Church of Scotland Geneva

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1 Church of Scotland Geneva Newsletter Winter 2010 The same old story, but So Christmas is nearly upon us again. Like most of my fellow clergy it is fair to say that I often reach this time of year and wonder if I will have anything new to say about it. There are always a number of talks and sermons to prepare, both through Advent and over Christmas itself. So it can be quite a challenge to wring something that sounds relevant and fresh out of such a well known story. Sometimes there might be a new Christmas movie or song which provides a new talking point, a new way of thinking about the season and its message. Occasionally there might be something in the news about a controversy around the way we handle the season in our society that brings up new questions to respond to. I ll be on the look-out for anything like that this year, but actually I think I may have discovered something more important. Much better than giving the Christmas story a new spin is to ask myself where I now stand in relation to this story. After all, while we may talk about Christmas being almost upon us, the season has not moved anywhere. It remains the same as we approach it once again, and that very familiarity can reflect our questions back on ourselves. So it is valid to ask, are we approaching it any differently this year compared with last year, or any previous year? There are so many things to think about in the run up to Christmas that stopping and remembering and reflecting may not always seem obvious or easy. And for myself, there is so much that needs to be said about the timeless truths of our gospels that exploring what they mean to me on a personal level can feel like a bit of a luxury. Yet asking those questions about what Christmas means to me this year, as opposed to any other year, may well be a worthwhile exercise. Certainly I may not be the same person I was last Christmas, or Christmas 10 years ago, or 30 years ago. A lot has happened which can affect lifestyle, attitudes, thinking. Where does this person, shaped by new and difficult experiences, stand in relation to the Christmas message? What is the message saying to him now? Perhaps this is the key to a meaningful Christmas for all of us. The story will always be the same but where we are in relation to the story changes. Young parents with a new baby, women who have just discovered a pregnancy, fathers who have difficult family decisions to make, people who have been made homeless, Christians under increasing pressure from antagonistic governments all of these will be looking at the Christmas story with new eyes. Then there are those whose souls are paralysed with a sense of failure, the bereaved who can t pull themselves out of the black hole of grief, the suffering who feel isolated some of these might realise for the first time that in Christ they have forgiveness, hope and understanding. It comes round to one of the most helpful of principles in reading any part of the Bible: not just looking at the text and asking questions about it, but allowing the text to look at us and ask questions of us. We don t have to spin the Christmas story at all to make it relevant or fresh. If we bring ourselves to the story just as we are, we may well experience its truth in new ways. Wishing you every blessing. Ian Manson Minister: Revd. Ian Manson, 20 Ancienne Route, 1218 Grand Saconnex Tel/Fax Church Office: 6 ch Taverney Tel: cofsg@pingnet.ch geneva.com Church Bank Account: UBS 279-C Events Friday, 10 December: Christmas Tree Dressing with Carols (19:00 onwards) Sunday 12 December: Children s Service (11:00); Children s Party (12:00) Carol Service (15:00) Monday, 13 December: Women s Bowling afternoon Saturday, 25 December: Christmas Day Service (11:00) followed by lunch (12:00-15:00) Sunday, 26 December: Sunday Worship (11:00) Wednesday, 12 January: Potluck Supper (19:30) Wednesday, 26 January: Congregational Committee February: 1st Youth Presbytery Meeting, Amsterdam March 2011: Presbytery of Europe Meeting, Paris

2 Page 2 Church of Scotland 2010 Fair and Celidh Saturday 20 November saw the culmination of months of planning and hard work as our annual church fair came to life. Stalls and stallholders, both new and long-standing, took their places in the Salle Communale in Grand Saconnex to welcome visitors and friends from the church and the wider Geneva community. The regular pot-luck suppers which were held during the year to gather ideas and inspiration proved worthwhile as the wonderful, colourful display of stalls were filled with goodies to tempt us all. In addition to our regular favourites this year saw the arrival of Animal Magic and the Chalet Stall as well as lovely souvenir heather pins and a delicious haggis lunch and many of us looked longingly at the goodies in the Tuck Shop! The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming and the stallholders and their helpers were kept busy throughout the day. We were also delighted to welcome the Pipes and Drums of Geneva who once again offered their services and entertained us in the morning. The Fair not only provided a wonderful day out for us all but raised nearly 20,000 Swiss francs for church funds. Thanks go to all who were involved in making this day the success it was - you know who you are. Pot-luck suppers will start up again soon to discuss ways to make next year's Fair an even bigger success - watch out for details in future editions and please get involved, the Fair needs YOU! Kathryn Moreno The ceilidh was an enormous success, both socially and financially. Around 160 people of all ages enjoyed a first class evening of music and dance, including an amazing Strip the Willow at the end. Unfortunately it was necessary to declare the hall FULL and turn a few people away. At the 22:00 finish, there was a five-minute standing ovation. For Fair funds, after expenses, the ceilidh raised over CHF 3,000. Clearly, there is an expanding market for this type of event in the Geneva area. