Thursday 3 February 2022

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope to see many of you in church this Sunday, including our families and children, as there will be Junior Church and creche. I am delighted that James Morgan will be preaching. As many of you know, James is in the discernment process with a view to being ordained in the Anglican church. He received a very positive report after his first set of interviews in November and he has his second set of interviews soon. Please do keep him and Lilian in your prayers during this process.

If you are not able to attend the service at church, you can listen to it online at https://eee.stursula.ch/Services/ Many thanks to Hector, Art and Martin.

Moving Chairs
If anyone is able to help us move some more chairs into the church after the service on Sunday, we would be very grateful. This will enable us to have more seats available in church. Then there will no longer need to be booking for seats. However, we will need to give out communion in a different way. I will explain more about this in my next message.

Men's Group
The Men's Group will meet after church, this Sunday, in the Upper Hall, to discuss the readings and the sermon and to share together.

Message from Adorée
The Weibel and Rolland families would like to express their thanks to friends and all within the church family who supported the thanksgiving service for Nik. We thank Helen and David, those who sent comforting words by card, phone, and flowers during the last few difficult months, Maria of the church office and the warmth and good wishes expressed by all.
With gratitude and blessings,
Adorée and family

Ecumenical Service Sermon
I apologise that last week I forgot to attach the sermon given at the ecumenical service by Luke Wittwer from The Salvation Army. I attach it here.

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.

Online Discussion Sessions on The Nicene Creed
Our next session will be on Tuesday 8th February, 7-8.15pm (via Zoom). We had a good number attending last time and a very stimulating discussion. This next week we will be focusing on God the Creator. You might like to read this section in the attached booklet (pages 9-11). But if you don't have time to read it, you are still welcome to come along. It doesn't matter if you missed it last time.

Mission Sunday, 13th February
This year our theme is Caring for Refugees. After the service, Manuel Sager will interview a family from Iran about their experiences as refugees in Switzerland. I hope you will be able to both come to the service and stay for the meeting afterwards.

This coming Sunday we focus on the call of the first disciples. This theme is taken up in the poem below. The poem also has echoes of the calming of the storm which will be our gospel reading in a couple of weeks' time.

The Call of the Disciples

He calls us all to step aboard his ship,
Take the adventure on the morning's wing,
Raise sail with him, launch out into the deep,
Whatever storms or floods are threatening.
If faith gives way to doubt, or love to fear,
Then, as on Galilee, we'll rouse the Lord,
For he is always with us and will hear,
And make our peace with his creative Word,
Who made us, loved us, formed us and has set
All his beloved lovers in an ark;
Borne upwards by his Spirit, we will float
Above the rising waves, the falling dark,
As fellow pilgrims, driven towards that haven,
Where all will be redeemed, fulfilled, forgiven.

Malcolm Guite

With love in Christ,
Helen