St Ursula's Church
Berne, Switzerland
A Church of the Anglican Communion, welcoming all who seek the Lord Jesus Christ
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| St Ursula's Church A Church of the Anglican Communion, welcoming all who seek the Lord Jesus Christ | ||||||||
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During this service, we shall be inviting you to light a candle. If you have one available, it would be nice to have it beside you (with some means of lighting it!) If you don't, depending on what you are using to view this service, we hope to provide a virtual candle.
Welcome.
Today we celebrate All Saints Day, when we remember the saints who have gone before us.
We are not alone; we are united with Christians across the world,
past, present and future in the 'communion of saints'.
Later in our service, I will also be inviting you to light a candle to remember our own loved ones who have died.
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.
1 For all the saints who from their labours rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesu, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness, still their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
4 O blest communion, fellowship divine!
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
6 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest:
sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
7 But lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array:
the King of Glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
8 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Walsham How
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
1 Praise him, praise him,
praise him in the morning,
praise him in the noontime.
Praise him, praise him,
praise him when the sun goes down.
2 Love him, love him,
love him in the morning,
love him in the noontime.
Love him, love him,
love him when the sun goes down.
3 Serve him, serve him,
serve him in the morning,
serve him in the noontime.
Serve him, serve him,
serve him when the sun goes down.
Since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,
looking to Jesus in penitence and faith. Hebrews 12:1
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us,
forgive us all that is past and grant
that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:
grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living,
that we may come to those inexpressible joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you;
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.
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
6On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear.
7And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
8he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
9It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
A reading from the book of Revelation.
1I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.' 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.' 6Then he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.'
1 Blest are the pure in heart,
for they shall see our God;
the secret of the Lord is theirs,
their soul is Christ's abode.
2 The Lord, who left the heavens
our life and peace to bring,
to dwell in lowliness with men,
their pattern and their King;
3 Still to the lowly soul
he doth himself impart,
and for his dwelling and his throne
chooseth the pure in heart.
4 Lord, we thy presence seek;
may ours this blessing be;
give us a pure and lowly heart,
a temple meet for thee.
John Keble
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
Glory to you, O Lord
32When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34He said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to him, 'Lord, come and see.' 35Jesus began to weep. 36So the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!' 37But some of them said, 'Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?' 38Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, 'Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.' 40Jesus said to her, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?' 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, 'Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.' 43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ
Today we celebrate the festival of All Saints. As always, we have sung the stirring hymn 'For all the saints', about our relationship as the Church living and active in the world today to the saints of the past, with whom we are one in Christ in a communion that transcends death. We are encouraged by their example to persevere in faith, with our eyes fixed on Christ. Today's readings speak of God taking away death. Through Christ, the Son of God who sheds tears at the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35), God wipes away all our tears (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:5), opening to us the hope of eternal life full of the 'inexpressible joys' prepared by God for those who truly love him (Collect for All Saints).
But I'm not going to speak about that today.
Not because I do not love the message of All Saints. Not because I want to dodge anything in today's Bible passages. Not because I do not want to honour the memory of departed loved ones, as we shall do later in this service. But because, from time to time, there are things which have to be addressed in our immediate community or in the life of the wider world. Occasionally, something so pressing is going on around us that it's right to depart from the normal discipline of focusing on the scriptures we've just heard and the related themes of the unfolding Church year. Today is such a day, so with great respect I am parking the theme of All Saints to focus instead on the two week COP26 Climate Change Conference beginning in Glasgow tomorrow. This is so important to all the people of the world that it demands our attention, our serious Christian reflection, and our prayer. As we gather to worship God our Creator, this is a day to remember the one world that we share with all people, and to see the crisis we face in the light of our faith.
I am no expert on the science of climate change or on the politics of finding the best solutions to this crisis. Many of you know much more about these matters than I do. My main focus will be on what difference it makes that we believe in God, the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ. As we open our hearts and minds to the scale of the problems to be addressed in Glasgow, what challenges does our faith pose to us, and what hope for the future do we find?
