Tuesday 14 January 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It was a real joy to baptise Summer last Sunday. Do continue to keep her, and her parents, Marc and Zhanna, and godmother, Charlotte, in your prayers.

Some of you kindly asked if David was OK as he was not there on Sunday. If I did not get to speak to you, let me assure you that he is fine. He is away in the UK currently for a brief visit but back very soon and will be at church next Sunday.

Raclette with the Old Catholics
We are invited to join the Old Catholics for their annual raclette, this Friday, 17th January, at 19.00. This will be in their rooms, Kramgrasse 10, first floor. If you would like to go please contact Nick Ruethy: nick.ruethy@bluewin.ch, or 031 351 26 12 as soon as you can.

Sunday 19th January, Open Forum
After the service THIS SUNDAY we will have an Open Forum on
Caring for the Environment: Practical Steps. This will be an opportunity to meet our new Eco Group, listen to personal stories and examples, share ideas and practical suggestions and ask questions.
There is more information in the flyer.

Saturday 25th January: St Ursula's Pop Up Market, 10:00 - 12:00
We now have 14 stalls booked for this event so do not have any room for any more stalls. But we do need people to come along to buy the second hand goods! So do come along. There will be a variety of goods for sale.
It is of course more sustainable for the environment for us to buy second hand goods rather than new ones.
Alongside the stalls, there will be home baked goods for sale.
There is more information in the flyer.

Sunday 26th January: Ecumenical Service
On 26th January, there will be an ecumenical service in Bern, to mark the week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Usually this service is held in the Munster, but PLEASE NOTE, this year it will be held in the French Church, Zeughausgasse 8, 3011 Bern (because there is scaffolding up in the Munster).
Please do come along to this ecumenical service as we worship with Christians of other traditions.
NB there will be NO SERVICE at St Ursula's that Sunday.

Musicians Needed
We are very thankful to our team of dedicated musicians who take turns on a rota to play the music at our services at St Ursula's. We would be glad to have more musicians on the rota especially as one of our team will be leaving later in the year. There are many new members of our church and perhaps some of you play a musical instrument? If you are interested in joining the team, do let Helen know.

Electoral Roll
Would you like to be on our electoral roll? This means you can vote at our Annual General Meeting. You need to be baptised but you don't have to be an Anglican: you can be a baptised member of any church in communion with the Anglican church. You need to have worshipped with us regularly for at least 6 months. If you would like to join the electoral roll, please do ask Tricia and she will give you the simple form to complete (Forms in the Upper Hall).
NB. This year the electoral roll is completely revised (it has to be done every 6 years) so EVERYONE has to complete the form. (Even if you have been on the electoral roll in the past).

Last Sunday, Summer was baptised, and we also celebrated the baptism of Christ. You might like to use the poem below to ponder this further.

The Baptism of Christ

Beginning here we glimpse the Three-in-one;
The river runs, the clouds are torn apart,
The Father speaks, the Spirit and the Son
Reveal to us the single loving heart
That beats behind the being of all things
And calls and keeps and kindles us to light.
The dove descends, the spirit soars and sings,
'You are my beloved, you are my delight!'
In that swift light and life, as water spills
And streams around the Man like quickening rain,
The voice that made the universe reveals
The God in Man who makes it new again.
He calls us too, to step into that river,
To die and rise and live and love forever.

(Malcolm Guite)

With love in Christ,
Helen