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together, younger and older. The Grand-Saconnex hall is becoming too small for the potential numbers! Our warm thanks are due to the Loch Léman Ceilidh Band, and to all from the congregation who helped so much on the night: the Broeksmit family, Simon and Gillian Spence, Arthur and Hazel Griffith, Roberta and David Manson, Edward Mackenzie, and Dorna Wilson. Till the next time! Alice and Peter

3 Page 3 Advent Services Christmas Tree Dressing & Carols Family & Carol Services Sunday School & Crèche Christmas Party Christmas Services This year on every Wednesday in December, up until Christmas, are the Advent services. Each will include one of our elders reflecting on what Christmas means to them personally. You are welcome to join any or all of them in the Auditoire at The Brigadoons invite everyone to Christmas Tree Dressing and Carols in the church, and upstairs in the Salle Friday 10 December, from 19:00 All Welcome! Sunday, 12 December is the day when we have two Services: At 11:00, the children are helping lead our worship, and At 15:00, the choir will lead our Carol Service. In between the two services above, on 12 December, is the Christmas Party with a pot luck lunch There is no Service on Christmas eve this year, but we will worship: on Christmas Day at and, as normal, on Boxing Day (Sunday 26th) at Church Life Flowers I would like to say a very big thank you to all those who have contributed flowers during this year. The flower rota for next year is standing beneath the notice board in the Salle and I hope you will add your name to it and will let me know when you wish to donate some flowers on a particular Sunday. If you need any help in arranging them please do not hesitate to ask me. Flowers bring life and colour to the Church as living evidence of the mystery of creation and can be fundamental to church worship as music. I do hope you will feel called to share in this ministry and contribute flowers on a particular Sunday: to remember the passing of a loved one, on the occasion of a celebration, for the sheer joy of seeing fresh flowers brightening the Auditoire on a Sunday morning to glorify God... I look forward to hearing from you, Janet Askew , janetaskew@greenmail.ch Fiction & Giftware Stall It ll be December by the time you read this. So much to do before the big celebration but one thing you can count on is the great choice of Christmas cards, calendars and gift items only minutes away after the church service up you go to the Salle and there they are, and right next to the books you ll also surely need during the holidays. What s more, the exchange rate being what it is, our prices are lower than ever. Many cards cost CHF 1.50 or less, so why not stock up. Christmas may only come but once a year but it does come, and remarkably quickly too. It seems like yesterday that we were wishing you all the best for Well, here we are again to say A Joyful Christmas and A Very Happy & Healthy New Year Our heartfelt thanks also to each and everyone who has helped us man the Stall throughout the year and also at the Fair. We are truly grateful indeed. Mary & Ritchie , r.pannetti@bluewin.ch (Continued on page 4)

4 Page 4 (Continued from page 3) Treasurer's Report Firstly, a big thank you to all who participated in any way in this year s Church Fair. It has been a great success with the net sum raised presently at CHF 18,100. Income: The Church income from Cash & Freewill Offerings for the first ten months of 2010 amounts to CHF 118,549. This is well down on figure for the same period in 2009 of CHF 143,637, and well below the budget figure of CHF141,667. Total Income for the period is CHF 151,282, which is a whopping CHF 26,982 below the expenditure figure of CHF 178,265. Even with this year s very successful Fair, we will end the year with another deficit. Expenditure: Year to date expenditure of CHF 178,265 is below last year s figure and is well within the budget figure of CHF 186,397. Special Services & Projects update: The Mission Projects for Ekwendeni and Nepal (up to 31 October) CHF 16,426 of which CHF 12,940 is for Ekwendeni and CHF 3,486 is for Nepal. Sincere thanks are given to all those who have helped the church by means of donations, cash or freewill offerings and in addition giving their time and talents. Church Bank Account is UBS 279- C ; IBAN - CH C Robert Walker ( ) Women s Group The Women s Group would like to offer their gratitude to all who donated items to the Animal Magic stall at this year s Fair. It was a great success and we were delighted to honor our four-legged and feathered friends. Our next lunch will be held on Monday 6 December at 12:30 in the Open House of the World Council of Churches. Janet Askew will be our guest speaker. Following that, on Monday 13 December at 14:00 we will meet at the centre commercial La Praille for an exciting afternoon of bowling. If you have yet to experience this, we encourage you to come for the fun, fellowship and frivolity. We are also planning a trip to a local