WHO'S WHO
Chaplain: The Rev'd. Canon Denis Moss
The Rectory,
2092 Budakeszi,
Pf.:25, HUNGARY.
Tel. 06 23 452 023; Fax. 06 23 457 123.
e-mail: st.marg.anglicanch@mail.datanet.hu
Wardens: Howard Robinson
Éva Kaptay (tel. 342 2307)
Lay Liturgical Assistants: É. Kaptay, M. Moss, H. Robinson, H. Chase (server)
Church Council: The Chaplain, the Wardens, Carolynne Pyne (sec.),
Tom Howells (treasurer), Maria Moss, Emily Chase,
Mark and Marilyn Wodlinger, Julia Lengyel,
Christopher Daniels, Simon Harding, Alan Sutton
(advisory).
NOTES:
Baptized Christians in good standing with their own churches are welcome to receive communion.
The sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession and Absolution) is available by arrangement with the Chaplain.
Anointing for Healing follows Communion on the first Sunday of each month. A ministry team is available for individuals for prayer, especially prayer for healing, in the chapel following the service every Sunday morning.
The Eucharist is celebrated on Sundays at 10.30 a.m. and on major weekday festivals at 6.00 p.m. in the chapel at 1077 Budapest, Almassy u. 6.
Sunday School for children will be at the same time as the service.
Website. Anglicanbudapest.com
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
SAINT MARGARET'S ANGLICAN/EPISCOPAL CHURCH
BUDAPEST
(THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN HUNGARY)
Collect for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven
Almighty God, who looked upon the lowliness of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:
grant that we who are redeemed by his blood
may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 2008
WHAT AND WHEN
Sun. 03 11th AFTER TRINITY 1030 Holy Mass
Wed. 06 Transfiguration of Our Lord 1800 Holy Mass
Sun. 10 12th AFTER TRINITY 1030 Holy Mass
Frid. 15 Assumption of the BVM into Heaven 1800 Holy Mass
Sun. 17 13th AFTER TRINITY 1030 Holy Mass
(parish lunch to follow)
Wed 20 S. István király 1000 Holy Mass
Sun. 24 S. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE 1030 Holy Mass
Sun. 31 17th AFTER TRINITY 1030 Holy Mass
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
WARNING!
Some things in life should go without saying
This is a batch of warnings actually printed on labels of household items
On a CD player
“Do not use the Ultradisc 2000 as a projectile in a catapult.”
On a propane blowtorch
“Never use while sleeping.”
On an air-conditioner
“Avoid dropping air-conditioner out of window”.
On a cardboard sunshield for a car windscreen
“Do not drive with the sunshield in place.”
On a a pair of shin guards
“Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover.”
On a toilet bowl cleaning brush
“Do not use orally”.
On a portable stroller
“Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage.”
On a plastic, 13-inch wheelbarrow wheel
“Not intended for highway use.”
STUFFED PEPPERS (Töltött papríkát) - Turkish Style (Török módra)
This is a variation on the usual stuffed peppers which are used whole. Surprisingly I find that this is not a dish of Hungarian origin as I had thought. But it has become an accepted element of traditional Hungarian cooking.
It is important that good fleshy, sweet peppers are used with the stalks and membranes removed.
The meat too should be good quality (not fatty) pork, and ten percent of the meat component should be smoked bacon, which gives some succulence and enriches the flavour.
The typical flavour is provided by the peppers. The stuffing should act as an accent without altering the basic flavour.
Ingredients:
8 large fleshy peppers
500g. minced, cooked pork
1 clove garlic (crushed)
thick slices of bacon
150g. cooked rice
1 egg
a little chopped parsley
2 medium sliced tomatoes
250 ml. sour cream
Pepper and salt to taste
Method:
Cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and core.
Fill each half with a mixture of the meat, rice, egg, parsley and crushed garlic and condiments to taste..
Place the peppers in a greased dish and cover each half with sliced tomatoes and a slice of bacon.
Pour sour cream over the top and bake until the bacon begins to brown.
