Church of Scotland. Events: Newsletter. Autumn 2012

Transcription

1 Church of Scotland Newsletter Autumn 2012 Been away? Over these summer months, I have done a bit of travelling. I led the first part of our latest exchange visit to Malawi; had a week s holiday in France and spent just over a week volunteering at the Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival in England. Certainly not a dull summer. Now, once again, I m settling down into a more familiar routine, doing more familiar things. I m sure this is a common experience for many of us. Summer provides the opportunity to take a break, do different things, travel and meet friends, have adventures... All of that is great. Unfortunately the end of summer may be marked not only by duller weather, but by a sense of regret that things we had looked forward to now lie behind us. The return to routine things can be accompanied by a sense of weariness. All of this might be a normal part of our human make up, but I hope it is not a dominant part. Our Christian faith teaches us to expect to find beauty and wonder not only in exceptional things, but in that which might look ordinary or familiar. The story of Christ s birth should tell us that, if nothing else. So our goal should not be to plan ever greater breaks away from our normal lives, but to discover ever more of the glory which lies hidden within them. Our goal, to use the language of the 17 th century poet George Herbert, is to find heaven in the ordinary. During the Communion Service at the Greenbelt Festival (picture 10,000 people standing in wellingtons in a very muddy field) the preacher posed a question which stuck in my mind. What are you doing, or what are you longing to do, with your one, precious, wild and exuberant life. That is a great question to ponder. Not what are doing for your holiday which will probably come round again next year, but what are you doing with your life. After all we are only given one shot at that so we ought to be making the most of it. That may not be the sort of language we are used to hearing in church (or reading in Church Newsletters) but it is good language. Our lives are precious because they have been gifted to us by God, they should be wild in the sense that they reflect the creator s endless imagination, and they should exuberant as they express our uninhibited gratitude for his lavish generosity. If we see the way we spend most of our days only in terms of something we want a break from, then we are surely missing out on something. So life will go on and the weather will continue to turn darker and colder over the coming months. No doubt we will continue to face plenty of challenges and pressures as the days go by. But through it all church will be here, keeping alive the rumours of glory and giving us space to marvel at the wonder of all. Through it all we will continue to gather around the words of Jesus and share the stories about how to live life in all its fullness. Perhaps, together, we can start to live our regular days in ways which will make summer holidays seem dull by comparison. Ian 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: September: Youth Group Trip Thursday, 13 September: Potluck for the Fair Tuesday, 18 September: Women's Group from 14:30 Tuesday, 25 September, AOC AGM at 20:00 30 September, Instrumental Concert at 15:00 October: Cake Sale each Sunday Friday 5 October: Congregational Dinner at19: November: Cursillo Weekend Saturday, 17 November: Annual Church Fair The Christian who is pure and without fault, from God the Father s point of view, is the one who takes care of orphans and widows, and who remains true to the Lord. James 1:27

2 Church Life Flowers Page 2 I am sure you will have noticed the delightful flower arrangements created by Veronika Jogart Owusu-Manu and that we have put a note into the Order of Service to remember the anniversary for whom the flowers have been donated. I do hope you will let me know when you wish to contribute flowers on a particular Sunday: to remember the passing of a loved one, or on the occasion of a celebration, or for the sheer joy of seeing fresh flowers brightening the Auditoire on a Sunday morning to glorify God. After the Service the delivery of flowers to the sick, bereaved or housebound carries a powerful message of God s love and conveys the care and compassion of our congregation to its members and community. Do let me know if you can help in this way. The flower rota stands beneath the notice board in the Salle and I hope you will add your name to it and will let me know if you need any help in arranging the flowers. With many thanks, Janet