Bishop Robert writes: “I warmly commend the Lent Course Celebrating Nicaea which has been specially commissioned and written for chaplaincies in our diocese to use in 2025. Please do consider engaging with the course in your Chaplaincy this Lent. As we are all conscious of the pressures of secularism, 2025 is a unique opportunity to join in celebrating with the global church the marvellous and mysterious faith we share in the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

What is the Lent course?

This year marks 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea took place. From it came a creed that later evolved into the Nicene Creed we say each Sunday, a vital statement of orthodox Christian belief. Nicaea is now Iznik in modern-day Turkey, and is in our diocese. Within the Anglican Communion, we therefore have a unique reason to mark this anniversary, which we’re calling Celebrating Nicaea. One of the aspects of this celebration is a special Lent course. Designed for members of our chaplaincies who regularly say the Creed together in a Sunday service, the course will enable us to spend five sessions during Lent looking closely at the words of the Creed, and seeking to understand their meaning and significance more deeply. 

How can it be run?

The course will need a leader in each place, who could be a Reader or an ordained minister or other person with confidence leading a small group discussion.

Watch a recording of an introductory session with Revd Donald McFadyen here:

For any enquiries, please contact Revd Evelyn Sweerts: evelyn.sweerts@europe.anglican.org

We will also have a helpline functioning during Lent, details to follow.

Do you need to join a Lent Course?

The following chaplaincies are running the Diocese in Europe Lent Course and have offered an invitation to anyone who wishes to join them.  Please contact the chaplaincy directly via the relevant link:

St James, Voorschoten:  Google Meet on Wednesday evenings (8pm CET): 12, 19, 25 (not 26!) Mar, 2, 9 Apr. For questions or link: matt@stjames.nl

Church of the Resurrection, Bucharest:  Mondays 8pm EET

Norway:  day and time tbc

St Peter's Chapel, Bruges:  Mondays 7pm CET

St George's, Paris:  Mondays 7.30pm CET

St George’s Anglican Church, Berlin, Wednesdays 8:00pm CET (from 12th March).  Contact Revd Martin George:  martin.george@unibe.ch

All Saints, Marseille (in partnership with the chaplaincies from the Deanery of South East France (Lyon, Monaco and Nice), Thursdays 6pm (CET).  Contact: Revd james Johnston anglican.marseille@gmail.com

Arnhem-Nijmegen: Thursdays 8pm (CET).  Contact details here

St Alban’s Church, Strasbourg: Contact for times and locations.  Revd Dr Mark Barwick, anglican.chaplaincy.strasbourg@gmail.com

If you have any further enquiries about this or if your chaplaincy would like to join this list, please contact Evelyn as above.