Tuesday 28 May 2024

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On Saturday, we have our annual summer fete. I hope to see you there. More details are below:

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: office@stursula.ch
But the main thing is to come along and bring your friends.

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.

House Groups
I am delighted that our House Groups are now about to start.
There will be two groups in Bern: one meeting on Tuesday evenings and one on Thursday evenings. The first meeting for the Tuesday group will be 11th June, and the first meeting of the Thursday group will be 6th June. There will also be a group meeting (monthly) in Thun. We do not have a start date for this group yet.
I have already been in touch with those who expressed an interest in joining a group on Tuesday or Thursday evening and have put them in touch with the leaders of the group. If you are new, or haven't expressed an interest before, but would now like to know more about these house groups, please do let me know.

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

Reflection on Growth and Flourishing
Following Trinity Sunday, we are now in a long period of the church year called 'ordinary time'. This means it is not a special season of the year like Advent or Lent. The liturgical colour for 'ordinary time' is green; a colour also associated with growing plants and trees. This always reminds me that we are called to grow and flourish in the ordinary times of our lives.

As I walk in the woods by the church, I am often awed by the beauty of the light of the sun in the midst of the green trees. There is so much life and growth and beauty all around. Psalm 1 speaks of the righteous being like a palm tree with deep roots into the water, growing and flourishing. The image of the tree can still speak to us about our need to have deep roots in God in order to grow and flourish.

You may like to use the poem below as an aid for reflection and prayer. It is based on Psalm 1.

Beatus Vir

Come to the place, where every breath is praise,
And God is breathing through each passing breeze.
Be planted by the waterside and raise

Your arms with Christ beneath these rooted trees,
Who lift their breathing leaves up to the skies.
Be rooted too, as still and strong as these,

Open alike to sun and rain. Arise
From meditation by these waters. Bear
The fruits of that deep rootedness. Be wise

In the trees' long wisdom. Learn to share
The secret of their patience. Pass the day
In their green fastness and their quiet air.

Slowly discern a life, a truth, a way,
Where simple being flowers in delight.
Then let the chaff of life just blow away.

(Malcolm Guite)

Love in Christ,
Helen