Thursday 4 March 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I look forward to seeing some of you in church on Sunday. It's also good to know that many of you will be joining us for the service online. This will be available from Saturday evening, here
Thanks to Hector, Art and Martin for their hard work.

If you would like to attend Sunday services in church, please ring or email the office by 10am on the Thursday before the Sunday. I know some people have not rung to book a seat because they have wanted to be kind in leaving the seats for others. But please do ring if you would like to come. It is good for us to have an idea of the number of people wanting to attend church at the moment. We will be increasing the numbers slowly over the next few weeks. If there is not enough room for everyone, some people will be put on a waiting list and will then have priority the following Sunday.

Men's Group
The group will be meeting, via Zoom, every Sunday, 10.45am, until Easter. If you are not on the mailing list for the Zoom link, and would like to be, please let me know.

Sunday Coffee Time
Every Sunday, now at 11.30am to allow those at church to get home first. We meet together, via Zoom, to share reflections on the readings and sermon. Ask me for the 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
We continue with our Bible studies every Tuesday evening, 7-8.15pm, via Zoom. looking at five different Old Testament prophets. It has been wonderful to have such a good number of people attending these sessions! This coming Tuesday, 9th March, David will be leading us as we look at the prophet Jeremiah. Let me know if you would like to attend.

Seminars run by La Côte Church
The Anglican church of La Côte are running two seminars on the theme 'Distorting truth and exploiting fear for political profit' on Wednesday 17th and Wednesday 24th March at 7.30pm, via Zoom. Anyone is welcome to participate. I attach a flyer with further details.

Giving to those in need Lent is a time to simplify our own lives and to be more generous in giving to others. There is 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.

Barbara Ryser-Barratt
Barbara sadly died this last week. Some of you will have known her well as she was a member of St Ursula's for a long time, though not attending regularly in recent years. I took her funeral, for family and close friends only, this afternoon. Please do keep her children, Nicole, David and Frances, in your prayers.

Cleansing the Temple
The gospel reading this Sunday tells of Jesus' cleansing of the temple. The poem below is inspired by this episode, while also recalling other earlier incidents of Jesus coming to the temple: as a baby with his parents, and as a young boy debating with the scholars. The poem pictures our heart as being like the temple; it too needs to be cleansed and restored, and all barriers between us and God broken down.

Come to your Temple here with liberation
And overturn these tables of exchange,
Restore in me my lost imagination,
Begin in me for good the pure change.
Come, as you came, an infant with your mother,
That innocence may cleanse and claim this ground.
Come as you came, a boy who sought his father
With questions asked and certain answers found.
Come as you came this day, a man in anger,
Unleash the lash that drives a pathway through,
Face down for me the fear, the shame, the danger,
Teach me again to whom my love is due.
Break down in me the barricades of death
And tear the veil in two with your last breath.
(Malcolm Guite)

With my love in Christ,
Helen