Wednesday 17 February 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Today is Ash Wednesday. As the season of Lent begins, I pray that it may be a time of grace and growth for all of us.

To mark Ash Wednesday we will celebrate the Eucharist in church this evening at 6.30pm. Please contact the office by lunch time today if you would like to book a seat. The service usually includes ashing but this is not permitted at this time. However we will still include the litany of penitence and I will invite you to mark your forehead with the sign of the cross. I am delighted that Archana will be preaching. The service will also be put online.

If you would like to attend the service on Sunday 21st February, please contact the office by lunch time tomorrow (preferably by lunch time today). Seats are currently limited to 20.The service will also be online.
I am sure we are all very grateful to Hector, Art and Martin for their hard work in making the online services possible.

Sunday Coffee Time
From this Sunday this will take place at 11.30am to allow those at church to get home first. We meet together on Zoom to share reflections on the readings and sermon. Ask me for the Zoom link.

WHAT'S ON IN LENT

Lectio Divina continues on Thursdays, 10.30-11.15am, as we meet, via Zoom, to meditate in silence on a short passage of the Bible and then share our reflections. Even if you don't usually participate, why not take up this discipline for Lent? Let me know if you would like more details.

Bible Studies
During Lent, there will be a Bible study every Tuesday evening, 7-8.15pm, via Zoom. We will be looking at five different Old Testament prophets. The first study will be on Tuesday 23rd February, looking at the prophet Amos.

Lent Reduce Plastic Challenge
Elizabeth Bussman, the Diocesan Environmental Officer, has produced a Lent calendar with a different tip for each day to help us reduce plastic waste which is so damaging for the environment. I attach this again here. You may want to make a note of the things you already do, and those you want to try to put into practice. Together, we can make a difference!

Giving to those in need
Lent is a time to simplify our own lives and to be more generous in giving to others. From next Sunday we will put out a box in church collecting donations for the Passantenhilfe which helps those who are homeless and in need in Bern. Items of non perishable food and toiletries are welcome. If you are not attending church, you can also take any donations directly to the Passantenhilfe at Gartenstrasse 8, 3007, Bern. Phone: 031 380 75 40.

Online Sale and Books
The online sale is now open for orders, so do take a look.
If you have placed an order but not received a confirmation, it may be that your order has not gone through properly. Please then contact the events team. If you really struggle with the online ordering you can send your order by email. There are now a few more things on the sale site including cards. If you want to add anything to your order, you can send an email with those added details.

The book stalls will be up in the lower hall from next week for several weeks. If you would like to come to look and buy books, please contact Maria in the office.
You will need to arrange a time to come during her work hours, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Everyone who comes must wear a mask and use hand sanitizer.
In addition, the book stalls will be open on Saturday 27th February, 10am - 12noon. Again, you will need to ring the office to arrange a time to come.
Many thanks to Allison and Maria for making this possible.

Reflection: Christ in the Wilderness
This Sunday we focus on Christ's temptations in the wilderness. The painting below was painted by Briton Riviere in 1898. It seeks to express the struggle of Jesus in the desert as he is tempted by Satan to misuse his power. In the bowed figure of Jesus we might perhaps see both the effort of his resistance against evil, but also his complete trust and faithful obedience to God his Father. You may like to use it as an aid to meditation and prayer.

The collect for this Sunday:

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

With love in Christ,
Helen