Thursday 20 January 2022

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This coming Sunday, 23rd January, there will NOT be a service at St Ursula's as we are all encouraged to go to the Ecumenical Service at the Munster, 10am. The Eucharist will be in the Old Catholic tradition and the preacher will be from The Salvation Army. I hope you will come along.

If you cannot attend the service, you will be able to find the readings for the day at the bottom of the front page of St Ursula's website, and resources for worship from the Church of England at:
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/church-online. You might also be interested in our service for this Sunday last year, when we marked the Conversion of St Paul.

Men's Group
The group will next meet via zoom this Sunday evening, 23rd January, 7- 7.45pm. This will be an opportunity to catch up with each other and talk about activities for this coming year. Please contact David if you are interested in coming along.

Lectio Divina
We meet every Thursday, 10.30-11.15am via zoom, to reflect quietly on a short passage of Scripture and then share our thoughts together. It is a time of spiritual refreshment and encouragement. Why not come and join us? Please let me know if you would like more details.

Study Sessions
We are starting up online study sessions again on Tuesday, 25th January, 7- 8.15pm, beginning a series of sessions looking at the Nicene Creed. We spend two minutes saying the Creed every Sunday, but what does it all mean and what relevance does it have to us? These study sessions will usually be held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Everyone is welcome.
These sessions will be based on a short booklet on the Creed, written by David. If you would like to come next Tuesday, you are encouraged to read the 2 page Introduction beforehand, pages 6-8. (However, you are also very welcome to come along even if you have not read it beforehand.)

Memorial Service for Niklaus Weibel
This will be in church, 2.30pm, Friday 28th January. This is an opportunity to give thanks for Niklaus' life, to commend him to God, and to pray for Adorée and the family. We will need to know numbers, so if you would like to attend this service, please let the office know by Monday 24th January.

Philosophy and Faith
Isabelle Wienand, who teaches ethics and philosophy of medicine at the University of Basel, will lead an informal conversation on the relationship between Christian faith and philosophy after church on Sunday 30 January. This will be based on a short chapter from a book, in French, by the Catholic philosopher Denis Moreau. The meeting will be in the upper hall, with certificate required, and numbers are limited. If you'd like to read this chapter and take part in the conversation, please email David.

Cross in the Garden
For several months now, we have had a large cross in the church garden. Thank you to Brian who made it. The council will make a decision soon whether to put up a more permanent cross, but first we would like to ask for feedback from the congregation. If you would like to express your view, please send a message to feedback@stursula.ch.

Readings and Prayers for Christian Unity
This is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Let us pray for deeper unity between Christians of different denominations, within the Church of England, and also within our own congregation.

Jesus said: 'May they [those who believe in Jesus] all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.' (John 17:21)

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:14-15)

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5)

Heavenly Father,
you have called us in the Body of your Son Jesus Christ
to continue his work of reconciliation
and reveal you to the world.
Forgive us the sins which tear us apart;
give us the courage to overcome our fears
and to seek that unity which is your gift and your will;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen

With love in Christ,
Helen