Thursday 17 February 2022

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I look forward to seeing many of you at church on Sunday. There is now no need to book for seats for the service as we now have many more chairs in church, and even with keeping a distance between each household there should be plenty of seats for everyone who wants to come. It will be very good to have Junior Church and crèche with us. Although there is no booking of seats, we will try to keep the front two rows for the families.

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

COVID restrictions
As you will be aware, the BAG made announcements yesterday about lifting COVID restrictions. The Standing Committee of our Church Council discussed the implications for St Ursula's yesterday evening. From this Sunday we will not be checking certificates at church; we cannot insist on this when it is not legally required. However, as we know, cases of COVID are still very high, which is of considerable concern to many members of our congregation. We therefore strongly encourage everyone to continue to wear masks, sanitise their hands, and keep social distancing. In this way, we will act with kindness and consideration towards others and help to protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable. We will review these matters at our next Council meeting on 8th March.

Music in Church: Open Forum
After church this Sunday, 20th February, you are invited to an open discussion about music in church and hopes for the future in this area of church life. I will present some important principles and then invite comments. Everyone is welcome.

Online Discussion on the Nicene Creed:
Next Tuesday, 22nd February, 7-8.15pm
Come and join us as we continue our sessions on the Nicene Creed. In the next two sessions we will be focusing on our belief in Jesus Christ as fully God and fully human. If you would like to, you can read the section on pages 12-14 in the attached booklet before the meeting. (But this is not essential.)

Men's Group: Sunday 20th February 7pm by Zoom
As usual, the men's group will meet to share news and concerns, to discuss the Bible readings and sermon from earlier that day, and to pray together. From time to time at these meetings David also asks a few questions to one of the group about their life and work. This time David will interview Emil Jacob. All are welcome. Contact me or David if you'd like to receive the Zoom link.

Discussion of the Readings and Sermon
After the service on 27th February, anyone who would like to is invited to join in a discussion of the readings and sermon. We are keen that this does not become just an academic exercise but that we keep in mind the 'So, what?' question: what do the scriptures say to us personally and to our church today?

Cross in the Garden
Thank you to those who commented on the cross in the garden and gave us your feedback. We did not have a lot of feedback but from what we did receive there was a fairly equal split between positive and negative responses. The Council has discussed this further and we are concerned that the cross, which is a symbol of our unity in Christ, should not become a potential source of division. Therefore we have decided to take it down as soon as this is practically possible. We will store the cross somewhere as we may want to use it for particular occasions for an outdoor service or event in the future.

David Winfield
Some of you may already have heard the sad news that David Winfield died on Tuesday. Many of you will have known David for many years. He was a long term committed member of St Ursula's and he served the church faithfully in various ways including as churchwarden during Peter Hawker's time as Chaplain. Let us give thanks for his life, commend him to God and pray for God's grace and strength for Barbara, Daniel and Claudia. I know they are very grateful for the love, support and prayers of the church community. There will be a private cremation for the family soon, but there will also be a memorial service in church in due course.

Prayers
God be in my head,
and in my understanding:
God be in my eyes,
and in my looking;
God be in my mouth,
and in my speaking
God be in my heart,
and in my thinking;
God be at my end,
and at my departing.
Amen

The Lord is here,
his Spirit is with us.
We need not fear,
his Spirit is with us.
We are surrounded by love,
his Spirit is with us.
We are immersed in peace,
his Spirit is with us.
We rejoice in hope,
his Spirit is with us.
We travel in fatih, his Spirit is with us.

Lord God,
you created us and fashioned us,
you know us and search us out,
you abide with us through light and dark:
help us to know your presence in this life
and, in the life to come, still to be with you;
where you are alive and reign,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen

With love in Christ,
Helen