Wednesday 3 January 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope this new year has begun well for you. As we look ahead to this coming year, let us pray for one another, our families and friends, the life of our church community, and the wider world.

Lectio Divina
A group of us meet on Thursday morning, 10.30am - 11.15am, via zoom: the meeting includes silent reflection on a short Bible passage, with opportunity to share our thoughts at the end. Those who participate in this find it both strengthens and nourishes each one of us in our own faith and also deepens community as we learn from one another. If you have never tried this, perhaps you might want to join us and make this a new discipline for this coming year. Ask me for the zoom link.

For Prayer
Please continue to keep Magdalena, Daniel, their two sons, and their wider family in your prayers after the tragic death of Magdalena's sister, Klara, in the shootings in Prague. Klara's funeral is this Friday.

This Sunday, 7th January, Epiphany
Do come along for our celebration of Epiphany, as we remember the journey of the Magi to find the Christ child.

Raclette with the Old Catholics
We are invited to join the Old Catholics and the Lutherans for Raclette on Friday 19th January, 19:00 in their Church Hall, Kramgasse 10, first floor.
Everyone is welcome.

A Quiet Day "Christ our Foundation" led by The Reverend Caroline Eglin.
St John’s Anglican Church, Montreux, are holding a Quiet day, a day of prayer, quietness and reflection, on Saturday 20 January 2024 10am-4pm at All Saints Anglican Church, Vevey. All are welcome.
Cost: CHF 25 including lunch
For information and booking contact Caroline, carolianministries@eglins.co.uk
Booking by 17 January.
See the poster for further details.

Open Forum on House Groups
After the service on 21st January, 11.30am, we will have an Open Forum on house groups (which was postponed from early December due to me being unwell). I will present a proposal for starting up house groups again at St Ursula's. The Council and I have worked on this proposal. There will be opportunity to discuss this and ask questions. Everyone is welcome.

Ecumenical Service at the Münster
On Sunday 28th January, the annual ecumenical service will be held at the Münster (There will be no service at St Ursula's). Do please come along to this special service.

Prayer
David Low shared this prayer with me recently and I thought I would pass it on to you all:

Lord, these are days when our souls are hard pressed. The world rests heavily against us, its anxieties and fears haunt us, and its dark agony bows our heads in shame and our hearts in pity. Discipline us to be good soldiers of faith, enduring hardship with humility and hope, that in all things we may show forth, by word and deed , the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Gospel still remains the glad news of your kingdom on earth.
Amen.

With love in Christ,
Helen