Askew Sunday School Our Sunday School started up again on Sunday 2 September and any new or visiting children are very welcome to join us. We re an all-age David & Goliath group (4 to 11 years old) and we follow the Godly Play curriculum which enables the children to learn about God s word and the mysteries of His Kingdom through stories, play, wondering and fellowship. Last term ended with a busy Sunday mid-june, when we had our Family Service, then the Sunday School picnic (in the beautifully sunny Parc des Bastions), followed by the second annual Children s Concert in support of our church s mission in Lalgadh leprosy hospital. We all had a great day and went home tired but happy! The Family Service allowed us to show how we track the church year using a clock below shows one of our favourite members of the congregation (who helps Santa deliver our presents at Christmas time!) correctly positioning the calendar of the church year as requested on the red-hot Sunday of Pentecost! The Children s Concert went very well with about fifteen children from the Sunday School and Youth Group taking part. Thanks to the generosity of our audience, we were able to raise valuable funds to help the Lalgadh hospital continue its wonderful work, particularly its caring treatment of younger leprosy patients. The following is a lovely thoughtful note left by a visitor who attended the concert. I am Doctor Woo who came from Korea. Last winter, I've gone to Nepal for medical mission. I came Geneva for academic meeting. It is happy and impressive to see your Children s concert with Sunday School and Youth Group concert. It is not important how to do very well. It is important that your effort is devoted to God and is donated for Nepal's people. I am very happy to meet you. Thanks to God. This is my small donation for Leprosy hospital. God bless you! From Korean friend." We re looking forward to a new year with our church s children and their families, and wish you all a very Bonne Rentrée! The Sunday School team, Jenny Rietbergen

3 Page 3 Women s Group Tea & Fellowship ALL MOST WELCOME Our first meeting of the year will be for tea and sympathy at Gillian Friedli, our Treasurer's home at 11 chemin des Ramiers at Collonge- Bellerive, on Tuesday,18 September starting from Any partners and spouses who would like to join us will be most welcome. How to get there: By bus (Route E) it takes 20-25mins. Please give Gillian advanced confirmation of attendance by or phone (Tel ). ) Request stop La Gabiule, follows immediately after Hôpital Bellerive (previously CESCO). A pedestrian crossing is located 10 m. back towards Geneva, then,in the other direction towards Hermance, continue a further 100 m before turning left into Chemin des Ramiers («chemin privé»). Gillian's house, No. 11, is about 20 metres on the right. Congregational Committee For the Committee, Joyce McNulty On 5 June various topics were discussed, including preparations for the Annual Congregational Meeting that, contrary to normal practice, was held just five days later: The Church is in a reasonably sound financial position, and the Committee endorsed 2012 budget for presentation at the ACM. It was confirmed that Peace with the Earth would be the ACM discussion topic. Plans are in hand to replace the Sacristy carpet and a new vacuum cleaner and carpet cleaner have been purchased. Lesley Reddy has started planning the Church Fair and a series of pot-luck meetings will be held to involve all concerned. Samples of chairs, to replace those in the Auditoire, are still under consideration. The Geneva authorities have recently advised the Church that it needs to amend its Constitution if it wishes to retain tax exempt status. In particular, it requires that those employed by the Church can have an advisory role at meetings but cannot vote, people attending meetings should not be paid and, if the Church were ever dissolved, its remaining funds should be transferred to another tax exempt association with similar aims. Amendments to the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote at an ACM and so the necessary changes had been drafted in consultation with the Geneva official concerned and would be put to the ACM. The Geneva authorities also pointed out that the Church could be exempt from Swiss Federal Tax. A plan to make such a request would be submitted at the same time as the revised Constitution. Annual Congregational Meeting (ACM) The Annual Congregational Meeting met on 10 June: 2011 accounts were considered; and 2012 budget was approved Annual Report led to discussion of specific points such as the Church s web site, the recording of