  LWF/C.Kästner
Welcoming the Stranger
June 20th is World Refugee Day, and many churches - ourselves included - are marking this Sunday as Refugee Sunday.
Our response to this starts with people, not policy, or politics, We start with people because that is where God always starts in sorting out the world's issues : incarnate, identifying not just with humanity in general, but with each precious person, a child in his/her image. I start in my own reflection with those I have met over the years as I have worked in this field, for example people on the Venezuela-Colombia border : courageous, resilient, creative, hopeful, but vulnerable to extreme trauma, abuse, insecurity, and physical, emotional and mental suffering.
Our response to them draws on the scriptural imperative, deeply rooted in the Old Testament and therefore common to all the Abrahamic faiths, to remember that "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt" (Lev 19:33-34). There is a clear message here for the current Israel-Palestine context, for all nations as they shape a response to refugees, migrants and the internally displaced, and for ourselves in terms of our own individual attitudes and actions. Similarly, in the New Testament, we are called 'welcome the stranger', and this calling has formed the basis for many world faiths in making commitments regarding refugees, in dialogue with global actors such as the UNHCR.
Underlying this is the broader question of how we respond to the 'other'. Do we bunker down in what is familiar and safe, hiding our own insecurities by identifying only with those who are 'like me', and shutting out those who are different ? That is not God's way. Instead we must start with our shared humanity, recognising the inherent dignity of each person, however different and 'other' superficially, each one a child of God. Here are some lines adapted from a poem I wrote, which touch on this:
… Not in a clubbable hide-in-your-tribe,
Firmly and snugly enclenched in a nook
Of protected fragility, bunkering-down :
Your identity safely entrenched ...
... But in the fledgling
Rebel impulse
That flutters free
In search of self
And other
And truth
And hope ;
And in the movement
Of those
Who travel together
In diverse company,
In rainbow colours
Of shared humanity
Mike French
We look forward to marking World Refugee Day with Mike French this coming Sunday 22 June.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR CHURCH LIFE AND MINISTRY WITH A FINANCIAL GIFT
Dear La Côte Church family and friends,
It was a privilege and joy to celebrate together last Sunday – our Church Thanksgiving and Gift Day. Firstly, on behalf of our church, thank you to everyone who took part in any way. There were, indeed, a lot of moving parts to our celebration which rightly reflects the dynamic of our La Côte Community in which everyone’s gifts are valued and go to make up this part of the body of Christ in this small corner of the world.
Thank you too, to all of you who have already contributed a financial donation towards the running costs of our church life. May I encourage all of you who are considering making an extra financial donation but haven’t yet got round to it, to do so. Everyone’s contribution matters and, by God’s grace, enables our church to both care for one another and to reach out with the hope of Christ to our wider community. We need a firm financial base to do this.
Warmest thanks, Carolyn
Introducing ‘Connect La Côte’
Here is an exciting new venture, being set up by Evie Burrows, Louise Burrows’ daughter and two of her friends, Eva and Océane. Click here for more information about “Connect La Côte”. We hope you will find ways to connect with them and support them as they reach out to our community.
The next opportunity to “connect” is with their Language Cafe. Sign up or email them to come along Saturday 19 July for an fun evening of connections.
Important Administrator Change
As some of you may already know, Anne de Tréverret is sadly leaving us at the end of June. She set up the administrator role 4 years ago, and has been an invaluable addition to our community and helping everything run smoothly behind the scenes. I'm sure you will all join me in thanking her for her contribution to the church and wishing her all the best for her retirement in Brittany. Anne will be joining us at the service at 10am in Divonne on 22 June to say goodbye.
I am pleased to say that we have already recruited a new administrator, Liz Le Feuvre. Liz has a strong administrative background and some of you have already met her at the Gift Day Service. She can be reached at liz.le.feuvre@lacotechurch.ch
Carolyn Cooke
Worship this weekend
Sunday 22 June - First Sunday after Trinity
10.00 Divonne - Holy Communion with Sunday Club
16.00 Gingins - Taizé Prayer Service
Worship coming up
Sunday 29 June - Second Sunday after Trinity
16.00 Gingins - All-Age Celebration
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.
 SAVE THE DATE!
SATURDAY 5 JULY AT 3PM IN CRASSIER
BETTY TALBOT’S PRIESTING
Betty Talbot’s priesting will take place on Saturday 5 July at 15.00 in Crassier. We will welcome back Honorary Assistant Bishop Alison White, who conducted our Confirmation service in October. More details to follow but we hope many of you will join us in this special service to support Betty.
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 on 22 June at 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. 20th so we can book the table! peta.tracey@lacotechurch.ch
https://www.auberge-coinsins.ch/
Next Sunday Lunch Group will be on 24 August, no meeting in July due to Paleo!
Tuesday Prayer Group - 24 June
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.
Tuesday Prayer Group is taking a break for July-Aug, starting again on 2 September.
Please contact Peta for more details
Window on Wednesday - 25 June
9.30-11.30 - Gingins Parish Room
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.
WOW will be taking a break from meeting over the summer. We will reconvene as a group in September and we will look forward to starting a new book together.
La Côte playgroup in Divonne
The last session of the La Côte Playgroup before the summer break will be held on June 26th. We then look forward to re-opening on September 4th and welcoming all caregivers with children aged 0-4 who would like to join us in the Divonne Parish rooms from 9.30 - 11.30 on Thursdays.
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
It is very important that you check ChurchSuite on a regular basis to view when you are next serving. For further information, click HERE.
One step that would be very helpful for Liz Le Feuvre is that you add in your unavailabilites. Click HERE for how to do this or contact Liz.
Happening elsewhere
Hello from Madrid!
A conference for women clergy who serve in chaplaincies across the Diocese in Europe is underway this week in Madrid. This includes Carolyn and Betty.
On Thursday 19 June at 18.30 they will be attending a service celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood at St George’s chaplaincy in
Madrid. You are warmly invited to attend online.
“It’s wonderful to be part of this joyful occasion in the evolving story of the ministry of women” Bishop Alison, (Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese in Europe), who is in attendance, related.
More details here: https://www.europe.anglican.org/.../celebrating-30-years...
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.
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.
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 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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