Chaplain’s Letter: Blessed are the Peacemakers
In a world marked by war, displacement, and what Rev’d Vinod calls “modern forms of crucifixion,” the Easter message speaks with urgent clarity: suffering does not have the final word.
Midweek Meditation: Theatre
For years, Wolfgang had known about an unremarkable piles of stones beside Mainz Süd train station—just rubble near the tracks, nothing worth a second glance. Then one day, he stopped to look closer and discovered he’d been dismissing the largest Roman theatre north of the Alps. His Midweek Meditation is a quiet invitation to see beyond first impressions.
Archbishop Sarah Mullally Installed as 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
On 25th Mar, history was made as Archbishop Sarah Mullally was installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury – the first woman to hold this office in the Church of England’s 1,400-year history.
In the weeks leading up to her installation, Archbishop Sarah undertook a week-long pilgrimage on foot from St Paul’s Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral, walking 140 kilometres along the ancient Becket Camino route. Despite aching feet, she described how her heart and spirits were lifted by the people she encountered along the way.
The installation service beautifully reflected the global nature of the Anglican Communion. Over 2,000 people attended, including representatives from at least 32 provinces of the worldwide church. The service wove together traditional choral music with international contributions: a Kyrie sung in Urdu, readings and prayers in six languages including Bemba (Zambia) and Spanish, and joyful music from the African Choir of Norfolk, who sang gospel acclamations in Swahili and Herero with guitars, drums, and ululations. The Gospel was proclaimed in Spanish by Archbishop Alba Sally Sue Hernández García of Mexico, elected as primate just days earlier.
In her sermon, Archbishop Sarah reflected on her unlikely journey: “As I look back over my life at the teenage Sarah who put her faith in God and made a commitment to follow Jesus, I could never have imagined the future that lay ahead.”
Please hold Archbishop Sarah in your prayers as she begins this vital ministry for the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Watch the installation service here.
Read more in-depth articles from the Church Times and the Anglican Communion News.
ACF Fundraiser: Envelope Giving
As most of you know, our church is independent from any external funding sources, such as German taxes (Kirchesteuer), the Church of England, or other institutions. We depend on the generous donations of our members and friends to cover all our expenses (the minister’s salary, rent, insurances, diocese contributions, …).
This is why we’re excited to announce this spring’s ACF fundraiser: ‘Envelope Giving’! At church there is a display of 100 lovingly decorated envelopes, with a number on each of them: from €1 to €100. We invite you to pick one of them and donate the stated amount to the ACF via one of these ways:
- cash donation into the envelope
put into collection basket or hand in with ACF council members or chaplain - card payment
via the card terminal at church, make sure to select the ‘envelope giving’ button - via bank transfer
subject line: ‘envelope giving’
account details: Anglican Church Freiburg e.V., Sparkasse Freiburg
IBAN: DE29 6805 0101 0002 5119 20, SWIFT / BIC: FRSPDE66
If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to contact our treasurers at treasurer@anglican-church-freiburg.de.
Mark Your Diary: Special Events
Compline during Lent – changed starting time 9:15 pm
Please note that during Lent (25th February – 1st April) the Wednesday Compline ( Night Prayer) on zoom will stat at 9:15 pm, instead of 9 pm.
Holy Week at the ACF
Join us as we journey through the most sacred week of the Christian year, from the triumph of Palm Sunday to the joy of Easter morning:
- Maundy Thursday – 2nd April, 8 pm
Maundy Thursday Communion Service
led by Rev’d Vinod Victor - Good Friday – 3rd April, 5 pm
Meditations on the Cross
led by the ACF Young Adults & Rev’d Vinod Victor - Easter Sunday – 5th April, 7 am
Sunrise Service
We will meet at 6:30 am (not later!) here at the bottom of the cable car in the Stadtgarten to begin walking up together to the Kanonenplatz where we will have our Easter Sunrise Service. - Easter Sunday – 5th April, 11:30 am
Easter Service and Eucharist
led by Rev’d Vinod Victor
PS.: For some of us it is an Easter tradition to wear white or yellow: perhaps you’d like to join in?
PS PS.: Here is a short video with some musical impressions from the 2024 ACF Easter Morning service. For and all those who are up for a dose of humour while practicing their German, there is this hilarious video of Bischof Stefan Oster of the Roman Catholic church with the German tradition of Osterlachen – the “Easter laughter”.
Ostergarten Guided Tour (in English) – Sat, 4th April, 11 am
There will be a guided walk (ca 1 hour) in Ehrenkirchen on Sat, 4th April at 11 am, exploring and travelling through Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem before Easter. Find out more and register here.
Concert at our Church – Tue, 7th April, 7 pm
You’re warmly invited to an evening of beautiful music at our church on 7th Apr at 7:00 pm, featuring Singkreis Arturo Junge and Dreisam Synphonie.