But before turning to the challenges and the hope that our faith brings, let's remind ourselves briefly of some of the main problems that set the agenda for those meeting in Glasgow.
The oceans and seas are being poisoned; glaciers are melting (not only at the poles, but also here in Switzerland). In some parts of the world the air is becoming toxic; plants and animal species are being annihilated; floods, storms, wildfires, famines and droughts have all increased alarmingly.
A vital point is that these changes have affected the world's poorer nations disproportionately. There is, however, ultimately nowhere to hide for anyone, rich or poor. There are no 'gated communities' that will keep these threats at a safe distance from us forever. No man is an island; no nation is an island. In the end, we can only flourish in safety and good health if we do so together.
Health is indeed an important aspect of the challenges facing COP26. A recent report by the medical journal The Lancet warns that climate change is set to become the 'defining narrative of human health', triggering food shortages, deadly disasters and disease outbreaks that could dwarf the toll of the coronavirus. But the worst outcomes are not inevitable, and these experts call for a massive change in our collective, global lifestyle, just like doctors telling unhealthy patients what changes they need to make. One American doctor comments: 'Lowering greenhouse gas emissions is a prescription... The oath I took as a doctor is to protect the health of my patients. Demanding action on climate change is how I can do that.'
Like a patient with alarming health symptoms, the world and all of us in it need to be challenged to change, but we also need hope, otherwise we can sink into despair or be paralyzed by panic. It is precisely a mixture of challenge and hope that God holds out to us.
First, we remind ourselves that the world around us is not a careless, casual, or accidental matter; it is God's creation. Our faith affirms the goodness of creation and God's delight in it. 'God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.' (Genesis 1:31) As a unique part of the wider creation, God makes us human beings in his own image and addresses us personally. We have the God-given capacity to interpret the world; to wonder; to worship; to live in conscious relationship with our maker. God invites us to delight in the world as he does, but also to look after it. God gives us 'dominion' over all living things (Genesis 1:28). Sometimes that word 'dominion' has been seen as licence for exploitation, but we are called to exercise dominion as Jesus Christ did, the Lord who came to serve, the shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep. Our responsibility is to be good stewards, reflecting the loving wisdom of God who has entrusted this world to our care. On God's behalf, we are to seek the good of God's creation, the wellbeing of every other creature.
But while we humans have special, God-given capacities and responsibilities, indeed a unique role within God's creation, we should not think of ourselves as ultimately separate from the rest of creation. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams writes that 'we need a fresh sense of the delight to be found in human and non-human creation alike, a fresh sense of the importance of living in attunement with who we are and what the world is'. Like everything else, we are created by God, made of the same particles of life as other created things. We must humbly acknowledge that we are not masters of the universe, but creatures, lovingly created by God along with the rest of creation. 'It is he who has made us, and not we ourselves.' (Psalm 100:3)
There is also a dark side to the interconnectedness between us humans and the rest of creation. Although the world was created good, it is fragile, subject to decay, frustration and suffering. St Paul describes the 'groaning of creation' (Romans 8:22), which is somehow tied up with our human frustration, suffering and sin. We are sinful creatures living in a fallen world. We may today be aware of the groaning of creation in ways Paul could not have imagined, for example through deforestation, floods and droughts, loss of animal and plant life. Sometimes the suffering and groaning of creation is very clearly linked to human greed and carelessness.
Yet in the midst of a suffering, groaning creation there is hope. Paul is confident that the God who has raised Jesus Christ from the dead will also restore his whole creation – ourselves included – to the glory for which it was made. All creation will be liberated, 'set free from its bondage to decay', and this is bound up with our destiny as perfected children of God (Romans 8:21). Christian hope is indeed about our redemption, our deliverance from all that deforms the divine image in us, but it is not just about ourselves. In today's reading from Revelation Christ says: 'See, I am making all things new' (Revelation 21:5). We must avoid thinking of salvation in narcissistic terms. Jesus Christ died and rose again for me, for you; but not just for me and for you. Jesus Christ died and rose again to make all things new. So Christian hope is not just about my eternal welfare; it also lays upon us responsibility to play our part in the healing of God's creation. The whole creation matters to God; it should matter to us also.
