Thursday 7 September 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This coming weekend is a very busy weekend with our Autumn Sale on Saturday and the Confirmation Service on Sunday. Please do read carefully the information below about these two events. I hope to see you both on Saturday and on Sunday!

Autumn Sale: Saturday 9th September
The Sale will be open from 10am - 2pm. There will be the usual cake stall, food stall, book stall, as well as other stalls, plus the cafe/restaurant will be open. If you are able to bake a cake to sell or help in any other way, we would be grateful. Please let Maria know in the office.

However what is most important is that you come along! These Sales are wonderful community events, and we often have many visitors from beyond the church. It is important to have a good number of people from our church to talk to the visitors. So, especially if you have never been to one of our Sales before, please do join us.

Confirmation Service, Sunday 10th September
On 10th September, Bishop Robert (our Bishop) will come to St Ursula's for our confirmation service. Bishop Robert will be leading the service and preaching. Laeticia Elanga Mpolo, Delali Agoba, Joana Agoba, Manu Lehmann, and Zornitsa Holden will be confirmed, and Helene Vogt will be received into the Church of England. Please do pray for them and come to support them.

A few important things to say about the service:

• Please do come! As well as supporting those being confirmed, please come to meet our Bishop. As Bishop of the whole Diocese in Europe (from Iceland to Morocco) he has responsibility for a huge area, so we don't get to see him very often! Even if you are not Anglican yourself, St Ursula's is an Anglican church and he is our Bishop. I'm sure you will find it interesting to meet him and to listen to him.
• Please arrive in good time so that you are seated in church by 9.55am if possible, as the service will start promptly
• Children should be taken straight to Junior Church or Creche (in the downstairs hall) The children will come in to church for communion as usual.
• After the service, there will be a celebratory lunch for the whole congregation. We invite everyone to bring a dish to share. Perhaps you could bring a dish from your own country, culture, or region.
• Please take your dish of food to the upper hall before the service - any time from 9.30am.

Exhibition of Brian Morgan's Pictures
I attach a flyer with information about an exhibition of Brian Morgan's artwork. The exhibition is open on the coming Fridays: 8th, 15th, 22nd September, 18:00 - 21:00. For more details please look at the flyer.

The Confirmation Service on Sunday should be a very joyful occasion with a full church. It is a significant occasion for those getting confirmed, but is also a reminder to all of us of what it means to follow Jesus. I leave you with the words of one of the songs we will sing on Sunday. I hope we can use it for our own reflections and prayers.

Will you come and follow me?

Will you come and follow me
if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know,
and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown
in you, and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind
if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind,
and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
should your life attract or scare,
will you let me answer prayer
in you, and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see
if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free,
and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean
and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean
in you, and you in me?

Will you love the 'you' you hide
if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside,
and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found
to reshape the world around
through my sight and touch and sound
in you, and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you,
and never be the same.
In your company I'll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow
in you, and you in me.

With love in Christ,
Helen