The programme will include the Ouvertüre No. 2 by Emilie Mayer performed by the orchestra, Latin American songs from the choir, and a collaborative performance of two pieces by Chilean composer Luis Advis from the “Nueva canción chilena” movement: “Danke, wir danken” and “La construcción de la casa.” This promises to be a wonderful evening celebrating the richness of classical and Latin American musical traditions.
Admission is free, though donations are warmly welcomed. All are welcome!
Shared Lunch, Children’s Church & Freiburg Marathon – Sunday, 12th April
As every second Sunday of the month we’re looking forward to a Shared Lunch on 12th April after the service. Please bring a dish for the buffet and enjoy the time after the service with good food and nice conversations. During the service there will be children’s church offered.
Please also note that on that day the Freiburg Marathon will take place.
Due to this event some roads will be closed, and public transport partially suspended. To plan your journey to church see the Freiburg Marathon resident’s information or the Freiburg public transportation website.
Volunteers Wanted for Open Kitchen – 16th & 30th April, 21st May
Open Kitchen is a monthly event as part of our Fragrance Project, where we welcome refugees to our church kitchen to cook and share meals from their home countries. For those living at the refugee camp, being unable to prepare their own food has been a real challenge to their wellbeing, and this event offers them the comfort of cooking and fellowship.
We Need Your Help
We’re looking for 2-3 volunteers for each event (starting around 4:00-4:30 PM). You’ll greet our guests at the church, spend time with them in the kitchen, cook and eat together, then help tidy up before locking up for the evening. Our guests will bring their own ingredients and plan their own meals—volunteers simply provide friendly company and support. Please note the evening may run until 9:00-10:00 PM.
Please note: This is not a drop-in event for church members, but a small, intimate gathering where a few registered volunteers will support our guests.
Upcoming dates: 16th April, 30th April, 21st May
To volunteer, please send a message here or speak to Christine or Roberto.
Annual General Meeting – Sunday, 26th April, after the service
On Sunday, 26th April after the service we will hold the ACF’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). This is an important event in the life of the church where we review the past year, discuss the church’s future, and elect the church council members.
Electoral Roll
According to Church of England regulations only those may vote whose names are on the electoral roll. You can join the electoral roll if you are:
- Baptised
- Aged 16 or over (or turning 16 in 2025)
- A member of the Church of England (or a Church in communion with it)
- Either living in Freiburg or having regularly attended worship at our church for at least six months
To join the Electoral Roll, fill in the forms available at church. Alternatively, download and fill out the application form and the data consent form and return it to the secretary or one of the wardens per post, at church or per email (secretaryfreiburganglican@gmail.com) by 11th April the latest.
Church Council Elections
At the AGM the representatives for the Church Council will be elected.Nominations will be received by the council secretary who will also send out further information to all on the ACF mailing list.
Download here the Nomination Form & Click here for the ACF’s Guide to the AGM, including role descriptions for the various church council positions.
Registrations now open: Weekend Away – 14th-17th May 2026
We’re delighted to announce that registrations for this year’s church Weekend Away are now open! Join us from 14th – 17th May (Ascension Day Weekend / Himmelfahrt) at the beautiful Centre Evangelique du Hohrodberg in the Vosges mountains, just over an hour from Freiburg. The centre is beautifully situated at 850 metres with spectacular views, and the weekend includes accommodation, all meals, and full programme access. Family-friendly bonus: third and additional children stay free! Financial assistance is available through our ‘Fragrance in Freiburg’ project for those who need it.
This year we’re thrilled to welcome Bishop Antonio Ablon, chaplain at St Catherine’s Anglican Church in Stuttgart and living in exile from the Philippines, as our speaker. He’ll be addressing the theme “Our Calling to be Peacemakers.” The weekend promises fun, inspiration, meaningful conversations, worship together, and time to connect with our church family in a stunning mountain setting.
Important: You MUST register via the form AND pay to secure your place. Simply telling the organisers you’re coming without completing registration and payment makes planning impossible.
We also need your help! We’re always short on drivers, so if you have a car with space, please offer lifts. We urgently need volunteers to do grocery shopping (fully reimbursed) and transport food to the retreat centre.
Find all the details and register here.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of what has become a cherished tradition in our church community!
Want to host a Homegroup?
Due to the Gentry family’s recent move away from Freiburg, we currently have one fewer home group than before,. We’d love to establish a new one to keep building community and connection among us: a place where we can grow in faith, support one another, and share life together in a more intimate setting.
We’re particularly hoping to find someone who would like to host such a group in their home, ideally near the city centre. The We’re flexible about the rhythm – whether weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or whatever works best for the group. And don’t worry if you’ve never hosted or led a home group before! Excellent courses and materials are available to help guide discussions, and we’ll provide full support in setting up and leading the group.
