Tuesday 7 November 2023

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

David and I want to thank you for your continued support and prayers after his mother's death. Please continue to keep him and the wider family in your prayers. The funeral is on Tuesday 14th November in the UK and we will both be away for that.

Gaza and Israel: Candlelit Prayer Vigil, 8.45pm, Wednesday 8th November
I know many of us feel overwhelmed by what is happening in Gaza and Israel and find it hard to know how to respond and how to pray. There will be an Online Candlelit Prayer Vigil, this Wednesday, 8th November, 8.45pm. This will begin at 8.45pm, with us all lighting a candle and holding a time of silence, followed by saying Compline (Night Prayer) together at 9pm. This should be finished by 9.15pm. Ask me for the Zoom link. Do please join us with your candle ready.

Lectio Divina
A group of us meet every Thursday morning, 10:30-11:15am, via Zoom, to meditate on a short Bible passage and share our reflections. Ask me or the office for the Zoom link.
NB There will be NO lectio meeting on Thursday 16th November.

Remembrance Day Ceremony
The annual Remembrance Ceremony will take place at 11am, Saturday 11th November at the Commonwealth War Graves, All Saints, Vevey. This is organised by the British Embassy. Everyone is welcome.

Remembrance Sunday
Our Remembrance Sunday service is 10am, this Sunday, 12th November. During this service, we remember all those who served and died in the First and Second World Wars, and also those who have suffered in other conflicts round the world, and those still suffering and dying in the present, and we pray for peace.

Nacht der Religionen, Saturday 11th November
This year's Nacht der Religionen takes place this Saturday evening and there are various events around Bern. St Ursula's is taking part in the Old Catholic Light Vesper service at St Peter and St Paul, at 8pm, together with the Old Catholics, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Swedish and Hungarian Church. There will be refreshments served before and after the service. Do come and join us.

Cecily's Fund Events
There are two events coming up to raise money for Cecily's Fund, the charity we support in Zambia working with AIDS orphans. One is the Soup Lunch at St Ursula's on Sunday 19th November and the other is a concert in the Heiliggeistkirche, 19:00, Wednesday 22nd November. Here are flyers for the soup and the concert..

Christmas Bazaar
The Christmas Bazaar takes place on Friday 24th November, 17:00 - 19:30 and Saturday 25th November, 10.00 - 15:00.
On Sunday 19th, after the service, we will be moving all the chairs in the church to prepare for this. Please help us if you can. If you are able offer help for the Bazaar with baking, setting up and running a stall, or in any other way, do let the office know. Thank you.

Prayers for Peace
As we approach Remembrance Sunday, and we call to mind the war and conflicts or our world, past and present, let us pray for healing and peace.

God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion on the anguish of the world and by your healing power make whole both people and nations, through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Almighty God,
from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace
and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who take counsel for the nations of the earth
that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

With love in Christ,
Helen