chocolate factory early in the new year. Details to follow. For more information contact Christine Bunn ; bunnc@bluewin.ch or Carleen Knowlton ; carleen.knowlton@rocketmail.com Antonia Bruce demonstrating flower arranging at November WG lunch Confirmation Classes This year our Confirmation Classes will begin early in the New Year and run through to Easter. These meetings are open to anyone who would like to investigate what the Christian faith and church membership might mean for their lives. If you are interested, please contact the minister. Music in Worship As has been mentioned in this publication before, Peter Tulloch and Linda Revkin have decided to retire from their joint roles as Choir Directors in our church. They have served in this way over very many years and many have been able to appreciate their talent and dedication. In discussing this situation, the elders believe it would be good to have a broader discussion about the role music plays in our worship and how that can best be taken forward. To do this we are organising a Pot Luck Supper in the Salle for Wednesday 12 January 2011, at 19:30. We invite anyone who has an interest in music in worship to come along, share some food, and exchange ideas. Naturally we hope that those who sing in the choir will participate, but also want others to be part of the discussion to give us as broad a range of ideas as possible. I look forward to seeing you there. Ian Manson

5 Page 5 Caring for one another "Christmas is coming! The Church is glad to sing..." So goes the well known hymn that we often sing when the Advent Candles are lit in church. The Church is glad to sing about Christmas - and for good reason. But that does not necessarily mean that everyone who comes to church is glad to sing about Christmas. Christmas is not a particularly happy time for everyone. It can be, for some, a lonely time. Christmas can bring back happy memories of past Christmases spent with family and friends, but maybe now they are gone or there is separation either through distance or breakdown in relationships. It is, therefore, a time of year when we need to be particularly sensitive to the needs of others around us, even when we are very busy with our own preparations for the holidays. Thank you to a caring congregation Many of you know by now that at the beginning of November, I tripped and broke my ankle rather badly when I was in Ghana. This was supposed to be a very happy occasion because, among other things, it was the first conference after my retirement that I was attending without having to organize anything! However, I was fortunate in that the conference was full of doctors, nurses and pharmacists and at one stage I had three personal physicians dancing attendance on me. The aftermath was that I was transported back to Geneva where I have been met with the most wonderful outpouring of Christian community in action. The number of calls, visits, offers of help and transport, and of course prayers have touched me very deeply. I am taking this opportunity to thank each one of you. I feel very blessed knowing that I am surrounded by such loving people who are willing to go the extra mile. Friends, neighbours and even those with whom before I have not had much interaction have demonstrated the utmost caring. Although I would not wish this upon anyone of you, it is good to know that should a similar situation arise, you may be resassured that you too will not be alone and I, for one, will do anything in my power to assist. Thank you all. Wishing you all the very best for Christmas. Mary Couper Are you aware of the work of Alcoholics Anonymous in Geneva? This is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA Membership, and they hold regular open meetings where anyone can go along to see how they operate. AA stresses that it is not allied with any sect or denomination, but focuses on their primary purpose: to help one another stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. If you have any kind of issues with alcohol, AA will be pleased to hear from you and happy to talk things over without any commitment. You can contact them through our minister, or directly on

6 Page 6 Presbytery of Europe Meeting; 8-10 October 2010 Members of Presbytery outside the historic Neupfarrkirche in Regensburg, where Reform Communion was first celebrated in October Members of Presbytery represent all the congregations in the presbytery - a minister and elder from each - together with other Church of Scotland ministers living or working within Europe and elders appointed to ensure a balance of equal numbers of ministers and elders. The presbytery meets twice a year (in March and October) over a three day period, being hosted by each of the European congregations in turn. As Felix Allender, our Presbytery Elder, was unable to attend I was invited to represent our congregation as Acting Presbytery Elder at the meeting in Regensburg, Germany. For me this was an opportunity to get to know the presbytery members and to visit the beautiful and historic town of Regensburg. My most memorable experiences were: 1. Meeting the Presbyters who all impressed me with their enthusiasm for the work of the Church. I particularly found the two young ministers from Budapest and Lisbon interesting examples of our lively Church of from Amsterdam. Scotland in Europe. 