Serve with either mashed or diced potato.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
WOMEN BISHOPS
A number of Provinces within the Anglican Communion already have women in the episcopate. The Church of England is struggling with this issue at the present time. The last General Synod last month in York passed the following motion.:
'That this Synod: (a) affirms that the wish of the majority is for women to be admitted to the episcopate; (b) affirms its view that special arrangements be available, within the existing structures of the Church of England, for those who as a matter of theological conviction will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests; (c) affirms that these should be contained in a statutory national code of practice to which all concerned would be required to have regard; and (d) instruct the legislative drafting group, in consultation with the house of Bishops, to complete its work accordingly, including preparing the first draft of a code of practice, so that the Business Committee can include first considerations of the draft agenda for the February 2009 group of sessions.' That is, things are moving quite quickly for the Church.
I have commented in an earlier newsletter on the theological implications of this move. Bishop Geoffrey, in an ad clerum has written: 'There are significant comments to be made. First the effect of the Synod resolution is to signal to an important group in the Church that there would seem to be little continuing future for them in the Church of England; ..... Secondly the newly introduced electronic voting meant that there was an invisibility as to the way in which the episcopal leadership in particular was voting, ......Thirdly critical questions have to be asked about whether the kind of Synod debate in which speeches are limited to three minutes is a fit and proper vehicle for discussion of the sensitive points at issue. Synod's quasi parliamentary procedures do not serve us well...... Fourthly it raises a serious question about the trustworthiness of the Church's solemn commit-ments, as to the effect of the motion passed this July would appear to alter the provisions made in 1994 after the ordination of women to the priesthood was finally approved.'
In a later paragraph he writes as follows: 'There is no doubt that July's vote will have a negative impact on our relationship with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Many years of painstaking work will be endangered as those historic churches, with whom we claim to share the apostolic ministry, will see a church taking unilateral action which is not securely grounded in scripture and tradition. The Vatican has already issued a statement of regret and the Russian Orthodox Church has also commented on how this decision will impact on Anglican-Orthodox relations. It may well effect the ecumenical hospitality that we enjoy in so many places in the Diocese.'
THE LITURGY OF THE MASS
Continuing the explanation of the Liturgy started in the newsletter last month:
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
The Readings: Before the Gospel reading there will normally be an Old Testament reading and a reading from an Epistle, separated by a reading from the Psalms. There are occasional seasonal variations to this. The psalm usually is said with a response at the end of each paragraph. It is possible for the psalm and the responses to be sung, or possibly only the responses. Locally the preference appears to be to remain with the said option. The Gospel reading is preceded by the Gradual hymn and an acclamation – the Gospel being the high-point of the readings is surrounded by some ceremony. Where there is a Deacon it is a major role in his function to read the Gospel. The Sunday Lectionary which details the readings for each Sunday is based on the Revised Common Lectionary which is also used by all main line Protestant and Catholic churches except for the Orthodox. The Church of England has adopted some minor variations. In churches with the space to do it the Gospel Book is taken in procession to a central part of the nave for the reading, thus further emphasizing its importance. The Gradual hymn is meant to cover this movement.
The Sermon: The sermon must be considered as an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word. There should normally be a sermon on all Sundays and principal feasts. Even the early weekday service (where there is such) should have at least a brief exposition of the readings. The sermon can have different forms, it may be inter-active, it can be formal or informal, often depending on the format of the service, but always it should be a proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Creed: The recital of the creed gives the opportunity for those gathered for worship to make their own affirmation of faith in response to the reading and proclamation of the word. This is often omitted on weekday celebrations. The Nicene Creed is normally used but when baptism occurs in the context of the Eucharist, a modified form of the Apostles Creed is employed. Some of the older worship practices connected with the saying of the creed have been simplified. One now simply bows at ...was incarnate ... and was made man. Rather than a genuflexion.
Prayer of Intercession: These prayers conclude the Liturgy of the Word. They function as a turning point in the Eucharistic action. Prayer is offered in response to the proclaimed word, and looking forward, they give voice to the concerns of those assembled which will be associated with the bread and wine offered up.