If you’d be willing to host, co-lead, or simply join a new home group, please speak with Vinod or send a message via the website contact form.
This Week & Regular Rhythms
This week at the ACF
- Men’s Prayer Group
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 7:00 pm
at the vicarage (Ludwigstraße 6, Freiburg) - Compline
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 9:15 pm
on zoom - Maundy Thursday Communion Service
Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Celebrant: Bishop Royce Manoj, Bishop of Malabar - Good Friday Meditations
Friday, April 3, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Led by the Young Adults - Men’s Breakfast
Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 8:00 am
at church - Sunrise Service
Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 6:30 am
We will meet at 6:30 am (not later!) here at the bottom of the cable car in the Stadtgarten to begin walking up together to the Kanonenplatz where we will have our Easter Sunrise Service. - Easter Sunday Communion
Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 11:30 am
Led by Rev’d Vinod Victor - Concert: Choir Arturo Junge & Dreisam-Symphonie
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Join us for an evening of classical and Latin American music (free admission, donations welcome).
at our church (Petrus-Paulus-Kirche, Lorettostr. 61) - Compline
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 9:00 pm
on zoom - Freiburg North Homegroup
Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Hosted at a private home in Gundelfingen or Sexau.
Get in touch for further details. - Communion Service
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 11:30 am
Led by Rev’d Vinod Victor
With Children’s Church - Shared Lunch
Sunday, April 5, 2026 after the service
Bring some food for the buffet.
Click here for the ACF zoom link and here for the ACF calendar for the coming months.
Regular ACF Groups
- Singing Group – practice usually on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month after the service. New singers of all levels are always welcome!
- Wise Ones – gathering of the older ACF members, aged 55+
Coffee Afternoon at Café Schwarzes Kloster, Rathausgasse 48 at 3 pm on 30th Jan, 27th March, 29th May, 31st July & 30th Oct 2026
Wine & Cheese Evening at church at 6 pm on 20th Feb, 24th April, 19th June, 25th Sept & 27th Nov 2026 - Young Adult Group – for young people 18 years+
every last Saturday of the month at 6 pm at the vicarage (Ludwigstr. 6) - Men’s Breakfast
every first Saturday of the month at 8 am at church - Freiburg North Homegroup
Fortnightly on Thursdays at 8 pm – at a private home in Gundelfingen or Sexau. Check the church calendar here for our upcoming meeting dates. - Freiburg Central Homegroup
every second Saturday of the month at 6 pm at a private home in Freiburg Herdern / near Habsburgerstraße - Women’s Prayer Group
monthly on Thursdays, either on zoom or in person at church. Check the church calendar here for our upcoming meeting dates. - Men’s Prayer Group
every first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm at the vicarage (Ludwigsstr. 6, Freiburg) - ‘Unboxed’ – fun community events
once or twice a months at different times & locations. Check the church calendar here for our upcoming meeting dates.
To learn more about our regular groups and gatherings click here, and to view & subscribe to the ACF calendar click here.
The pastor is just a call away!
Call, text or WhatsApp Rev’d Vinod Victor on +49-176-46614418 or +91 9447 151017,
or email him at chaplainfreiburg@gmail.com.
Service & Events Calendar
News Archive
Find past news items on the following pages:
- The Anglican Church Freiburg – Our News Archive!
- The Church of England
- The Diocese in Europe and
- Our ecumenical friends in Germany
Supporting the ACF financially
We’re so grateful for your support and prayers for our church. We are independent from any external funding sources, such as German taxes (Kirchesteuer), the Church of England, or other institutions. We depend on the generous donations of our members and friends to cover all our expenses (the minister’s salary, rent, insurances, diocese contributions, …). Unfortunately, our reserves are running low and we need your help to keep going.
We want to continue to serve God and our community with love and faithfulness. That’s why we’re asking you to consider donating to the ACF on a regular basis. By setting up a standing bank order, you can help us plan our budget and resources more effectively. It’s easy and secure, and you can cancel or change it anytime. Thank you for your generosity and God bless you!
Would you like to help fund the work of the ACF?
The best way to help is setting up a monthly direct debit to
Anglican Church Freiburg e.V.
Sparkasse Freiburg
IBAN: DE29 6805 0101 0002 5119 20
SWIFT / BIC: FRSPDE66
Other giving options, such as online donations, are laid out here on our website.
If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to contact our treasurers at treasurer@anglican-church-freiburg.de or pick up a Donate Flyer from church.
Praying for each other
If you have personal matters that you would like to be included in the public intercessions during our Sunday morning church services, we encourage you to reach out to our chaplain Vinod Victor (see contact details below). Your concerns, joys, and requests can be shared with the congregation, allowing us to support and uplift one another in prayer. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the chaplain and let your voice be heard during our Sunday services.
Freiburg Anglican Church 