2. The business of Presbytery was executed professionally by the Moderator, our own Alice Tulloch, ably assisted by Business Manager Alec Grant (an elder from Brussels) and the exceptionally efficient Clerk to the Presbytery, John Cowie, Minister 3. The joint dual language communion service on Sunday shared with our new friends from the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The sermon was delivered by the Very Reverend Andrew McLellan, moderator of the World Mission Council of the Church of Scotland. During the service we were reminded that Regensburg was the place where the first reformed communion was held A truly moving experience full of meaning and wonderful music. Communion was celebrated with the same vessels that were used in this church for its first celebration of Reform Communion on 15 October As Andrew McLellan noted, this was 14 years before John Knox performed the first Protestant communion in Scotland. The meeting was hosted by Rhona Dunphy, Church of Scotland minister to the English speaking students in Regensburg supported by her partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria. Rhona and her team of students and colleagues from the Lutheran Church worked very hard to make the weekend an outstanding success. There was a very full attendance of presbyters from all over the presbytery including representatives from the new members of the Presbytery of Europe in Bermuda and Sri Lanka. The meeting was also facilitated by several guests from Scotland. The programme for the Regensburg visit included: a series of standing committees, the ordinary meeting of the presbytery, a presbytery communion service on the Saturday morning, a lecture on letters written by Calvin when he visited Regensburg, a presbytery dinner, and the joint service in the Neupfarrkirche. The following is a brief summary of these activities... Standing Committees: The ordinary meeting of presbytery was preceded by the following committees: Finance and Property, Mission, Education and Training, Superintendence and Business. These committees prepare for High finance the Presbytery s Convener of Finance & Treasurer get to grips with things this was actually the canteen of our Gästhof!

7 Page 7 the presbytery meeting in advance and use their meetings just before the full meeting of presbytery to prepare their final proposals for presbytery. The Ordinary Meeting of the Presbytery of Europe: The business of this full meeting of the presbytery took about six hours this time. This was Alice Tulloch's final presbytery meeting as Moderator. Significantly for our congregation the Proposed Deliverance from the Panel on Review and Reform was accepted. This deliverance lays out new rules for congregational reviews. These new rules will be applied for the forthcoming visitation from presbytery to Geneva in March While these visitations require us to continue to supply the statutory financial and statistical reports, focus is now increased on facilitating appropriate planning for the future. I believe this is a significant opportunity for our congregation. Calvin in Regensburg: After the presbytery meeting Professor Alasdair Herron presented a lecture based on letters written by Calvin before and during his visit to Regensburg in The text of this lecture is available to those who are interested (just send me an ) Presbytery Dinner: On the Saturday evening a very successful Presbytery dinner was hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria. The members of presbytery were joined by Regensburg councillors and ecumenical representatives from local Churches. Between courses speeches of welcome and thanks were presented. Thankfully the Rev. Jimmy Brown of Bochum was on hand to interpret in both German and English enabling all to appreciate the many amusing and sincere messages. A Presbytery for 18-25s! Miller Donaldson miller@donaldson.ch The Presbytery of Europe has broken new ground, with a decision to convene a Youth Presbytery the first anywhere in the Church of Scotland. It will take place in Amsterdam from February 2011, and each of the presbytery s congregations from Bermuda to Sri Lanka, and Malta to Brussels is invited to send two young people, aged between 18 and 25. The project was launched at the Presbytery s recent meeting in Regensburg, Germany, following a proposal by Michael Mair, Student Associate Minister in Amsterdam. He highlighted the fact that, although there are opportunities for young people to get involved in local churches and, nationally at both the Youth Assembly and the General Assembly itself, no such opportunity yet exists at Presbytery level. Michael will work with Amsterdam-based Iain Majcher who acquired the nickname Mr Europe when he represented the presbytery as a youth delegate to the General Assembly last year to coordinate the church s first Youth Presbytery. He says We think this is an exciting new venture for all young people throughout our presbytery and we hope every congregation will be able to take part. This is a completely new venture for the Church but it s designed to give young people, a voice where it counts. The new Youth Presbytery will, in turn, appoint delegates to the next meeting of the Presbytery itself (due to meet in Paris in March 2011) and it s hoped that, as the Church of Scotland debates the whole issue of the right size and shape of presbyteries for the future, this European venture could open up further possibilities across the whole church. Invitations have already gone out to the 17 congregations across the Presbytery, and the project already has its own address for those interested: cofseuropeanyouth@gmail.com. Youth Presbytery? Great idea! Michael Mair (l) and Iain Majcher (r) with young people from Amsterdam and Lausanne...