sermons and Bible readings during Sunday worship. Amendments to the Constitution were adopted and submitted to the relevant Geneva authorities. Theo Gill distributed material prepared by himself and Nan Braunschweiger explaining the origin and meaning of the phrase Peace with the Earth, referring to work by the Church of Scotland and the World Council of Churches. It was presented as being very relevant to how the Church managed the properties it uses and, above all, our personal habits as responsible Christians. It was agreed that Creation and our stewardship of nature could be set as a recurring theme for the life of the Church over the next 12 months. Elections for membership of the Congregational Committee were held and the following are members for the periods mentioned (all elders are Committee members): to 2013: Grace Ansah, Han Broere, Meena Clugston, Douglas Murray-Jones; to 2014: Christine Bunn, Ian Colliar, Nan Braunschweiger, David Hogg; to 2015: Lesley Reddy, Nicola Hollyman, Lidian Shark and Gilbert Owusu-Manu Arthur Askew, Secretary

4 Choir Page 4 The church choir resumes in September with the first rehearsal on Wednesday 12 September at 20:00. We will be working on new repertoire and starting to prepare for our Carol Service in December. Anyone who is interested in joining the choir or even just being involved with the Christmas service, please do contact me ( luciegoodman@yahoo.co.uk ) Looking forward to singing together once again, Lucie Goodman Confession Prayer of Choristers Almighty and most merciful Conductor, We have erred, and strayed from thy beat like lost sheep; We have followed too much the devices and tempos of our own parts; We have offended against thy pronunciation laws; We have left unsung those notes which we ought to have sung And we have sung those notes which we ought not to have sung; And there s no intonation in us. But thou, O Conductor, have mercy upon us, miserable singers. Spare thou them that have lost their music; Restore thou them that have forgotten the signature And grant, o most merciful Maestro, that we may hereafter Live an allegro moderato, un poco andante life To the glory of thy choir s name. Amen Our Church at home Peace with the Earth The earth belongs to the Lord, and the fullness of the earth the world, and all who dwell in it. for God has founded it upon the waters and God has established it on the rivers and seas. Amen. Psalm 24: 1-2 In recent years the Church of Scotland has emphasised the connection between establishing Peace on Earth and finding Peace with the Earth. Following an introduction to this topic before the summer at the Annual Congregational Meeting and then at the Kirk Session, a small group has met to see how our congregation could have an emphasis on stewardship of creation in church life. This focus will take place over the coming year. Several ideas generated are related to awareness raising while others are more reflection and action oriented, all the while trying to keep a balance between highlighting global issues and identifying simple local practical steps that people of all ages can take. Some activities the congregation could be involved in are: Film Nights with showings of films which raise "Peace with the Earth" issues. Bible and Lenten studies appropriate for our situation in Geneva. Articles in the newsletter, asking readers to share tips on practical, everyday actions that people of all ages may take to protect the future of the planet. Through our Sunday services, e.g. harvest festival, all age talks, interviews with members of the congregation. Diffusion of information on our commitment to the issue at the annual Church Fair. Support of an environmental project for one of our special givings Speaker at the Women's Group lunch. Discussion groups. Focus on the issue in the Youth Group and Sunday School. Sharing resources: making a selection of books available which members of the congregation could borrow. A variety of resources are available for congregationally based activities surrounding the appreciation of God s Creation and our responsibility for its nurture and care and these shall be shared over the coming months. Current members of the group comprise Alice Tulloch, Páiric Reamonn, Theo Gill and Nan Braunschweiger; they would warmly welcome other members, particularly younger people, to join them. Perhaps you have special expertise in a particular aspect you could share with us, perhaps you or your group simply want to learn more or see what action you could take. Please get in contact with us. We hope you may feel inspired by this focus for our congregation and motivated to take action.

