Wednesday 31 August 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Saturday 3rd September we will be holding our Autumn Sale at St Ursula's, from 10am - 2pm. The book stall and food stall will be open, and there will be delicious food on sale from the café, restaurant and cake stall. Please do come along and bring your families and friends. If you can help by baking cakes to sell, helping to set up or clear up, that would be much appreciated.

Creation Sunday, 4th September
We will be welcoming Professor John Wyatt as our preacher, and he will also lead an informal discussion about his work after the service. Professor Wyatt is Emeritus Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, Ethics & Perinatology at University College London. He is also a senior researcher at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge. He is a doctor, author, speaker and research scientist. He is currently engaged in addressing new ethical, philosophical and theological challenges caused by advances in medical science and technology and reflecting on the interface between cutting-edge science and Christian faith. Do come to this special service for Creation Sunday and join in the discussion afterwards.

If you cannot come to the service in person on Sunday you can find the readings and hymns for the service here: Service Resources at St Ursula's Church, Berne. The sermon will be recorded and put on the website afterwards, at this same link.

Coffee After Church
We still need more volunteers to set up the coffee and clear up afterwards. If you can join the team let the office know. We especially need helpers this coming Sunday. We would very much like to serve coffee and refreshments after the special Creation Sunday service, but cannot do that if there is nobody to set up and clear up. If you can help this Sunday, please let Maria know in the office, or send an email to me.

Online Discussion of the Creed
Our final session will be by zoom next Tuesday 6th September, 7-8.15pm. We will be thinking about the Christian hope for the future as expressed in the creed: 'He will come again in glory...' and 'We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.' More details will follow.

Ecumenical Service for Creationtide
This will be on 11th September at 17.00, at "Träffer", Schosshaldenstrasse 43, 3006 Bern. It will be followed by an Apéro. Everyone is welcome.

Reflection
Last Sunday, David spoke about St Augustine. Below are some well known words of St Augustine, quoted by David, which can still speak to us today:

'You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.'

'Late have I loved you, O Beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you! And look! You were within me, and I was outside myself: and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created... Those created things kept me far away from you... You called and shouted: and broke through my deafness. You flamed and shone: and banished my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me: and I drew in my breath and I pant for you. I have tasted you: and now I hunger and thirst for more. You have touched me: and I have burned for your peace.'

With love in Christ,
Helen