Wednesday 9 September 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It was lovely to see many of you at our Autumn Sale last Saturday. We were very fortunate to have such glorious weather and to be able to enjoy sitting and eating outside as well going inside to buy books, cakes and delicacies from the British Food Stall. The organising team did a fantastic job and all our visitors cheerfully followed our carefully planned safety precautions. We raised around CHF 4670 which is amazing!

Last Sunday we began Creation Season and Archana preached an excellent sermon for Creation Day. We continue with this theme this Sunday. The church is now, again, full. If you have booked a seat and then, for whatever reason, cannot come on Sunday, please let us know, by Saturday night if possible, by texting 077 495 7419 or 076 690 50 88, so that someone else can use the seat.

After the service on Sunday, we will hold our AGM at 11.30am. This is an important meeting when we look back at last year and forward to the year ahead and when we elect our church officers. If you are coming to the AGM please bring your own pencil or pen with you for the voting.

Booking for next Sunday, 20th September, begins on Monday morning online at this link or by ringing the office.

Our Church Survey has now been closed. We had 55 responses and they were generally very positive and helpful. Various points came out of the survey:

Safety precautions: Most people felt we were doing a good job but some expressed concerns that it was becoming more lax and that some people were not keeping their distance when coming in at the beginning of the service or when talking outside at the end. Please continue to keep all safety precautions to protect the vulnerable and to care for one another.

Midweek services: There was a positive response to the idea of repeating the Sunday service during the week so that more people could attend, but some people wanted this in the evening and some in the daytime. What we are proposing is that there will be service at Thun on 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 6.30pm (the chapel is 3 minutes from the station), and a service in St Ursula's, on 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 10.30am. Those who are able to please consider attending one of these services at least sometimes to allow more people to come on Sundays. If you are planning on coming to a midweek service please send an email to me and to the office.

Bible Studies: Many people liked the idea of an online Bible study for men and women (via zoom). We will hold these twice a month, on 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 7pm. The study will focus on one of the readings and the sermon on Sunday and will generally be led by the preacher. These will begin on Tuesday 22nd September.

Junior Church: We are looking into all the practicalities of this.

Creation Season
Jubilee for the Earth 'New Rhythms, New Hope': Talk and Discussion, Monday 14th September
Sarah French from the Christian Conservation charity A Rocha will give a talk and lead a discussion via zoom on Monday 14th September, 7pm. She will talk briefly about some highlights of A Rocha's work worldwide, explore the world challenges of biodiversity loss and climate emergency, reflect on the Jubliee for the earth theme, and look at practical actions we can take in our everyday lives at home, at work and in church. Please do join us. Ask me or the office for the Zoom link.

You might also like to listen to this challenging talk by another member of A Rocha:The State of Nature

Resources for Families and Children
Here are some podcast stories for children aged 3-9, telling the story of creation from Genesis 1 and 2 with words, music and actions.

You might want to listen to a different YouTube version of All God's creatures have a place in the Choir. This is such fun!

All God's Creatures Got a Place in the Choir

Let me end with a couple of prayers:

Creator God,
you made the goodness of the land,
the riches of the sea,
and the rhythm of the seasons;
as we bless you for all you have created,
may we cherish and respect
this planet and its peoples,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Eternal God,
you crown the year with your goodness,
and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season:
grant that we may use them to your glory,
for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
Amen.

With my love in Christ,
Helen