Wednesday 30 March 2022

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This Sunday is Passion Sunday. We follow the story of Jesus as he draws near to the time of his suffering and death. I hope you will be able to join us for worship. We especially welcome families and children and we will be offering Junior Church and creche.

Online Provision
If you can't come along, you can find some of the elements of the service online here: Service Resources at St Ursula's Church, Berne.
From next Sunday, the format for this will be different and we will only provide the text of the readings, intercessions and sermon. However, there will be an audio recording of the sermon taken during the Sunday service and put on the website afterwards here.

Live Lent
I know some people in our community are using the Church of England Live Lent material which suggests prayers and small actions of practical service which we can do each day in Lent. You may want to have a look at it here.

La Côote Lenten Seminars
La Côote Anglican Chaplaincy is running three seminars during Lent: opportunities to reflect, learn, question and discuss. The second is TODAY, Wednesday 30th March, 19.30-21.30: Reel Passion, Reel Resurrection: Reflections on Religion and Film with Rev Arni Danielsson.
Please register by writing to Chris Talbot (christalbot1953@gmail.com)

Wednesday Prayers for Peace
There will be a simple 30 minute service online praying for peace in Ukraine every Wednesday at 18:00 throughout Lent, until April 13th. This is organised by the Diocese in Europe.

Hosting Ukrainian Refugees
I know that some members of the congregation have registered to host refugees if that is needed. If anyone else is interested in doing this, you can find out more details here: https://campax.org/standwithukraine-infos-fur-helfende/

Holy Week and Easter Services
As we draw near to Holy Week, you might want to make a note of the special Holy Week and Easter services:
Palm Sunday,10th April, 10am: We begin in the forest and then process into church for the service.
Maundy Thursday 14th April, 6.30pm: Eucharist, with prayer vigil afterwards
Good Friday 15th April, 10am: Family Service - a short service with visual aids to help us think about the cross
2pm: Liturgy of the Cross. - a reflective service of readings, prayers, meditation and music
Easter Sunday 17th April, 10am: Our joyful Easter Eucharist (with Junior Church and creche) followed by an Easter egg hunt.

Online Sale Site
The online sale site is now open to buy goodies for Easter, including home made hot cross buns. https://www.sale-stursula.ch/product-category/season/

Memorial Service for David Winfield
There will be a special service to give thanks for David's life and to pray for Barbara, Claudia and Daniel on Saturday 9th April, 2.30pm. Please let the office know as soon as possible if you would like to attend as we need to know numbers.

I leave you with a poem depicting Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus as he looks ahead to his suffering and death. This is the theme of the service this Sunday.

The Anointing at Bethany
Come close with Mary, Martha, Lazarus,
So close the candles flare with their soft breath,
And kindle heart and soul to flame within us
Lit by these mysteries of life and death.
For beauty now begins the final movement,
In quietness and intimate encounter,
The alabaster jar of precious ointment
Is broken open for the worlds true lover.
The whole room richly fills to feast the senses
With all the yearning such a fragrance brings,
The heart is mourning but the spirit dances,
Here at the very centre of all things,
Here at the meeting place of love and loss
We all foresee and see beyond the cross.
(Malcolm Guite)

With love in Christ,
Helen