Thursday 7 March 2024

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope you are enjoying seeing the signs of spring around us. There are a number of colourful flowers appearing in our church garden.

Spring Sale
As we enjoy the beginnings of spring, I remind you of our Spring sale, this Saturday, 9th March, 10:00 - 14:00. There will be delicious home baked food and refreshments, our second-hand book stall, food stall, gift items, cards and more. If you can volunteer to help, please do let the office know.
The Sale is a Fundraiser event, but it is also a wonderful way to draw the community together and introduce new people to the church.
Please do come along and bring your relatives, friends and neighbours.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Please note the attached document with an important announcement from the churchwardens.

Mothering Sunday
This coming Sunday, 10th March, we celebrate Mothering Sunday. This will be an All Age service with children taking part in the service. James will be giving the All Age talk.

Name Tag Sunday, this Sunday
On Sunday, 10th March, we will have another 'name tag Sunday' when we encourage everyone to write their name on a little pinned on label. We do this from time to time to help us get to know one another. There have been a lot of new people coming to church in recent times and this will help us get to know people's names. There is no compulsion to do this, but if you are willing to do so that's great as it can be very helpful.
If you are able to arrive at church 5 minutes earlier this will give more time for people to take a label and write their name.

LENT

Morning Prayer
Do come and join us online for Morning Prayer, 8am, Monday - Thursday during Lent. Everyone is welcome. Ask me for the Zoom link.

Online Discussion on Prayer
Our next online discussion will be Tuesday 12th March, 7.30pm.
I have asked several people to share something about their own patterns of prayer and the resources they use. I hope we can learn from one another.
The evening will end by saying Night Prayer together.
For this online discussion and Night Prayer please use the same Zoom link as the one for Morning Prayer.

House Groups
We now have good numbers of people who would like to join a house group and we plan to start with three groups: two groups in Bern, one on Tuesday evening and one on Thursday evening, and one in Thun on Thursday evening. I am sorry that we are not able to fulfil everyone's requests re days and times.

Please be patient as it will take time to choose and train leaders and for them to do their Safeguarding requirements. I will keep you updated when the house groups are ready to start.

Prayer
Below is a poem I have quoted before which reminds us that prayer is a two way conversation with God, and that in prayer we can bring all of ourselves - our joys and our struggles - to God.

How I talk to God

Coffee in one hand
leaning in to share, listen:
How I talk to God.

'Momma, you're special.'
Three-year-old touches my cheek.
How God talks to me.

While driving I make
lists: done, do, hope, love, hate, try.
How I talk to God.

Above the highway
hawk: high, alone, free, focused.
How God talks to me.

Rash, impetuous
chatter, followed by silence:
How I talk to God.

First, second, third, fourth
chance to hear, then another:
How God talks to me.

Fetal position
under flannel sheets, weeping
How I talk to God.

Moonlight on pillow
tending to my open wounds
How God talks to me.

Pulling from my heap
of words, the ones that mean yes:
How I talk to God.

Infinite connects
with finite, without words:
How God talks to me.

(Kelly Belmonte)

Love in Christ,
Helen