5 Page 5 Caring for One Another Being alert to the needs of others, and prepared to respond in appropriate ways, is not something that stops or even slows down during vacation time. Nonetheless, la rentrée does mark a quickening of pace even in the area of pastoral care as we embark on another "church year". The Caring for One Another core group, which comprises Terry Angleys, David Asbury, Janet Askew, Christine Bunn, Revd Ian Manson, Jean Murray, Eleanor Strittmatter, Rosaleen Walker and myself, meets about once every two months to discuss ways in which we can try to keep the ethos of "caring for one another" in the forefront of all our minds, as well as to seek more effective ways in which we can offer help to those who may be in any kind of need. That support or assistance may take many forms, both practical and spiritual, depending on the particular circumstances of those involved. Sometimes the members of the group are able to help personally, while on other occasions the support that is needed can be more effectively provided by others. It's all part of "caring for one another". One of the spiritual ways in which we can all extend a caring hand to one another is through prayer. The power of prayer is often underestimated - indeed, sometimes, derided but there are many among us who, from personal experience, can testify to its positive impact. The members of the Caring for One Another core group are regularly invited to pray for those known to us who are in particular need. We also seek to find ways of encouraging others to pray regularly, not only in cases when specific needs arise but also as a matter of regular good practice. In case you haven't noticed it yet, the "Prayer for the Week" which is printed on the back of the Order used at each Sunday morning service and also available on the church website is one recent initiative in this direction. We are also now offering a small prayer card to all our visitors who come to worship with us and who sign our visitors book near the door. As this new "church year" begins, we embrace all the members of the congregation and readers of this newsletter with the prayer that the coming months will bring you into closer fellowship with others who are also part of the church the body of Christ and that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be with you this day and forever more. Jim Sharp for the Caring for One Another core group Invitation: Our Congregational Dinner on Friday 5 October There will be a congregational dinner, open to all of you, on Friday, 5 October at Chateau de Bossey in Celigny. Aperitifs will be served from and we will eat at The cost is 45 CHF including drinks, and a special price of 20 CHF for children. The Chateau is in a beautiful peaceful setting and we will end the evening with a short worship service in the adjoining chapel. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other and enjoy a meal together. Places must be booked and paid for at least a week in advance, at church or by contacting Felix Allender (phone ) or Alice Tulloch ( or alicetulloch@voila.fr). They can also give you any further details including how to find the Chateau or help with transport. We look forward to seeing you there!

6 Page 6 Members of Our Congregation Elders: Continuing with our series on elders. Laurent Djamen: born and raised in Douala, Cameroon, Laurent and Antoinette married in January They have three sons (Nicholas, Lucas & Benjamin) living with them in Founex/VD. Raised in a Christian home, Laurent attended an Evangelical Church, learning about the birth, life and ministry of Jesus from Sunday School. He joined our church in April 1996, and taught in the youth group in He served as a member of the Congregational Committee for 4 years, prior to his ordination as Elder in November He is currently a member of the Education Group. After a BS in Information Systems and a PMP certification, Laurent has been working in several Telecommunication Companies for more than 15 years. Janet Askew, married to Arthur (choir member and Congregational Committee Secretary), I grew up in north London and came to work for an NGO in Geneva in Arthur and I met in the choir, married in l971, and settled in Sydney, Australia. We returned to Geneva in 1977 for two years but as so often happens we are still here 35 years later! We have two sons, Andrew works in the UK, and Jonathan works in Sydney, Australia. I look after the flower rota, the Cradle roll, the church list and the ecumenical Lenten studies and am part of the Caring for One Another Group. David Asbury: English, married to Maria Villanueva currently working in Vienna with IAEA. He has three grown up children, Anna, Richard and Alexander who are in the UK and visit from time to time. Trained as physicist, David originally came to Geneva area in 1984 to work in computing at CERN and has been involved in the Church of Scotland since then. He is now involved in the Session, Congregational Committee and the Caring for one Another Group. David is usually found playing the organ or singing in the choir on Sunday. He is interested in classical music, enjoys reading, walking, company of friends and family and eating lunch! Former members: Editor s Note: I and Douglas had a chance encounter with Bill and Sheila Blair whilst waiting at a bus stop in Edinburgh during the summer Festival there. They agreed to send something for our newsletter The Editor encouraged us to provide material for a Golden Oldies feature in the Newsletter, so here goes with a brief overview of our life since we retired back to Scotland in Yes, ten years have passed! We moved into a new house in a development on the edge of Dunblane in central Scotland, and while there were no major problems with the house, it took us some months to settle and feel at home. This process was helped by joining the congregation of Dunblane Cathedral, where in due course Bill joined the