So concern for creation is not an optional extra. The Anglican Communion, to which the Church of England belongs, defines as one of the five marks of the Church's mission: 'To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth'. Concern for creation is part of the Church's mission. That doesn't mean each individual Christian will be equally involved in this issue; but it does mean we should all recognize this calling, this task laid upon the Church, and consider how we may share in this task, through action, through giving, through prayer.
This is not just about protecting animal and plant species, trees and rivers, seas and glaciers. It is also about people. Creation care is a matter of justice. Those most affected by climate change are the poor and vulnerable of our world. One person in the UK generates as much carbon dioxide as 212 people in Burundi – but people in Burundi suffer the effects of the environmental crisis far more than people in the UK. This is clearly unjust: a sinful state of affairs.
Although Jesus came to bring release from bondage for us all, in his ministry he showed particular concern for the poor and vulnerable, and he calls us to do so too. This also is a defining mark of the Church's mission. Safeguarding the environment and seeking justice for the poor belong together as marks of faithful Christian response to the crisis that the world faces.
So as thousands of delegates make their way to Glasgow, we are reminded that our faith in the Creator God, the God and Father of Jesus Christ, challenges us deeply but also gives us deep hope in God's good purposes for the world. This combination of challenge and hope prompts us to action as God's stewards, actively pursuing his agenda in his world. There is so much information about things to do and things not to do, or at least to do much less; there are causes and campaigns to consider supporting, with our activity, our money. Just within this church, our Eco-Group has provided valuable guidance to us all, and Dominic Roser recently gave us a very informative talk with some focused suggestions for action. You don't need me to give you ten more top tips.
I will leave you with just one prompt. With the great opportunity that COP26 offers to the world, this is particularly a time to pray. The leaders of the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches recently issued a joint appeal to pray for those meeting in Glasgow. And if you google 'COP26 - prayer' you will find much to guide your prayers.
God made the world. God loves the world. God is present in the groaning and suffering of his creation and calls us to share in his work in this world, seeking to cherish and renew it, to see its abundant riches shared gratefully among all peoples. Whether they believe in God or not, the people gathering in Glasgow face an extraordinary opportunity to seek the good of God's world and of all God's creatures. So let us pray for them.
I conclude with a prayer written by the Archbishop of York:
Creator God, giver of life,
You sustain the earth and direct the nations.
In this time of climate crisis
grant us clarity to hear the groaning of creation
and the cries of the poor;
challenge us to change our lifestyles;
guide our leaders to take courageous action;
enable your church to be a beacon of hope;
and foster within us a renewed vision
of your purposes for your world;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
by and for whom all things were made.
Amen.
David Marshall
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things,
and by your will they have their being.
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain,
and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests
serving our God, and they will reign with you on earth.
Now I invite you, if you would like to, to light a candle to remember loved ones who have died.
We especially remember those in our own community who have died this last year:
Mary Wittwer, Margaret Ita, Barbara Ryser-Barratt, Claire Morgenthaler.
Hear us, O merciful Father, as we remember in love those whom we have placed in your hands. Acknowledge, we pray, the sheep of your own fold, lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming. Enfold them in the arms of your mercy, in the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and in the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
United in the company of all the faithful and looking for the coming of the kingdom, let us offer our prayers to God, the source of all life and holiness.
Merciful Lord, strengthen all Christian people through your Holy Spirit, that we may live as a royal priesthood to praise you for ever.
We pray especially for Bishops Robert and David. Bless Helen, David, Archana, and all who minister here.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Dear Lord,
We pray for Your church here on earth,
for all who turn to face You through your Son Jesus Christ,
we pray for all seeking comfort in Your Spirit.
May we all, members of all denominations,
call out Your glory in unity, call out Your praise in unity.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord our God,
We turn to you as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear us as we behold the beauty of the gift of creation
And give thanks to you for your many blessings.
