Thursday 4 February 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This Sunday we celebrate Mission Sunday and we will be reflecting on what it means for us to join in God's mission of love to the world. It is also an opportunity to learn about, and pray for, the various charities we support as a church. The service will include a short powerpoint display of pictures drawn by the children of Junior Church, with each picture representing a different charity. If you do not know much about our charities, please do find out more! The service will also include a video clip of the work of Tear Fund and dontations to Tear Fun will be welcome. You will be able to join in the service here.

Thanks to all those who work so hard to make the online service possible week by week.

Online Family Service

We are offering a short 20 minute service, via zoom, for our families with young children which will meet 5pm, the first Sunday of the month. Our first service will be this Sunday, 7th February. Any families who would like to join in please let me know.

Opening Church for Services

The church council reviewed the Covid situation on Tuesday. The number of new cases in Switzerland (and in the Bern area) have generally been falling in recent weeks though there is still some fluctuation. We decided to open the church from Sunday 14th February but only for 20 people at a time. This is because the new variant is more contagious and we need to be very cautious. If the cases continue to fall we may be able to increase the number of people who can attend a service. On the other hand, if the cases rise sharply again, we may need to close the church again. We will monitor the situation closely.

If you would like to attend next Sunday's service, please ring or email the church office from next Tuesday to reserve a seat. Those who do not get a seat on 14th February will be given preference for one of the following services on Ash Wednesday (17th February) and on Sunday 21st February.

Those who attend services will need to follow our Schutzkonzept very carefully. There will also be some additional precautions. We are no longer permitted to sing (even with a mask on) and we are also requested not to gather together to chat at the beginning or the end of the service. I hope we will all help one another to observe this.

Sunday Coffee Time, 11am: an opportunity to meet up with one another (via zoom) and to share any reflections on the readings and sermon. Ask Helen for the Zoom link.

Men's Group: the men's group will meet this Sunday, 10.45am for a short Bible study and an opportunity to share news. Please let us know if you would like to join in.

Online Bible study

We will be meeting on Tuesday 9th February, 7-8.15pm, for a study of Luke 10. 38-end. Ask Helen for the Zoom link. Please let me know if you are hoping to attend.

Lectio Divina

We meet to meditate on a short Bible passage and share our reflections, every Thursday, 10.30-11.15am, via zoom. Let me know if you would like more details.

WHAT'S ON IN LENT

Ash Wednesday Prayer and Fasting Day

This will follow a similar format to the Advent Prayer and Fasting Day: those who want to take part will be given some readings and prayers to use at home and we will also meet up together three times during the day, via zoom. If you are interested in participating in this, please let me know. The day will be an opportunity to make more space to be still and pray before God and prepare ourselves for Lent.

Ash Wednesday service 7pm

There will be a service in church as well as online. Unfortunately we are not able to do the ashing but the service will still include the traditional litany of penitence. It is a very good way to begin Lent. The service will also be online. If you want to attend the service in church you will need to ring or email the office as numbers will be limited to 20 people.

Lent Bible studies

There will be a series of 5 online Bible studies during Lent on Tuesday evenings, 7 - 8.15pm. Each week we will be looking at a different Old Testament prophet. The first session will be on Tuesday 23rd February.

Online Sale

The Spring Sale will be held through online orders. There is now a website where you can make your orders for baked goods, British food stuff, books, crafts and other items. The website will become live this Sunday. Thank you to all those who have worked hard to make this possible.

Let us continue to pray for those across our world who are seriously sick, those who are bereaved, those who are distressed and troubled, isolated or depressed. And let us pray for ourselves and one another that we might learn more of God's grace through these troubled times

Prayer
God of grace and mercy,
your son Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus.
Send your Holy Spirit on those who grieve,
any who struggle, and all who fear.
Meet us in our times of questioning, anger and doubt.
Show us what we can do to enable one another
to overcome isolation, distress and despair;
and make us a humbler people who know our need of you.
In Christ's name.
Amen

With love in Christ,
Helen