandra Mi is having surgery on the 1st of December. We remember her in our prayers and hope for a speedy recovery.
We are sorry to learn of the serious accident that Canon Jonathan Boardman, from All Saints, suffered recently. He preached here for our last week of prayer for Christian Unity. He will be out of action for some months. We remember him and the congregation of All Saints in our prayers.
CHURCH COUNCIL (06.11.16)
Under the Pastoral/Mission discussion, the council noted that several new people have been attending services, and we should make sure that they are adequately followed up. Lucy advised that she had been in contact with a number of young adults and expected to see 8 or 9 on Wednesday at their first meeting. [There were indeed 8 at the first meeting, and it was decided they would continue to meet every second Wednesday to share a meal, study the Bible and pray together.] The Heritage project was also discussed, and it was decided that the first objective would be to purchase a digital projector, computer and screens for use in showing films and presentations telling the story of Protestantism and Methodism throughout the ages. It was also noted that the installation of extra electrical points for the balcony would be necessary, but that would be included in the cost of balcony restoration. Finally, a concern was expressed about the number of mobile phones ringing during the service and it was agreed to remind the congregation about silencing phones during the next few Sundays.
Under Financial, property and other administrative matters, thanks were expressed to Mr Marinelli for all the hard work in organizing the restoration of the balcony and the great success of sound proofing the social room. It was reported that the Bake Sale for the anniversary appeal was a success and raised 361 euros which brings the total appeal fund to 3,517 euros. Mrs Owusu is in touch with a nephew regarding an estimate for the container for the Ghana project. Regarding our own finances, it was reported that we owe OPCEMI 15,000 euros by the year end. The Council agreed that payments should be made in instalments.
The next Church Council meeting will be on the 15th of January.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
FRESH FROM THE WORD
Daily Bible notes from the International Bible Reading Association. Jenny Smith has one spare copy of the 2017 notes for 12 euro. Please have a word with her if you would be interested.
YOUNG ADULTS GROUP
We have started a young adults group in PSA meeting fortnightly on Wednesday evenings to share a meal, study Ephesians and pray together. We meet at 7.30pm in MEOR on the 5th floor. We will meet on the 30th November and the 14th of December and resume again on the 11th January.
INTRODUCTION TO METHODISM COURSE
Pastor Tim would like to offer the opportunity to anyone who wants to know more about the origins and development of Methodism and its distinguishing marks to join a group that has been running certain Saturday mornings. There are 2 sessions left on the 10th of December and 14th of January from 10am-12noon in MEOR on the 5th floor. The course will look at the 12 defining features/marks of Methodism (what it believes and how it acts) and the 4 foci of the Church – Worship and Sacraments, Learning and Caring, Service to the poor and needy and Struggle for Justice and Peace. While not a membership class, it would be a useful introduction for anyone considering membership. Please email or speak to Lucy on Sunday if you are interested or want more details.
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BIBLE STUDY
There are various opportunities to engage in Bible Study at PSA.
If you are free on Wednesday mornings, do come and join us at 10.30 once every two weeks for coffee, fellowship and study. If you are not free in the mornings and would like to form part of an evening class twice a month, please speak to Sandra. The group has finished for 2016, but will meet again in January.
Alessia and Federico run a home group in Via del Casaletto 63 (buzz Montelli Milani). They will meet on December 3rd an 17th, January 7th and 21st, February 4th and 18th, March 4th and 18th, April 1st and 22nd, and May 6th and 20th. For more information speak to Alessia and Federico or call them on 3381675680.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY (Women only)
Celebrate Recovery is a biblical and balanced program for recovery, freeing of the soul and sanctification: by working through the 8 Beatitudes each person will grow spiritually by gradually experiencing joy, freedom and the peace of the abundant life in Christ (