Look at the birds! (Matthew 6.26)
From the Swiss Ornithological Institute Website
A photo that reminded me to put out some birdfeed!

Dear La Côte family and friends,

In next Sunday’s gospel reading, (Matthew 6.25-end), Jesus tells his disciples: “Don’t worry about your life”, which at a first glance makes me want to shout: “Bog off”, as I continue on my worrying way! Yet, digging deeper, it seems that Jesus’ commands are borne out of his lively sense of his heavenly Father’s abundant and exuberant creativity. “Look at the birds…Consider the lilies… and the grass of the field…” Over these last few days, I have cast a keener eye on the natural beauty around us and the first signs of Spring awakening. Jesus urges his listeners not to worry to encourage us to reorient our anxious thoughts towards God’s Spirit coursing through Creation and God’s steadfast love, always present, no matter what.  

In our anxiety-ridden world Jesus’ stark imperative: “do not worry about your life” may seem impossible, but it can lead us away from being overwhelmed by our preoccupations towards a deeper trust in God, whatever lies ahead. I am reminded of Chuck Wilson’s helpful illustration at our Community Day. He showed a glass tilting towards our fears, so that they take priority in our lives, OR the glass can tilt God-wards, so that it (we) can be more filled with God’s love.

Psalm 136, (Sunday’s lectionary choice), is not promising a trouble-free life, but urges us to put down deep roots in God’s steadfast love, rather than striving to go it alone.

Lent, starting in two weeks’ time, can help us re-direct our fears, ambitions and strivings towards God’s enduring love. We can share the Lenten gift together in our services, beginning with Ash Wednesday on 18 February (19.00 in Gingins). Another gift for this season is a Quiet Day at All Saints, Vevey, led by Bishop Alison White. This is open for everyone – See here for details and do ask me if you would like to know more.

You might also like to join us for on-line morning prayer during Lent, to try out another discipline which helps us tilt our glasses towards God’s steadfast love.

In addition, there are many Lenten resources for individuals and small group discussions. I encourage you to look these up for example at Church House Bookshop https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/features/lent-books and to order a guide through this season of renewal. If you would like advice on what to choose, do ask me or a member of our Ministry team. 

Carolyn Cooke

Worship this Sunday

Worship coming up

PLEASE NOTE - If you are unable to attend one of our main services but would like Holy Communion or private prayer in person, please contact Carolyn Cooke or Betty Talbot.

La Côte Anglican Church Association in France - AGM 

Sunday 22 February 11.30 Divonne Church

For the agenda, click here. All are welcome.

Coming up next week

Morning Prayer

Monday to Friday at 7.30 and Saturday at 8.30 - online
Here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84315258948?pwd=WWZaMTRzZEpnNHV3ekZYRFRUYU96Zz09
Meeting ID: 843 1525 8948 - Passcode: 82966

Tuesday Prayer Group - 10 February

09.00-10.00
The Tuesday morning prayer group will be meeting online and led by Carolyn and Diantha.  We will follow the Northumbria Community Morning Prayer with an advent focus.  Meeting link below. 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84315258948?pwd=WWZaMTRzZEpnNHV3ekZYRFRUYU96Zz09
Meeting ID: 843 1525 8948 - Passcode: 82966

Window on Wednesday - 11 February

09.30-11.30 Gingins Parish Rooms
This term our resource is "The Jesus I never knew" written by Philip Yancy.
All are welcome to join us fortnightly on Wednesday mornings, as we share our faith and lives together along with coffee & pastries! If you would like to join us, please contact Diantha Terry and/or Kate Shepherd.

La Côte Playgroup - Wednesday 11 February

9.30-11.30 Divonne Parish Rooms 
The La Côte playgroup welcomes all caregivers with children aged 0-4 who would like to join us on Wednesday's, no sign up necessary. For more details contact playgroup@lacotechurch.ch

For full details on all activities that our regular groups offer please visit our website

Save the Date!

Quiet Day led by Bishop Alison White

28 February 10.00-16.00

All Saints Vevey

An opportunity to prepare for the special season of Lent with a quiet day.

Further details here.

Children & Youth programmes 

For under 5's - Monthly messy and godly play sessions. Dates and more details here.

For primary school age children - Sunday Club during the 10.00 service at the Divonne church on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, and during the 16.00 service at the Gingins church on the 3rd Sunday of the month.  More details here

For  youth - Youth Alpha Course 8 February 18.00, Divonne parish room - see above. More details here.

You can find more information on all our programmes here or contact Betty Talbot. 

Recent Events at La Côte!

If you would like to have a look at some photographs of recent happenings at La Côte Church please go to our website here

ChurchSuite

Services for January, February and March have been added to ChurchSuite! 

Please double check any services that you have been scheduled for and arrange to swap if you are no longer available. For further information, click HERE.

It is very important that you check ChurchSuite on a regular basis to view when you are next serving, and it is very helpful if you could fill in any dates you would like to help, and also to add in your unavailabilities. Click HERE for how to do this or contact Liz.

In the future we will also be sending out an email to all those scheduled for the coming month so that you have more notice to double check your availability or arrange a swap.

Happening Elsewhere

Ignatian Spirituality Community

If you would like someone to explore your spiritual life with and have a desire to deepen your relationship with God, then spiritual accompaniment could be for YOU! Click here to find out what the Ignatian Spirituality Community can offer you.

21 Feb - 23 May 10:00 – 16:00, St John XXIII Parish, Geneva
The Ignatian Spirituality Community in Geneva is renewing its Growth in Prayer and Reflective Living Programme (GPRL) for 2026. The programme invites participants to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, reflection, and lived experience.
Registration and more details here or contact Louise Burrows.

Coup de Main / The Lost Food Project 
(combatting food waste)

Members of la Côte Church take part in a food bank in Nyon. Click HERE for more information and if you'd like to participate.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been bringing dried food and tins for distribution through the Wednesday food bank. We are very grateful for your generosity, especially as we now have more than 90 beneficiaries each week.

We are grateful for any of the following contributions:

Donations of pasta, rice, pulses (dried or tinned), tinned tomatoes and tinned fish (tuna, sardines or mackerel). If you attend church in Gingins, please leave any contributions at the back of the church. 

Alternatively, please contact Caroline Allsopp-Leitner  

Thank you once again.

From your safeguarding team

Your safeguarding team promotes and works towards keeping our church a safe place where our congregation can feel secure and cared for.

All information can found here

And you can come and talk to us - Cate Bichara, Liz Martinez and Heidi Hawkings

Contact email: Safeguarding@lacotechurch.ch

Pledging and Giving online and in person 

Many thanks as ever for your giving to the life of our church and thus to our mission and service within and well beyond our community.

Pledging gives stability to the church finances and ensures that budgets can be planned realistically. So however large or however small your commitment, please consider pledging. Contact our pledge administrator, Mark Warren (mark.warren@yahoo.fr) for further details.

If you are at church without any cash but would like to give to the collection there is a solution: we have a bank or credit card reader at church to contribute to the collection using your card.

Here are the bank details for our church:

IBAN            CH42 0022 8228 5504 9740 H
Holder          The La Côte Anglican Church Development Association, 1267 Coinsins 
BIC               UBSWCHZH80A

You can also do so by scanning the QR code below using your bank app.

You may also like to remember La Côte Anglican Church in your will.
Merci beaucoup, thank you very much!

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