Wednesday 22 November 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

David and I want to thank you again for your continued support and prayers after his mother's death. The funeral last week was a very fitting occasion for a large number of family and friends.

This coming week is a very busy week in the life of St Ursula's. Do come and join us for what you can.

Concert for Cecily's Fund, THIS EVENING
This evening there will be a concert raising money for Cecily's Fund, at 19:00, in the Heiliggeistkirche. A flyer is attached.

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 for the Zoom link.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
The Christmas Bazaar takes place on Friday 24th November, 17:00 - 19:30 and Saturday 25th November, 10.00 - 15:00.
We are not opening the online store this time, so do come along to the event. There will be a restaurant on Friday evening run by Sharon, and Christmas lunch on Saturday provided by Dan. Georgina is cooking her crumpets both days and we have a great selection of stalls in the church, books in the lower hall, along with gluhwein and mince pies, plus of course food items and Christmas cakes in the upper hall. We also have great prizes to be won on the tombola in the lower hall, or the raffle in the upper hall

This is our main fundraiser of the year. It is also a wonderful community event when many visitors come to our church. Please do come and bring family, friends and neighbours, and make time to meet and talk to new people and make them welcome.
I hope we will all get involved in this special event.

A big thank you to all those who are cooking and baking, organising and running stalls.
We still need help on Saturday afternoon to clear up and put back the furniture in church. Please help if you can.

Bishop Robert's book on the Ukraine-Russia War
Bishop Robert (our Bishop) has recently written a short Grove book on the Ukraine-Russia War which is very helpful in understanding the situation and reflecting on it from a Christian point of view. We have a few copies of the book and will be selling them for 8 CHF at the Christmas Bazaar.

Advent Sunday, 3rd December
Advent begins on Sunday 3rd December. This is a special service which begins this wonderful season of hope as we look to Christ's first coming among us as a vulnerable baby and his second coming when he comes as Judge and Saviour to restore all things.

Open Forum on Housegroups
After the service on 3rd December, 11.30am, we will have an Open Forum in church, when I will present a proposal for starting up housegroups again at St Ursula's. The Council and I have worked on this proposal. There will be opprortunity to discuss this and ask questions. Do come along.

This Sunday, 26th November, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. As we look at the chaos, injustice and suffering of our world, we yearn for his just and gentle rule. You may want to reflect on the words of the traditional hymn below:

Thy kingdom come, O God,
thy rule, O Christ, begin;
break with thine iron rod
the tyrannies of sin.

Where is thy reign of peace
and purity and love?
when shall all hatreds cease,
as in the realms above?

When comes the promised time
that war shall be no more.
and lust, oppression, crime
shall flee thy face before?

We pray thee, Lord, arise,
and come in thy great might;
revive our longing eyes,
which languish for thy sight.

Men scorn thy sacred name,
and wolves devour thy fold;
by many deeds of shame
we learn that love grows cold.

O'er lands both near and far
thick darkness broodeth yet:
arise, O morning star,
arise, and never set.
(L. Hensley)

With love in Christ,
Helen