Tuesday 15 April 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It was very good to welcome Bishop Andrew and many of the other Anglican Chaplains in Switzerland to St Ursula's yesterday for the Chrism Eucharist. Thank you to those of you who attended that service and helped in various ways.

Message from Alex Hibberts
It was a delight to have Alex with us at St Ursula's for a couple of months. He got involved in various things during his stay, including joining the Tuesday House Group and the Eco Group. We very much appreciated his enthusiasm, his insight, his kindness and his willingness to help in different ways.
He has sent this message below:
'I want to express my gratitude to the community at St Ursula's for warmly welcoming me during my brief two-and-a-half month stay in Switzerland. It was wonderful to meet so many inspiring individuals and to learn from you all. I will be keeping you in my prayers, and I hope you will pray for my partner and I as we prepare for our wedding on 31st May'.
Let us keep Alex and Rachel in our prayers.

Holy Week and Easter Services...

We are now in Holy Week when we follow the events from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, through the Last Supper, his betrayal and false trial, his torture and death on the cross, to his glorious resurrection.

I know that some of you are away on holiday this Holy Week and Easter. I do hope that, wherever you are, you will be able to find a church to celebrate these central events of our faith. If you are still in Bern, then I hope to see you at our different services as detailed below. Please do come along to as many of these services as you can. This helps us to enter more deeply into all that Christ has done for us.

Maundy Thursday, 17th April, 6.30pm
This special Eucharist recalls the Last Supper and Jesus washing his disciples' feet. At the end of the service the altar is stripped and we listen to the Gospel of the Watch. You are invited to stay and pray in silence. If you are willing to have a foot washed at this service, please do let me know.

Good Friday, 18th April
There are two services this day:

• Family Service, 10am: A short service of readings, hymns, reflection and prayer for people of all ages
• Liturgy of the Cross, 2pm: A service of readings, hymns, canticles, reflection and silence, focused on the cross.

Easter Sunday, 20th April, 10am Do join us for the joyful celebration that Christ is Risen! The last few years we have had a packed church for Easter Sunday. Do bring your friends and neighbours.

Ecumenical Vespers, 5pm Later on Easter Sunday there is an Ecumenical service at St Peter and St Paul Old Catholic church. Everyone is welcome.

I leave you with one of Malcolm Guite's powerful sonnets from his Stations of the Cross.

Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
See, as they strip the robe from off his back
And spread his arms and nail them to the cross,
The dark nails pierce him and the sky turns black,
And love is firmly fastened on to loss.
But here a pure change happens. On this tree
Loss becomes gain, death opens into birth.
Here wounding heals and fastening makes free,
Earth breathes in heaven, heaven roots in earth.
And here we see the the length, the breadth, the height,
Where love and hatred meet and love stays true,
Where sin meets grace and darkness turns to light,
We see what love can bear and be and do.
And here our Saviour calls us to his side,
His love is free, his arms are open wide.

With love in Christ,
Helen