Tuesday 21 May 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It was a great joy to celebrate Pentecost last Sunday with a full church and to enjoy fellowship together over our international lunch. Many thanks to all those who brought such delicious food to share and to those who helped to set up and clear up.

Lectio Divina
We meet every Thursday, 10:30-11:15am online to meditate on a short Bible passage. The time includes silence and prayer, and time to share our reflections at the end. If you have never joined us, why not try it? Ask me for the Zoom link.

Memorial Service for Olivia Long, Saturday, 25th May
If you would like to come to this service in St Ursula's, this Saturday, 10am, please let the office know, by tomorrow, Wednesday 22nd May.
Please keep Querida, Markus and Sam in your prayers.

Study Day on 'Cultural Witness', 13-15 June
Details below of a conference, partly in English, presented by the Glaube und Gesellschaft project at the University of Fribourg. Some of you may be interested in this. Speakers include the famous writer Tom Holland (not the actor!) and others.
https://www.unifr.ch/glaubeundgesellschaft/de/veranstaltungen/studientage-2024

Summer Fête, Saturday 1st June, 10:00 - 15:00
This is one of our big annual fundraising and community events, so please do get involved! We will have our usual extensive book stall, food stall, cake stall, tombola, games for children outside, and restaurant. This year we will also be serving some African specialities amongst other things.

We need HELP in various ways:

• donations for our TOMBOLA stall (please put in the red box in the Upper Hall
• making cakes for our cake stall
• help in running our restaurant
• help clearing up at the end

If you can help in any way, please let Maria in the office know. But the main thing is to come along and bring your friends.

This coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday when we remember that the God we worship is one God in Three Persons: Father Son, and Holy Spirit. This God surrounds us, encircles us in his love, and draws us deeper into his life. Many of the early Christians of Ireland and Scotland - sometimes called the 'Celtic saints' - spoke of the sense of intimacy with God the Trinity in their prayers, praying 'circle prayers' which reminded them that the love of the Trinity encompassed them.

Below is a prayer in the Celtic pattern.

The Trinity

The Trinity
protecting me
the Father be
over me
the Saviour be
under me
the Spirit be
about me
the Holy Three
defending me.

Hear my call
Sacred Three
encircle me
so may it be
Amen to Thee
Holy Three
about me.

Amen.

(David Adam)

With love in Christ,
Helen