Kirk Session and Sheila became active in the Guild and coffee etc! Bill is also on the Board of Management of Forth Valley College, and recently became Vice-Chair of Friends of Forth Valley Royal Hospital. We are ideally placed for trips to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and see Morag and family (now three grandchildren) most weeks. We also see Rhona several times a year in 2008 she married Mark, in Dunblane Cathedral. Both are sports scientists and are based in Loughborough. We like to travel and in recent years have been to Canada, the USA, Australia and Russia, not to mention France and Switzerland and various parts of the UK. In fact we have been back to the Geneva area every year since retirement, and still keep in touch with many auld acquaintances. On that subject, in Scotland we also keep in touch with George and May Shering, Marjorie McLeod (also a Dunblane resident) and Elspeth Campbell. We keep in touch with the Geneva congregation through all these various contacts, and also of course the Newsletter. And we enjoy attending services in the Auditoire each year, and still feel at home when we do so. We d love to hear from anyone who remembers us. Bill and Sheila Blair 4 Pont Crescent, Dunblane FK15 0FJ, Scotlanbd ; b_s_blair@hotmail.com

7 Page 7 And another former member of our congregation. Anne Whiteford, former elder, is now Programme Coordinator for the Iona Community. Oscar Colliar, and his family, spent an inspiring week with the Wild Goose Resource Group learning that worship is not just a cerebral experience, and how arts, crafts and reorganising space within churches can enhance one's worship experience. Congratulations To Eleanor and Jurg Strittmatter on the birth of their grandson, Frank William, in London on 1 August About Prayer Our Kirk Session meetings start with a short devotion usually led by one of the elders. Last time it was my turn and I chose to reflect on the subject of prayer. Most religions use prayer as a vehicle of communication, a request for help or an expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity. For a long time I have been intrigued by the "quality" or meaning of prayer offered by the various faiths or religions, or indeed, by our own within the wider body of Christianity. And about the value of such prayers in the eyes of God. "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below, Words without thoughts never to heaven go." Thus Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, just when the latter approaches with the most murderous thoughts in Act III. And as true today as they were when written 400 years ago. So what validates our prayer? There is a prayer wheel, a small revolving cylinder containing prayers used by Tibetan Buddhists. There is the rosary, a form of devotion in which 5 or 15 sets of ten Hail Marys are repeated. And a string of beads for keeping count of such devotions. Apart from the Virgin Mary there are prayers offered to a large number and variety of saints. How does God respond to all this? I was taught to pray by my parents as a child and we did likewise with ours. The likes of " Now I lay me down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep...etc". The child learns the words, will repeat them but when will they become real prayers? Words without thoughts never to heaven go,,,, Or do they? I don't know. In my Collin's concordance there are well over a hundred references listed under the entry of prayer including the Lord's Prayer. I chose Matthew 26: Jesus in Gethsemane. At the end Jesus prays "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Yet not as I will, but as thou wilt." My mind focuses on the last four words, "but as thou wilt." Is the logical conclusion of this that God's will will always prevail? No matter what we pray for and what we ask? In that case what is the point of prayer? How do we decide about the content of our prayer? I have some volumes of collected prayers. Some of them are very beautiful and some quite poetic. Inside a book they are dead. When do they become prayers? When we read them, when we recite them? Alone or in public and aloud? And finally, to whom do we pray? It's certainly not the kind old man with the long beard as God has been depicted in some medieval paintings. The Soviet cosmonauts returning from outer space reported no sign of God out there. Do you understand my quest? I suppose we all have our own answers to these questions and they are not necessarily identical. Does it matter? I believe God is the Spirit who may or may not listen to our prayer or how we pray or what we ask for. I can only approach God with humility and awe. I know I can only hope to have a glimpse of his greatness and his infinite love. And to understand that love we must have Christ, in and through whom that love was revealed. And it is in prayer or through prayer that we can have access to all this, his unfathomable purpose, his love, compassion and forgiveness. And the location? It is within you and me and all around us. In the end I do not think it matters. Felix Allender, June 2012

