  Cœur de Marie (Betty Talbot)
Dear La Côte Church friends and family,
In the midst of Advent and Lent, the seasons of penitence and preparation in the church calendar, there are little gems known as Refreshment Sundays. On these days, the penitential tone eases, hence their name.
The Refreshment Sundays are Gaudete Sunday in the middle of Advent, and Laetare Sunday in the middle of Lent.
Refreshment Sundays offer a pause in the austerity of their respective seasons, allowing us a moment of respite from the spiritual disciplines we may have taken on. Refreshment Sundays also shift the sombre mood towards a more joyful anticipation, reminding us that our preparation and penance have a purpose, that they lead us towards the celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas and his resurrection at Easter.
Laetare Sunday reminds us of the duality of the Christian journey: the balance of repentance with forgiveness, weeping with laughing, and suffering with joy. It reminds us that even as we prepare, reflect and repent, we do so with the joyful anticipation of the great mystery of our faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Laetare means “rejoice” in the imperative mood: Rejoice! We are encouraged or urged to rejoice! Laetare Sunday stands as a beacon of light, guiding us through our spiritual journey with the promise of joy and renewal.
From the 16th century onwards, people in the UK would return on the fourth Sunday in Lent, on Laetare Sunday, for a service in their ‘mother church’ which could either be the cathedral in their hometown, or the parish church where they were baptized. Anyone who did this was said to have gone a-mothering. Mothering Sunday became a cause for celebration for domestic servants, as this was the only day in the year when they were allowed to visit their families and friends. On Mothering Sunday, it was customary for children and young people to pick wildflowers on their way to church, place them in the church or give them to their mothers.
On Sunday morning, we will be celebrating Mothering Sunday in our All-Age service in Crassier. Do join us as we remember and give thanks for the love that we have received, not just from our mothers, but also from all those women in our lives who have nurtured and provided us with positive role models.
Betty Talbot
Worship this weekend
Sunday 30 March - Mothering Sunday
Celebrating Loving Care for one another
10.00 Crassier - All-Age worship
THE CLOCKS GO FORWARD. 10 o'clock service in Crassier may feel a bit early - but do join us in uplifting worship and reflection!
Sunday Lunch Group on 30 March 12.00
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 12-15 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. 28th so we can book the table! peta.tracey@lacotechurch.ch
https://www.auberge-coinsins.ch/
Worship coming up
Sunday 6 April - Passion Sunday
8.45 Crassier - Said Eucharist
16.00 Gingins - A Youth-led act of worship, with Holy Communion
Sunday club Bake Sale
Gingins, 6 April, following the afternoon service
The Bake Sale will be led by Sunday club children with their leaders. The funds raised will go towards the charity “Embrace the Middle East” https://embraceme.org/
If you can help with some baking, please contact Liz Martinez.
We look forward to supporting both our young people and our Sunday club children and youth through this youth-led service and Bake Sale – please bring cash if possible and come ready to buy delicious goodies!
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.
An extra service during Holy Week – Monday 14 April at 11.30
St Ursula’s Anglican Chaplaincy, Berne
Chrism Service
This service is an opportunity for the renewal of commitment to ministry for deacons, Readers and authorized lay ministers and priests in the church. It is also an occasion to receive oils to take back to our chaplaincies for the sacrament of anointing. The newly consecrated Suffragan Bishop Andrew will be leading this service, so this is an opportunity to meet him.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Please let Anne de Tréverret know by Friday 11 April. Please bring a packed lunch, and drinks will be provided.
Volunteer orientation session
7 April, Nyon
Coup de Main is a local community service organisation supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Many of our wonderful La Côte parishioners have been involved since it was established. We are keen to recruit additional volunteers to our team especially for 'accompanying' our beneficiaries as they integrate locally.
New volunteers will become part of an experienced and supportive team.
For more information please come along to our volunteer orientation session, click here.
Give your used eyeglasses a second life!
La Côte Anglican Church is organizing a collection of used eyeglasses (including sunglasses) during Lent and Easter (5 March-20 April 2025) and would be grateful for any contributions.
The collected eyeglasses will be given to the Lions Club of Switzerland, who collaborate with Médico Lions Clubs of France, to recondition the eyeglasses received and distribute them to patients with visual impairments in developing countries.
Please note that any contributions of eyeglass cases would also be greatly appreciated.
For further information, please see https://www.lionsclubs.org/en/resources-for-members/resource-center/recycle-eyeglasses and http://www.medico-lcf.org/?q=recyclage-des-lunettes
New requirements to enter the UK from 02.04.2025
As you may know, European and EFTA citizens (Schengen area) will require an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to enter the UK as of the 2nd April 2025. Citizens may apply for one as of the 5th March 2025.
Here are some useful links:
Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK
New entry regulations for the United Kingdom | SWISS
And for UK citizens travelling to the Schengen area
IATA - New Entry Requirements for Travel into EU
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
Tuesday Prayer Group - 1 April
09.15-10.30, chez J&P Tracey, 1267 Coinsins.
Come at 09.15 for a coffee before we start at 09.30 for an hour, following the Northumbria Community Morning Prayer and inserting our prayer concerns and those for whom we have been asked to pray in confidence.
You are most welcome to join us regularly or occasionally.
Please contact Peta for more details peta.tracey@lacotechurch.ch
Window on Wednesday - 2 April
9.30-11.30 - Gingins Parish Room
This term our resource is "Practicing the Way" written by John Mark Comer, "Be with Jesus. Become Like Him. Do as he did".
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 April 2nd, 16th & 30th - May 14th & 28th - June 11th & 25th.
A La Côte playgroup in Divonne
Would you be willing to join our 'back-up' list? The La Côte playgroup will open its doors in the Divonne Parish rooms on Thursday April 24th and, following this, every Thursday in term time. This is a 'drop-in' playgroup open to all in the Pays de Gex, Geneva region, welcoming children from 0-4 and their care-givers. In order to ensure we have enough help, we are looking for volunteers who might be available from time to time to help out on a Thursday from 9.00 - 13.00. No regular commitment required, just a willingness to come and see how things work and help, if free, when needed. If you think you might be able to help and/or would like to discuss this further we would love to hear from you.
Thank you,
The Playgroup Team playgroup@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.
Happening elsewhere
Celebrating the bicentenary of the Temple de Ferney-Voltaire
Conference by Stephen Brown
"La paroisse de Ferney-Voltaire, berceau de l'Oecuménisme"
Wednesday 2 April, 19:00
Conference and Display of 16th Century Books
Tudor England and the Antwerp Book Trade:
From Tyndale to Plantin
Antwerp (BE), Tuesday 8 – Friday 11 July 2025
For more 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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