Thursday 20 November 2024

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This Friday and Saturday is our Christmas Bazaar. This is a big annual event in the life of the church. Please do come along and bring your friends and relatives and buy some delicious Christmas goodies! In addition to this event being a big fundraiser for church funds, it is also a very good opportunity to meet others in our wider community and let them know about St Ursula's.

Christmas Bazaar: Friday 22nd November, 17:00 - 19:30
Saturday 23rd November, 10:00 - 15:00

There is lots on offer....

Christmas cakes, food stall, home-baked goods,
Christmas wreaths and decorations, patchwork,
fine Christmas gifts and surprise stalls,
raffle, tombola, mulled wine and mince pies,
second hand books, children's activities
restaurant and cafe

I want to thank all those who have been very busy preparing for this event for some time, and for all those helping on Friday and Saturday.
Any more volunteers who can help in different ways will be very welcome!
Please let Maria in the office know: office@stursula.ch
Or just turn up to help on Friday or Saturday.

Children Preparing to Receive Communion
A new group of children are about to start this course today. Please do pray for them. The children will first receive communion on Sunday, 8th December, at a special All Age service.

Invitation to hear lecture by Rowan Williams at the 150th Anniversary of the Old Catholic Institute in Bern, Thursday 21st November

The Old Catholic Institute at the University of Bern is celebrating its 150th Anniversary. Anglicans are invited to attend the opening ceremony at 18.15, Thursday, 21st November, at which former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, will be giving a lecture on: What is Catholic Theology Today? (Flyer attached).

Christ the King, Sunday, 24th December
This Sunday we celebrate the festival of Christ the King, reflecting on what kind of king he is and what it means for us to be his servants. The service on Sunday will be a Sung Eucharist.

Reflection
I leave you with some words I read recently which I found very encouraging:

'Every day look at the way you are living
in the light of God's Word.
Let it warm you when you are cold,
encourage you when you are disappointed.
You must not only be a hearer of the Word -
you must also bring it to fulfilment.
Happy are you if you meditate upon it daily in your heart:
you will be like a tree by the running water,
whose branches will stay fresh and green,
and they will keep bringing forth new fruit.

Never be misled by the thought
that after falling and sinning
there can be no forgiveness.
Look critically at your own shortcomings,
but be sure that with the Lord
there is always abundance of redemption.'

(Rule for a New Brother)

With love in Christ,
Helen