8 Page 8 Coming activities / events The Youth Group trip are looking forward to an exciting adventure to the Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard on the weekend of September ( If you haven't told us yet that you would like to join the fun, us as soon as possible Ian & Christine Colliar, christine.colliarscott@gmail.com Association for the New Organ of the Auditoire de Calvin 4th Annual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday, 25 September at 20:00 in the Church Salle. This will be an opportunity to get to know other AOAC members over a drink and snack as well. Rebecca D. MacDonald, Secretary AOAC Instrumental Concert in the Auditoire on Sunday afternoon, 30 September at 15:00 in aid of the Church of Scotland Mission work in Nepal (See page 11 for more information about this work). Our Church Overseas Ekwendeni Exchange Visit This photo appears to be a picture of five young women enjoying each others company. And so it is, but that isn t the real significance of the image. The picture was taken in Malawi this summer, when the two girls on the right (Ailsa and Sarah) visited the Ekwendeni HIV Resource Centre. The three girls on the left (Madalitso, Elita and Bertha) have all been involved the work of that Centre. This is the Centre which our congregation has been partnering with for several years now, having first raised money to allow the building to be constructed. We moved on from that, through a phase of finding and supplying resources to the stage where we contribute the salaries for the staff. Through that time we have been amazed at how the work of the Centre has expanded and the impact it has made across a large catchment area. The statistics tell of a network of 40 Youth Clubs bringing information and care to their local communities, all created and sustained by the Centre. They also tell of the HIV infection rate coming down from 33% to just over 10% in the time we have been involved. Yet statistics cannot tell the whole story. The picture adds something important, for the connection between the girls is far more than might meet the eye. The three Malawians have been with us in Geneva as part of previous exchange visits, and Madalitso and Elita were delighted to be able to host Sarah and Ailsa in their own homes. The picture tells us that our relationship is not just about sending money to help needy people, though that is both true and important. It is also about Christian people with very different backgrounds coming to understand one another and growing to love one another. The significance of this was picked up by another visitor from Scotland who was volunteering at the hospital while we were there. Gill (Lorimer) wrote, When it came time for the group from Geneva to depart I was invited to their leaving event, at which the nature of the relationship between the Centre and the Genevan Church was emphasised: it is a partnership. my final impression was that this relationship goes beyond the traditional donor-recipient model. And that in itself is an achievement worth celebrating. One aspect of being partners is that we have always sought to make our visits into exchange visits, and with the help of the Faithshare programme of the Church of Scotland (Continued on page 9)

9 Page 9 we are again able to do that. On Wednesday, 26 September the Malawians from the Resource Centre will arrive in Geneva for two weeks. One of them will be the Resource Centre Supervisor, Stalin Mughandira, who has done such a remarkable job to build up the work. The other is Christina Hara, a very active young lady who is a leading presence in the Youth Club in her home village. I hope you will look for opportunities to meet with them, to hear about the work they do in our name, and to continue to build those bonds of fellowship which transcend all the human barriers which might make them seem unlikely. Meanwhile, you can read some stories about the visit on our website rts/ekwendeni_visit_2012.pdf. You can also read the rest of Gill Lorimer s thoughts at rts/ekwendeni_gill_lorimer_2012.pdf. Day Three: HIV Counselling & Testing This is just one of a series of stories from the recent exchange visit to Ekwendeni which can be found on our website. On Thursday morning, 28 June, William and Joshua took our group into the VCT wing of our Resource Centre. VCT stands for Voluntary Counselling and Testing, and this section of the building was a later addition with a separate entrance. It has a waiting room, leading into a hall with two counselling rooms, and there is also a space where basic medication can be stored and given out. Joshua talked us through the process which they regularly followed; it was clear he had been well trained. He discussed the different scenarios which sometimes unfolded and how they would deal with each one. William then interrupted to volunteer to be tested in front of us. They quickly moved through what would normally be a much fuller set of questions about what had prompted the client to come, and how they would respond to being told they were HIV positive or indeed HIV negative. The physical test is simple enough, a simple prick of the finger and a smear of the resultant blood on to the first test kit. The result would be ready in a few minutes, time which was used to further encourage the client to consider what changes they might make to their lifestyle once they know their status. William was confident that he would be fine, but even he couldn't resist sneaking a look at the result while Joshua was distracted by one of our questions. His confidence turned out to be justified and the event was duly recorded carefully in the ledger. However the moments of waiting did allow us to sense how tense the room must get when an anxious young man or woman is waiting for news which will change the rest of their lives. In fact the term VTC is now outdated, as not all of the counselling and testing is voluntary. If a doctor is alerted by frequent illness in a patient he can insist on a test, and they are more or less compulsory for couples seeking a church wedding and for expectant mothers. The proper term now is HTC, standing for HIV Counselling and Testing, but repainting the title above the entrance has clearly not been a priority. It is remarkable to think that these friendly young people who smile and laugh so regularly spend so much of their time dealing with such solemn issues and such anxious people. We were given examples of the most difficult situations they come across, either with very young people or with couples who discover that the deception of one has changed the future possibilities for them both. It seemed like a huge burden to place on such young counsellors, but they are clearly serious and devoted to the task.