Hear us as we sense the fragility of your gift at this time.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Loving God, we praise your name with all you have created. You are present in the whole universe, and in the smallest of creatures. We acknowledge the responsibilities you have placed upon us as stewards of your creation. May the Holy Spirit inspire all political leaders at COP26 as they seek to embrace the changes needed to foster a more sustainable society. Instil in them the courage and gentleness to implement fairer solutions for the poorest and most vulnerable, and commit their nations to the care of Our Common Home.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the service of the poor and needy; all who minister to the sick and dying; all who bring light to those in darkness: and all who fear the effects of the current pandemic..
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, at this time, many are suffering in different ways – in mind, body or spirit. We pray for those known to us and ask for your healing:
We pray for Sonia Klein, Janet Wenger, Nik and Adorée, Belle and Martin, David and Annemarie Low, David Winfield, John Eze.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them. Give to them the strong comfort which no one else can give, and let them know the comforting power of Christ's resurrection.
We remember Cody Thompson who died recently and pray for his wife Jen, mother Pam and aunt Chris.
Christ Jesus, you are the light of the world which eternally shines and brings hope. You turn our darkness into light and in your light shall we see light.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We give you thanks for the whole company of your saints in glory, with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises; by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
We are fellow-citizens with the saints
and the whole household of God,
through Christ our Lord,
who came and preached peace
to those who were far off
and to those who were near.
Ephesians 2.19,17
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
1 Alleluia, sing to Jesus!
his the sceptre, his the throne;
Alleluia, his the triumph,
his the victory alone:
hark, the songs of peaceful Sion
thunder like a mighty flood;
Jesus out of every nation
hath redeemed us by his blood.
2 Alleluia, not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia, he is near us,
faith believes, nor questions how:
though the cloud from sight received him,
when the forty days were o'er,
shall our hearts forget his promise,
"I am with you evermore"?
3 Alleluia, bread of angels,
thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia, here the sinful
flee to thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
earth's Redeemer, plead for me,
where the songs of all the sinless
sweep across the crystal sea.
4 Alleluia, King eternal,
thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia, born of Mary,
earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne:
thou within the veil hast entered,
robed in flesh, our great High Priest;
thou on earth, both Priest and Victim
in the eucharistic feast.
W Chatterton Dix
As our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praises,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory throughout all ages.
Amen.
Lord of heaven,
in our worship you bring us near
to an innumerable company of angels
and to the spirits of the saints made perfect:
even as we share their fellowship,
in our earthly pilgrimage
so may we come to share their joy in heaven;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
1 Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
bright Seraphs, Cherubim and Thrones,
raise the glad strain, Alleluia.
Cry out, Dominions, Princedoms, Powers,
Virtues, Archangels, Angels' choirs,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
2 O higher than the Cherubim,
more glorious than the Seraphim,
lead their praises, Alleluia.
Thou bearer of the eternal Word,
most gracious, magnify the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
3 Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
ye Patriarchs and Prophets blest,
Alleluia, alleluia.
Ye holy Twelve, ye Martyrs strong,
all Saints triumphant, raise the song.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
4 O friends, in gladness let us sing,
supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia, alleluia.
To God the Father, God the Son
and God the Spirit, Three in One,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Athelstan Riley
God the Father,
by whose love Christ was raised from the dead,
open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life. Amen.
God the Son,
who in bursting from the grave has won a glorious victory,
give you joy as you share the Easter faith. Amen.
God the Holy Spirit,
whom the risen Lord breathed into his disciples,
empower you and fill you with Christ's peace. Amen.
and the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you
and remain with you now and always. Amen.
Neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Go therefore in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
| We hope that you enjoyed the online service and
it helps you feel connected to us. Our finances have also been impacted by the closure of our premises so If you would like to give to St Ursula's collection, you can pay to one of the following bank accounts: Postfinance: CH79 0900 0000 3000 4416 8 for CHF giving Cater Allen: GB06 ABBY 1657 1053 6206 89 for GBP giving. BIC is ABBYGB2LXXX Or via Twint: 
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Now I invite you, if you would like to, to light a candle to remember loved ones who have died.