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When you pass through the waters, I will be with you (Isaiah 43)
Dear La Côte Church friends and family,
Firstly, I wish you the blessings of hope as we embark on 2025.
Our theme for Sunday 12 Jan roots this hope in our identity as beloved, baptised children of God. This does not undermine the many other ways in which we identify ourselves, but underpinning all of these, we are beloved children of God.
The baptism of Christ reminds us of our identity as followers on the Way of Christ. This may seem daunting in the face of challenges and uncertainties, but I encourage us to hold fast to God’s promises put so eloquently in Isaiah 43, (v1-2a).
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.”
The prophet was speaking first to the beleaguered exiles in Babylon. Yet his poetry explodes with fresh meaning in Jesus who wades into the waters for a solidarity dip with humanity at the start of his public ministry.
I invite us to pray and mull over the promises in Isaiah 43, as we wade into the River Jordan (in our imagination or you could try chilly Lac Leman!) and remember that we are God’s beloved children: created, formed, redeemed and named by the one who is Love.
And beware that this baptismal calling will mean wading into choppy waters and against strong currents of prevailing values and priorities in society.
If you are looking for an easier life, you may like to put your baptism on the backburner! But remember that from the start, it is God who created us out of love for love and promises to be with us always.
In addition, click here to pray for all those caught up in the wildfires in California.
Carolyn
SAVE THE DATE
A local La Côte Church Quiet day
Saturday 8 March
More details to follow soon
Worship this week-end
Sunday 12 January - The Baptism of Christ
10.00 Divonne - Holy Communion with Sunday Club
16.00 Gingins - Evening Prayer
Worship coming up
Sunday 19 January - Epiphany 2
16.00 Gingins - Holy Communion with Sunday Club
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.
La Côte Church calendar for 2025
A beautiful LA CÔTE CHURCH CALENDAR FOR 2025 on the theme of ‘Food in the Bible’, with photos and relevant Bible quotations, is on sale on Sundays in Divonne and Gingins churches.
PRICE: CHF 25.00 for 1 copy, CHF 20.00 each for 2 copies or more. All proceeds to our Church funds.
A La Côte playgroup in Divonne
We are looking at setting up a La Côte playgroup for children aged 0-4, which would meet in Divonne once a week in term time. For further information please contact Alison Ball (playgroup@lacotechurch.ch)
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
Prayer Group December-February
Please note there will be no meeting in Dec., but the next two meetings will take place on Zoom: Tue. 21 Jan. and Tue. 4 Feb., 09.30-10.30.
If you would like to join the meeting, please use the same link as for Morning Prayer (see above under 'Coming up this week' and on church website). The Northumbria Community order of service, which we often use as a framework for our prayers, is available on the day at:
https://www.northumbriacommunity.org/offices/morning-prayer/
Our next meeting in person will be Tue. 18 Feb. 2025 at 09.15 chez John & Peta Tracey, 1267 Coinsins.
In the meantime, please contact the Prayer Group by email with any prayer requests in confidence: peta.tracey@lacotechurch.ch
Recent Happenings 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 unavailabilites. 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.
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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