 Morpheus Awakening as Iris Draws Near, oil on canvas by René-Antoine Houasse, 1690 - Palace of Versailles
Dear La Côte Church friends and family,
I started the “Petit Parcours de Spiritualité” led by Etienne Guilloud of the swiss EERV Church last week. Etienne had us read some Anthony De Mello. De Mello was an indian jesuit priest, a spiritual guide and a psychotherapist. I find him refreshingly acerbic. He wrote:
“Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don’t know it, are asleep...
You know, all mystics … are unanimous on one thing: that all is well, all is well. Though everything is a mess, all is well. Strange paradox, to be sure. But, tragically, most people never get to see that all is well because they are asleep. They are having a nightmare.”
One of the group made a point which struck me as sensible: surely, when you see some of the awful things that go on in our world, surely, it is those who think that all is well who are alseep! How can all be well in a world where Russia and Ukraine are at war, where the homes of Palestinian and Isreali families are destroyed, where children are dying of monkeypox, where sexual violence is rampant even in what should be the safety of a home…?
And yet it was into this world, probably no better then than now, that the son of God came proclaiming ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ (Matthew 4: 17).
The Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near – not by accident, but because God willed it, holding out His hand to us, offering us relationship and ultimately a place in His Kingdom. Now that is good.
So when we hold those two ideas together we see that indeed all is not well in the limited confines of our broken world – nobody can say otherwise. But all is and will ultimately be well for those who hear Jesus’ call, who wake up, repent, change course, take a different tack and raise their eyes to fix their sights on the Kingdom of God which has drawn near. Which God has brought near out of His love for us.
All is most definitely well in that bigger picture, when we wake up and realise that the nightmare is not everything.
Chris Potter
Worship this week-end
Sunday 22 September - Harvest Festival
10.00 Divonne - All-Age Harvest Thanksgiving service with Holy Communion
Harvest gifts : for details, click HERE
16.00 Gingins - Taizé Prayer service
Worship coming up
Sunday 29 September - Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
10.00 Crassier - All-Age service with Holy Communion
16.00 Gingins – Choral Evensong. We are delighted to welcome Holy Trinity Choir to lead us in this more traditional service. Everyone is welcome to join us in worship and Anglican choral music
Sunday 6 Oct - Celebrating the Feast of St Francis
We have two special services to mark St Francis’ Feast Day
14.00 Gingins - Animal Blessing Service - click HERE for details
16.00 Gingins – Service of Holy Communion with Guest preacher Jean-Luc Blondel. “Peace: an illusion? A dream? Or a challenge?"
Jean-Luc Blondel is a theologian from the Swiss Reformed Church who has had long term assignments with the International Committee of the Red Cross, as field delegate in Latin America and the Middle East, and head of various units in the Geneva Headquarters.
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.
For any prayer requests for yourself or others, please contact Peta Tracey who will share in confidence with our Tuesday prayer group where we pray for the needs of our world and community.
Preparation for baptism and confirmation: If you are interested in baptism or confirmation, please do get in touch with Betty or Carolyn. Our Confirmation Service will take place on Sunday 27 October at 4pm in Crassier.
Although we do not currently have an evening Bible study and fellowship group, please let Betty or Carolyn know if you would be interested in joining a group or helping to run a group.
Coming up this 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
Sunday Lunch Group - 22 September
Auberge de la Réunion, Coinsins
Would you like to join us at our Auberge in Coinsins for lunch at 12.00 on the fourth Sunday of each month? We are offered a choice of menus at a reduced price. There are usually around 15 of us and it's a great opportunity for a relaxed chat over lunch. Whether you just come once, or on a regular basis, you are most welcome!
Please let us know by Fri. 20th so we can book the table! peta.tracey@lacotechurch.ch
https://www.auberge-coinsins.ch/
Next dates for our Sunday lunches are Sun. 22 Sept. - Sun. 27 Oct. - Sun. 24 Nov.
Window on Wednesday - 25 September
Wednesday 9.30-11.30 - Gingins parish room
This term we will be using a resource from The Church Of England’s Pilgrim course. We will be delving into the challenging yet beautiful world of the Beautitudes. 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.
Next dates for our meetings are September 25th - October 9th & 30th - November 13th & 27th - December 11th
La Côte Blokes' dinner - 26 September
Thursday 19.30-22.00 - in Nyon at the Prieuré next to the temple
For more details – contact David Cooke
Building community and welcoming newcomers
Saturday 28 September : Church Garden Party
Please contact Louise lburrows1972@gmail.com if you can join us. Here is the flyer !
Saturday 26 October: La Côte Church Auction of Time, Talents and Things
This is an important community evening and a key fundraising event for La Côte church. Click here for how you can take part.
PLEASE register with Liz Bramley, as this will help us with numbers for catering.
Please email Diantha Terry with any offers.
A new team for Divonne Christmas Lunch?
We are looking at putting together a fresh team of volunteers to prepare this festive event. Click here to find out more.
Recent Happening 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 https://www.lacotechurch.ch/recent-happening/
Rotas in ChurchSuite
Dear church members and volunteers,
ChurchSuite is beginning to work more smoothly, thank you to everyone for your patience and commitment.
One step that would be very helpful for Anne is that you add in your unaivalabilites. Click HERE for how to do this or contact Anne.
It is very important that you check ChurchSuite on a regular basis to view when you are next serving. For further information, click HERE.
The Lost Food Project (combatting food waste)
Members of la Côte Church are taking part in a food bank in Nyon. Click HERE for more information. If would like to supplement our food supplies, please bring rice or pulses to our Sunday services. Thank you very much.
Happening elsewhere
Community Bible Study (CBS)
26 September 9.30 online or in person
For more information, click HERE
Movement ministry
Pilates & Strength & Stretch Classes
starting on 23rd September
For more information, click HERE
Ignatian Way Retreat
Saturday 5 October 2024
Château de Bossey
Transforming our Life in Christ
To enroll please email vervel10@gmail.com
Ignatian Silent Retreat
22-24 November 2024
Saint-Maurice
The Ignatian Spirituality Community in Geneva invites you to join them for a three-day silent retreat in St Maurice. Click here for more information and click here to register.
The Racial Justice Conference
4 - 7 December 2024
Evangelische Akademie Bad Boll, Germany
Please click HERE for more information.
We are looking for someone from La Côte to represent us at this conference. Please contact Liz Bramley if you are registering.
Work with those seeking refugee status
Mentoring opportunities and Accommodation: Please speak to Diantha Terry with any thoughts you have.
Do you have jobs that need doing? Please contact Diantha Terry.
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.
Safeguarding is an integral part of the wellbeing of our Church community.
We are here not only to work with you through the formalities of short training or administrative safeguarding checks but to support you in strict confidentiality if concerns relative to abuse arise.
You can count on our understanding and goodwill in all things safeguarding.
Ever Guttierez, Cate Bichara and Liz Martinez
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
You may also like to remember La Côte Anglican Church in your will.
Merci beaucoup, thank you very much!
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