I look forward to seeing many of you at church on Sunday. If you are not able to come in person, please do join the online service which can be found here: https://www.stursula.ch/Services/index.html from Saturday evening. Thank you to all those who make this possible week by week.
AGM This will be held at 11.30am this Sunday, after the service. It is an important meeting when we review the past year and look ahead to the coming year, and when we elect church officers. Thank you to those who have booked seats. We have tried to fit in as many people as possible. There may be a couple of seats left but then it will be absolutely full! Given the increased numbers of people who will be present, please be especially careful to observe all Covid precautions. We will need to keep windows open too, so please wrap up warm. We would also ask you to bring your own pencil or pen. We will not be making paper copies of the reports, but you can read them online here.
Please try and read them before the meeting. Please also note that only those on the electoral roll can vote.
The Men's Group and Coffee Time will NOT be meeting this Sunday.
Tuesday Study Group, 7pm, 27th April.
We have generally used these study sessions for Bible study, but we are planning something different this coming Tuesday. David will give a talk on Understanding Anglicanism. If you have ever wondered how churches of very different styles and theologies (eg Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical) can all be part of the same Anglican church, then come along and learn a bit more! St Ursula's is an Anglican church and it is important for us to understand something of our own tradition and its history.
Books Just a reminder that the book stall is still up in the lower hall for the next week or so. If you would like to look at the books (and buy some!), please contact the office to make a time.
The Patton Family
We are very grateful for all that Marc, Kathy, Annalise, Jillian and Miriam have brought to our church fellowship. Their time and skill in producing the nativity and Easter online family services has been invaluable! We are very sad that they are leaving us in June. They have made a wonderful 2 minute video about their move which is very much worth watching. I have attached it at the bottom of this email.
They have also written the following message:
St. Ursula's Congregation,
The Patton family, (Marc and Kathy with three daughters Annalise, Jillian, and Miriam) have a new adventure awaiting them starting in July. Kathy and I currently teach at the International School of Berne. We have accepted new employment and relocation opportunities in Panama City, Panama. We are thankful for the wonderful and inspirational sermons from Helen and David, and we will continue to enjoy the company of the congregation during the last few months of our stay in Switzerland. Please pray for us as we organize our departure, begin transitioning to a new job, new school for our children, and residing in a new climate and environment.
God's blessings,
Marc and Kathy
Let us keep the whole family in our prayers in these coming months.
I end with a poem which speaks of the song of God's grace.
A Kind of Tune
A kind of tune, a music everywhere
And nowhere. Love's long lovely undersong,
A trace in time, a grace-note in the air,
Borne to us from the place where we belong
On every passing breeze and in the breath
Of every creature. All things hear and fear,
For faintly, through our fall, we too may hear
The strong song of the Son that undoes death.
And one day we will hear it unimpaired:
The joy of all the sorrowful, the song
Of all the saints who cry 'how long',
The hidden hope of all who have despaired.
He sang it to his mother in the womb
And now it echoes from his empty tomb.
(Malcolm Guite)