8 Page 8 Dear Church Family in Geneva Warmest greetings from Meena and me at Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital, Nepal - the world's busiest leprosy hospital, where the world is different, exciting, challenging, rewarding (but I admit at times I do long for a bite of apple-pie & ice-cream. Meena don't, but I do). Just wanted to send you very best wishes from both of us for November, and for St Andrews Day, and hope we see you all when we get back to Geneva for Christmas. And thank you all so very much again for your thoughts, prayers, and support for the leprosy work here. It's always a struggle but with the Good Lord's guidance and your marvellous help, the most wonderful achievements and progress against leprosy and its awful consequences are being seen. With your help the new Isolation Ward building is progressing rapidly, the roof is on, and completion is only a couple of months away. Amazing when you think that this time last year no building work had even started. Here is an internet link to a short two-minute video clip about work at Lalgadh Hospital & kids with leprosy ( 5HpLf)...it will give you some of the atmosphere and children of Lalgadh Hospital. It was made earlier this year by some friends in Switzerland, just as work was starting on the Isolation Ward. Hope you enjoy... and hope you might even be inspired to come and visit Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital soon and see the work here for yourself. We just ran a hand-surgery week here all last week, with a super visiting hand-surgeon from Bristol who came here for a week and operated on many of leprosy affected folks - children, adolescents, mothers, adults, elderly - A prayer for Advent in the world today God of comfort, these times seem so uncertain, so scary. The world seems darker than it has in the past and I am less sure of myself. Maybe that's a good thing; maybe now I am turning to you with a realization that I need you so much more and that my life is not in my own control. Let me not forget all of those around the world who are frightened at this moment. Help those who are victims of terrorism and war. Be with those who have lost so much in the past year. Hold us all in your loving arms and let us be comforted by the strength and peace you want so much to offer us through the birth of your son, Jesus. Thank you for the many gifts you offer us. people whose hands were curled up and clawed, or missing fingers... he did amazingly fine reconstructive surgery to give them the use of their hands again. I'll tell you more about that with pictures next time. Meantime, thank you again for all your thoughts, prayers, and compassion. We miss you but hope to see you at Christmas. Love to all and God bless. graeme & meena Amen Iris Holt, Lisbon [taken from a series of daily advent prayers and readings for the Presbytery of Europe, We are sorry to inform you of the death of Charlie Clark in Scotland on 18 November. Charlie had been in poor health for some time. Charlie was an elder in our congregation for many years. He and Shona were members of the Brigadoons and contributed much to the life of the congregation. Our sympathies go out to Shona and the family. Congratulations to Mark and Beth Jeffrey who celebrated their marriage in Scotland, followed by a service of blessing in the Auditoire on 27 November

9 Page 9 Congregational Committee This Committee is responsible for the Congregation s financial and temporal affairs, and comprises the Elders plus 12 elected members, who each serves for three years and are eligible for re-election. The last meeting was Tuesday 28 September 2010, and the main outcome are as follows: 1. The Committee recorded its great appreciation to Anne Whiteford for her support the past few months. 2. There was discussion about what type of chair might replace those in the Auditoire. 3. It was decided to replace the Minister s car with a Citroën Picasso. 4. The Church had not participated in the Expat-Expo, recently held at Palexpo, but would consider doing so next year. 5. The current financial position was reviewed (see Treasurer s article in this newsletter). 6. There were two vacancies on the Committee that could be filled by co-option. 7. It was decided the Committee would continue meeting every two months on Tuesday evenings. 8. Following very thoughtful discussion of the Church s aid projects, and as requested, the Mission Committee will make proposals to the next meeting on targets for 2011 and future funding. 