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Saturday 18 April 2020 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, I hope you are finding the resources of grace, patience and hope you need in these trying times. Let us remember one another in the different challenges we face, whether we are alone and isolated, or overworked and stressed. Let us continue to pray for all those who are sick and dying, and all those who work tirelessly and at great personal cost to provide medical care, especially remembering doctors and patients in countries without proper medical facilities or good hygiene. Tomorrow is the Second Sunday of Easter. The resources for the service can be found here. The sermon will be given by the Revd Mark Pogson, who leads the English speaking congregation at Biel. Mark was going to come and take the service on Sunday while I was on holiday. Of course, we are not away on holiday, but Mark agreed to preach for us nevertheless. There is a recording of the sermon on the website, but not a written text. After the service, the Men's Bible study group will meet, via Zoom, at 10.45am (not 11.30am as mentioned in my last email). If you do not have the details to participate and you would like to, please let me know. The 'church coffee meeting' will also take place on Sunday, via Zoom, at 11.30am. Please do join us. This also takes place on Wednesdays at 10am. If you want more details do let me know. I leave you with some words from Swiss theologian Karl Barth: 'O Lord God, our Father. You are the light that can never be put out; and now you give us a light that shall drive away all darkness. You are the life that defies death, and you have opened for us the way that leads to eternal life. None of us is a great Christian; we are all humble and ordinary. But your grace is enough for us. Arouse in us that small degree of joy and thankfulness of which we are capable, to the timid faith which we can muster, to the cautious obedience which we cannot refuse, and thus to the wholeness of life which you have prepared for all of us through the death and resurrection of your Son. Do not allow any of us to remain apathetic or indifferent to the wondrous story of Easter, but let the light of our risen Lord reach every corner of our dull hearts.' With love in Christ,
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