Wednesday 25 May 2022

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

There is a lot happening in church over the next few weeks! I hope you will take the time to read about it and join in whatever you can.

Tomorrow is Ascension Day. There will be a Eucharist at 10am. The Ascension marks the end of the physical appearances of the Risen Jesus to his disciples and his return to his Father in glory. It also marks the beginning of the task given to the church to bear witness to the Crucified and Risen Lord in this world. Do come along to the service if you can.

I also hope to see you Sunday 29th May. We are delighted that James Morgan will be preaching that day.

If you can't join us in person you will be able to 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 service and put on the website afterwards here: https://www.stursula.ch/Sermons/index

This is the last week that the text of the service and sermon will be put online, but the sermon will continue to be recorded and put on the website after the service. We are hugely grateful for all that Hector and Martin have done to produce the online services over a long period of time.

Thy Kingdom Come
This is a global prayer initiative encouraging Christians to make more time to pray in the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost. The prayer initiative began in 2016 when the Archbishops of Canterbury and York invited Christians to pray for friends and neighbours who did not know Jesus. This is now a global prayer movement in which Christians from over 80 denominations and 172 countries around the world take part. There are lots of resources to help us to pray during these days which you might like to use (see the links below). We are all encouraged to pray 'Come, Holy Spirit'; praying for the Spirit's work in our own lives, in our church, and in the lives of those close to us who do now know God's love in Christ.

About Thy Kingdom Come
Prayer Journal (by Archbishop of Canterbury
Reflections on 1 Peter (by Archbishop of Canterbury)
Cheeky Pandas - resources for children and families
Daily Videos

There will be some hard copies of the Prayer Journal and Reflections on 1 Peter available in church.

Online Discussion of the Creed
Our next session will be on Tuesday 31st May, 7-8.15pm, when we will be focusing on the Holy Spirit. I will send out the zoom link on Monday.

Pentecost
We will celebrate Pentecost on Sunday 5th June. This will be a big celebration so please do come along. After the service, Dr Manoj Kurian from the World Council of Churches will give a presentation on the joys and struggles of the world wide church. During the presentation (about 30 minutes), there will be some supervised activities for the children outside church . We will then have an international lunch (hopefully outside). You are encouraged (if possible) to bring a dish from your own country, to dress in national dress, and to share a cultural activity (eg a song) if you would like to! It would also be good if you could bring a photo or a work of art from your country.
Please let me know if you have a photo, picture or other work of art to bring, or a song to either play or sing.

We need helpers to set the tables and serve food. Please sign up on the list in church, or let Lynn Morgan know if you would like to help.

This occasion will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our cultural diversity, yet our oneness in Christ.

If you have not been to church for some time, why not come and join us at Pentecost?

Wine at Communion
As you are aware, during Covid times we have not been able to offer the wine at the Eucharist. The Anglican Church does not permit the use of individual cups and it has been inadvisable to offer the common cup while the risks of infection and serious illness have been high. The Bishop Robert, the Bishop of the Diocese in Europe, has recently encouraged all chaplaincies to once again offer the common cup at the Eucharist since the risk of serious illness from Covid is now reduced. We will therefore resume giving out the wine at communion from Pentecost, Sunday 5th June.

Please note there will be no pressure on anyone to receive the wine. I know that many people will want to continue to be cautious. Please also note that, under Anglican guidelines, intinction ('dipping' the wafer into the wine) is not permitted. This is because research has shown this is the most likely way of spreading infection as fingers often go into the wine!

Refugees
Our church has recently received this petition drive below (urging that non-Ukrainian refugees from Ukraine are also given the S Permit) which some of you may wish to support:
https://act.campax.org/petitions/schutzstatus-s-fur-alle-gefluchteten-aus-der-ukraine?utm_source=campax&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blast2022-05-23&source=sb&bucket=cx
There will also be a meeting after church on Sunday 12th June to think about possible ways we can support refugees as a church. We will welcome Carsten Schmidt and Selina Leu, who are involved in organising and resourcing volunteer groups working with refugees, to share their experience.

Queen's Platinum Jubilee
On 6th February this year, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 70 years as Queen of the United Kingdom. She has been remarkable in her faithful service which has been sustained by her strong Christian faith. Her Platinum Jubilee will be marked in various ways in the UK and beyond next weekend, 2nd - 5th June. In my email next week, I will be sending out various links and special prayers which we are invited to pray for the Queen.
There is also a concert at St Andrew's Zurich, Saturday 4th June, 4pm which will include the coronation anthems by Handel and Parry sung by their choir. This will be followed by a reception in their church garden. Entrance is free.

Prayer for the Holy Spirit
Father, pour out your Spirit upon your people,
and grant to us
a new desire for You;
a new communion with one another;
a new energy to serve others;
that your life may grow among us
and your kingdom come
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen

With love in Christ,
Helen