Wednesday 6 April 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. On Palm Sunday we remember the crowds welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem, shouting 'hosanna.' As is the tradition in many churches, we will also process into church singing. I invite all who can to meet at the entrance to the forest just behind the recycling centre, at 10am. There will be a short introduction and prayer here before we process to church, singing as we go. For those unable to join the procession, please go straight to church where we will join you shortly afterwards for the rest of the service.

Online Provision
If you can't come along on Sunday, you can find the text of the service online here: Service Resources at St Ursula's Church, Berne. There will also be an audio recording of the sermon taken during the Sunday service and put on the website afterwards here.

La Côte Lenten Seminars
La ôote Anglican Chaplaincy is running three seminars during Lent: opportunities to reflect, learn, question and discuss. The third is TODAY, Wednesday 6th April 19.30-21.30: Trauma Theology: Surviving Trauma at the Foot of the Cross with Dr Karen O'Donnell.

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. Link.

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.

Online Study of the Creed
For various reasons, our next online discussion of the Nicene Creed has been POSTPONED until Tuesday 17th May. We will be reflecting on the resurrection of Christ.

Holy Week and Easter Services
During this coming week we follow the way of the cross, as we reflect on Jesus' betrayal, torture and death and then as we celebrate his resurrection. There are several special services during this week:

• 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
• Good Friday, 15th April, 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 crèche) followed by an Easter egg hunt

The text for all these services will be put on the website here.
The sermons will be recorded during the services and afterwards put on the website here.

Online Sale Site
The online sale site is now open to buy goodies for Easter, including home made hot cross buns.

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. The church will be very full, and there are many cases of COVID around, so we will need to have the windows open as a protective measure. PLEASE DRESS WARMLY.

Special Day on Ministry with Children and Young People
St Ursula's is hosting a special day for the Anglican churches in Switzerland to think about ministry with children and young people. Mary Hawes, Children and Youth Adviser for the Church of England will be leading the day. The day will run from 10.30 - 15.30 on Saturday 7th May. Everyone is welcome. To register please email Elizabeth Bussmann: bemdeo@gmail.com by 30th April. I attach a flyer for this day.

I end with a poem for Palm Sunday:

Palm Sunday

Now to the gate of my Jerusalem,
The seething holy city of my heart,
The Saviour comes. But will I welcome him?
Oh crowds of easy feelings make a start;
They raise their hands, get caught up in the singing,
And think the battle won. Too soon they'll find
The challenge, the reversal he is bringing
Changes their tune. I know what lies behind
The surface flourish that so quickly fades;
Self-interest, and fearful guardedness,
The hardness of the heart, its barricades,
And at the core, the dreadful emptiness
Of a perverted temple. Jesus, come
Break my resistance and make me your home.
(Malcolm Guite)

With love in Christ,
Helen