THE CHAPLAIN'S LETTER
Dear Friends,
August promises to be both a hot and a busy month. The Masses on the first two Sundays of August, the 3rd and the 10th, will be presided over by the Very Rev'd. Richard Fenwick, who is the Dean of Monmouth in Wales. He will be taking a break, with his wife Jane, from a very demanding position, thus allowing Maria and me also to have a summer break. I have no doubt that he will tell us about the very interesting history of his ancient cathedral for which he is endeavouring to raise some GBP2,500,000 for much needed restoration work. Fr. Richard has also agreed to preside at the celebrations to mark the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord on the evening of Wednesday the 6th Augaust and also the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven on the evening of Friday the 15th August.
On Sunday the 17th we will welcome a number of international guests at the request of the Hungarian Ecumenical Council of Churches. They will have been attending an ecumenical conference at the Balaton. Our preached that Sunday will be the Rev'd. Frederick Mukungu, an Anglican priest from the Church of Uganda. There will be a lunch at the church to follow the service.
Wednesday the 20th August is a national holiday in celebration of the patron saint of Hungary, Szent István kiraly (King S. Stephen). He had been baptized as a boy, along with his father who had made the choice between East and West. Hungary of course is still a border country on the East/West Christian divide. It was István though, who with great energy and a degree of ruthlessness, made Hungary a western Christian country. There will be a celebration of the Eiucharist at 10.00 a.m.. It will be our 'Hungarian Friendly' service for August. That is, some of the readings will be in both languages and there will be Hungarian content in some of the music. We are a Hungarian church under Hungarian law, we have a number of Hungarian citizens as members, some of whom have little or no English. There are others who are Hungarian by birth, even though they may now have different citizenships. We cannot pretend that these people do not exist.
The Feast of the Transfiguration commemorates the event on the mountainside when Jesus appeared in his divine glory before the Apostles Peter, James and John. Moses and Elijah also appeared and spoke with Jesus. They represent the Law and the Prophets – the key elements of the scriptures at the time of Jesus. This festival became widespread in the western church during the 11th century and was introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457 to commemorate the victory over Islam in Belgrade. Before that the Transfiguration had been celebrated in the Byzantine, Syrian and Coptic rites.
The 15th of August is the most important feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary through-out the Christian world. It recognizes Mary's death and resurrection traditionally believed to have been at the age of 73. In the Eastern Church it is known as The Falling Asleep of the All-holy Theotokos (Child-bearer or Mother of God). There it is of such importance that a fast is kept beforehand from the 1st of August. The Biblical basis for the feast comes from the Book of Revelation (chap. 12) where the woman who has just given birth to the male child who is to rule the world escapes from the dragon into the desert where God has made a place of safety ready. This is of course symbolic language. The feast is known from the 4th century in Palestine, Egypt and Arabia. It is known to have been celebrated in Rome and Gaul in the 6th century. On November 1st 1950 Pope Pius XII declared it to be a dogma of the Church. That is, it is a fundamental belief which Roman Catholics are bound to accept, in the form stated, as essential to salvation.
The feast of S. Bartholomew the Apostle falls on Sunday the 24th. It has long been assumed that Bartholomew and Nathanael are in fact the same person, although it cannot be proved absolutely. The Gospels speak of Philip bringing Nathanael to Jesus who called him an Israelite worthy of the name. He is also present beside the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection. Although he may be seen initially to be a somewhat cynical person, he recognized Jesus for who he is and proclaimed him Son of God and King of Israel.
During July we welcomed into the fellowship and family of the Church, through Holy Baptism, Camille Elizabeth Nelson and Richard Bugár.. Let us pray for them and their families as they begin a new life in Christ.
We have heard from a number of past parishioners recently. Mike Lonneke has sent an article on a woman American Episcopal Church priest who has recently become also a practicing Moslem. She does not believe in the divinity of Christ. Perhaps unsurprisingly, her bishop approves! Gabriel Csele is still teaching in China. He has now progressed to teaching the teachers. We have always thought of China as quite a law-abiding country, but recently he was attacked and robbed. As a result he spent a short time in hospital.
Denis Moss (Chaplain)