9. The Committee recalled that le Musée international de la Réforme (MiR) had arranged for two modules to be installed at the back of the Auditoire some 12 months ago. It was agreed to continue protesting at their presence, while recognizing the Auditoire Committee has final authority in such matters. Any member of the Congregation may attend Congregational Committee meetings. All members are invited to consider standing for election - the next one will take place in April / May 2011 during the Annual Congregational meeting. I will be pleased to answer any questions concerning the Committee, its work and its schedule of meetings. Arthur Askew, Secretary Mission Committee Once again, thank you on behalf of the Mission Committee, for your faithful and regular support for the church s mission partnerships during the past year. As you see from the Treasurer s report, up to end-october 2010 we have collected CHF 16,426 for our partnerships in Ekwendeni and Lalgadh hospitals in Malawi and Nepal, through our regular freewill contributions, through the Sunday School, and through occasional retiring offerings and concerts. This is a wonderful effort in favour of vulnerable, stigmatized people. Our mission partnerships are not just projects ; they are ongoing and developing relationships with Mission Partners whom we know and love: Stalin, Velepe, Bertha, Gift, Elita, William and Mada in Ekwendeni and Graeme and Meena in Lalgadh. Our congregational visits to Ekwendeni, and theirs to Geneva, have been revelatory, and for some lifechanging, experiences. The integrated approach to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and counseling taken by the Ekwendeni youth centre has become a model for others to follow, and Eric Gerelle is continuing work with the centre to develop mobile-phone technology as a way of getting better communication and diagnosis to outlying villages. We are also delighted to say that, since returning to Malawi, both William and Mada have succeeded in getting full-time, paid posts as counselors in the Hospital. From having been a top WHO bureaucrat, Graeme has transformed his own life and they are both transforming those of others through his and Meena s ongoing work in Lalgadh. You will see the latest letter from Graeme and Meena in this newsletter. In these relationships, we are neither givers nor receivers. We are all - from all sides - companions in Christ s work in the world. They are not rivals nor competitors for our attention, but partners for whom we should thank God. Recently, the Mission Committee was asked by the Congregational Committee to clarify where the money given to mission partnerships actually goes, and make proposals for the future. We shall be making specific proposals for targets for 2011 to the postponed CC meeting in January. Last but not least: Mission is not just for abroad! Members of the Women s Group have struck up a strong relationship with the Eglise Ouverte drop-in centre in the Pâquis. However, we are keen to encourage more members of the congregation, men and women, to assist in developing this relationship. Please contact Carleen Knowlton or Christine Bunn if you would be interested in helping. Have a blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year, Peter Tulloch, for the Mission Committee

10 Page 10 Brigadoons Betty Morris Newsletter Suzanne Murray-Jones Choir Directors Peter Tulloch / Linda Revkin / Prayer Network Ian Manson Church Flowers Janet Askew Session Clerk Alice Tulloch Congregational Secretary St Andrews Fair Kathryn Moreno Crèche Kathryn Moreno Sunday Coffee Rota Terry Angleys Cursillo Eleanor Strittmatter Sunday Evening Bible Ian Manson Study Diary Coordinator Carleen Knowlton Sunday School Freda Craeye Winch Fiction Bookstall Ritchie Pannetti Treasurer Robert Walker Free Will Offering Jurg Strittmatter Ushers Arthur Griffiths Fabric Sub-committee Douglas Murray- Jones Contact List Woman s Group Carleen Knowlton-Winch / Christine Bunn / Mission Projects Eric Gerelle Website Eric Gerelle Silent Auction Swimming pool Isi and Hew Watt have organised a silent auction for a one week holiday next summer at their house in south of France (St. Pierre de Tourtour), the proceeds of which will go to our Church. The house has presently two bedrooms, dining room, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom but will have another bedroom and bathroom (attached but independent of the house i.e. not suitable for small children) by summer of next year. The domaine is 700m and quite beautiful, set in pine forest with abundant wildflowers, with a swimming pool and four tennis courts. The village of Tourtour is also beautiful and has an amazing number of restaurants and interesting pottery, art Dining room and artisanal shops. Robert and Rebecca McDonald have stayed there and Isi is sure they would confirm what she says! If you are interested, please write your bid (not less than CHF 300, please) and put it in an envelope, sealing it and giving it to our minister as soon as possible. The bids will be opened on 12 December and the highest bid succeeds. Isi and Hew will find a week in the summer of next year which suits the bidder and them. Anyone interested can call Isi for a chat at home or on her mobile Lake Bedrooms If you have any news / articles of interest for the next newsletter which is due out early 2011, please do send it to the Editor, who would be happy to include it. Suzanne Murray-Jones, murrayjo@unhcr.org