Wednesday 17 January 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope that the first few weeks of this new year have gone well for you. I look forward to seeing those I have not yet seen in 2024!

This Sunday, 21st January, after the service we have a special discussion about starting up house groups again at St Ursula's, as a way to help us deepen our faith and support one another in following Christ. Here are some notes and a questionnaire.

Open Forum on House Groups
After the service on 21st January, 11.30am, we will have an Open Forum on house groups. House groups are small groups of people who meet together in someone's home to study the Bible, share concerns and pray together. Meeting together in house groups can encourage us to deepen our faith, and get to know and support one another better.
At the Open Forum, I will present a proposal for starting up house groups again at St Ursula's. There will be opportunity to discuss this and ask questions. Everyone is welcome.

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.

Raclette with the Old Catholics
We are invited to join the Old Catholics and the Lutherans for Raclette THIS FRIDAY, 19th January, 19:00 in their Church Hall, Kramgasse 10, first floor.
Everyone is welcome. If you would like to go to this, please email Beatrice on: beatrice.reusser@bluewin.ch or Nick on: nick.ruethy@bluewin.ch

Ecumenical Service at the Munster
On Sunday 28th January, there will be NO SERVICE at St Ursula's as the annual ecumenical service will be held at the Munster. Do please come along to this special service.

Bible Study on Genesis
On Saturday, 2nd March, Clare Amos will be leading a Bible study on the book of Genesis at Holy Trinity, Geneva. Clare is a biblical scholar and those of you who have heard her before know she is well worth listening to! She says 'I will be focusing on the book of Genesis - partly because it is a part of the Bible I know well and partly because it seems relevant to the current situation in the Middle East.'
Clare has written a commentary on the book of Genesis.

More details about the study are attached. Everyone from any of the Swiss Anglican Chaplaincies is welcome, but please do let Clare know if you would like to attend as she wants to know numbers.

Administrator Needed at All Saints, Vevey
The Anglican Chaplaincy in Vevey are looking for a new Administrator. This could be an excellent job for the right person. More details are below:

All Saints is an Anglican chaplaincy in Vevey, Switzerland. We are looking for a gifted, friendly and efficient administrator. It is a part time rôle (40%) or 4 half days with some home working and occasional evenings. You can find out more on our website allsaints.ch/jobs

Prayer
The theme of our service last Sunday was that God knows us through and through, better than we know ourselves. He knows who we have been and who we can become and he is present with us in everything. Several people said how much they appreciated the simple closing prayer at the end of our service. Here it is:

In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

With love in Christ,
Helen