Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday. I know that some of our families have been away on the school break over the last few weeks. I hope, when you are back, that you will make time to look at the displays in the church hall celebrating the 120 years of St Ursula’s.
Grace, Gratitude and Generosity Campaign
This Sunday, 4th October, concludes our Grace, Gratitude and Generosity Campaign. Thanks to Sue and her team who put so much hard work into this.If you are able to take the next step in giving to the church, remembering that even small steps forward are appreciated, then please fill in the commitment card.This Sunday we will celebrate all the we have raised during this time and give thanks to God.
Last Sunday, Sue spoke about the various stumbling blocks we might prevent us giving generously. Some of these may speak to you and your situation. You can find some reflections on possible stumbling blocks here on our website: Stumbling blocks to giving – St Ursula’s Church
120 Envelopes
As part of our campaign, we put out 120 small envelopes, each one with a number 1-120 written on the back. We were encouraged to choose an envelope and donate the amount written on the envelope eg if the number is ‘1’ put in 1 CHF into envelope, if it says ‘119’ put in 119 CHF into the envelope.(This envelope scheme was suggested by Vinitha who had seen it work well in another church.)We hope to raise money through this envelope scheme in place of our Autumn Sale which we didn’t hold this September for various reasons.Thank you to all those who have taken envelopes and made a donation.
If all the envelopes are taken we will raise 7260 (much more than we would do at the Sale).
If you have not yet been able to do so, please consider taking an envelope and making a donation this coming Sunday. THANK YOU.
Nativity Play Costumes
As many of you know our old nativity play costumes were destroyed by an infestation of moths earlier this year. Astrid Vangenechten has kindly undertaken to organise making new costumes.
There will be a short meeting after church on Sunday 25th October when Astrid will outline her plans.
If anyone would like to help with making the costumes, please speak to Astrid.
If you are able to donate any materials that would be helpful: we need
old towels, sheets, curtains, big T shirts, pillow cases, belts, rope and tape.
Solid colours are best, especially – blue, white, orange, brown, gold.
Harvest Festival, Sunday 11th October
Do join us as we celebrate harvest and give thanks to God for all the blessings we enjoy. As always, we invite you to bring some fruit, vegetables, flowers, cakes, jams, tins etc to decorate the church. After the service we will hold our Auction as and all proceeds will go to support the Water Sanitation Project in Uganda, through ena! (formally TearFund Schweiz). This is the charity supported by Junior Church.
Trusting in the Riches of God’s Mercy
God wants us to come to him in all our weakness, poverty and failure and trust in his love and mercy. I find these words of Thomas Merton very encouraging:
‘If we know how great is the love of Jesus for us we will never be afraid to go to him in all our poverty, all our weakness, all our spiritual wretchedness and infirmity. Indeed, when we understand the true nature of his love for us, we will prefer to come to him poor and helpless. We will never be ashamed of our distress. Distress is to our advantage when we have nothing to seek but mercy. We can be glad of our helplessness when we really believe that his power is made perfect in our weakness.
The surest sign that we have received a spiritual understanding of God’s love for us is the appreciation of our own poverty in the light of his infinite mercy.’
(Thomas Merton)
With love in Christ,
Helen