10 Page 10 Ukraine s Forgotten Children Hello! Did you watch the EU- RO-2012 football matches broadcast from Ukraine this summer? I wonder if, at the same time, you might have seen a documentary on BBC 4 entitled Ukraine s Forgotten Children? Thanks to our televisions, we all know of the desperate poverty and suffering of so many needy people in the Third World. Many of us have even seen it with our own eyes. But it exists closer to home, too. Ukraine s Forgotten Children showed the lives of the mentally and physically-disabled residents of the Chernigov Home in the village of Kalinovka, Zaporozhiye region. Under the Soviet system, parents were encouraged to give disabled or sick children with whom they could not cope into the care of the state. The practice continues. Do you remember Nicolae Caucescu s orphanages in Romania? Then the results will be sadly familiar to you - remote, overcrowded, underfunded facilities where, at best, a few poorly-paid, dedicated people struggle to meet the enormous needs of their charges. At worst - bewildered, sick and neglected people - children and adults - waiting to die. And all this no more than three hours flying time from Geneva. There are good, brave people in Ukraine trying to help. The documentary showed them. The director of the Chernigov home, so determined to improve conditions for his children; a dentist who came out of retirement at his request to be the only medical professional on his staff; a lawyer battling the Ukrainian legal system in order to reverse the verdicts that condemned young men to lifelong incarceration for no crime other than being mentally retarded. After watching Ukraine s Forgotten Children I wanted to help them. So I did some digging and found this website Yes, its presentation is a little chaotic. Yes, the English is a little iffy. But within it you ll find a specific link to the programme and to the Chernigov Home php?a_id=90002 It will give you an idea of what they are trying to do and of what can be done with our help. I have been personally in touch with Albert Pavlov, founder of the charity; Mariya Syemashkina; co-ordinator for Chernigov, and Daria Sukach, one of the volunteer translators. I hope next year to visit them and see for myself how they re doing. For any of you who might want to help but (understandably) be concerned about donations vanishing en route because of the extent of corruption in this part of the world, I don t think you need to worry this time. The presence of a BBC camera crew does wonders in making sure that the money gets where it s meant to be. And the charity cooperates with other, Western organisations, including Maya s Hope in America, which helps to keep things honest. e.php?a_id= Ukraine s Forgotten Children was hard viewing. But it shone a much-needed light on a part of our own continent where dreadful things have been hidden in darkness for far too long. If you d like to help ensure that the disabled children of Ukraine aren t forgotten any longer, please click on some of the links. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Rosemary Hill

11 Page 11 Many thanks to you From Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital, Nepal This is a note of deep gratitude to you, our Church Family - profound thanks from us and from the staff, and indeed all the patients of Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital, Nepal for your marvellous, continuing, faithful support, especially your prayers, your funding, and your great encouragement. With your support, great things have been achieved at Lalgadh that would not have been possible without it, including: The new 10- bed Isolation Ward has been built due to be opened 24 November. A new Christian doctor and nurse have been recruited using the funds coming from CofS in 2012; Over 1,000 new leprosy patients, 6,000 returning leprosy patients, and 50,000 patients of all types, have been treated and cared for over the past year; The Lalgadh Community Programme has extended its covering mantle over the poor and needy population of 2.5 million people, including the running of: Community clinics especially for leprosy and disability; Self Care Groups Literacy and schools support programmes Water and sanitation projects Socio-economic rehabilitation projects You ve already seen photos and heard stories through the Sunday School about the many children affected by leprosy, and the marvellous reconstructive surgery that goes on at Lalgadh Hospital;... and on top of this... There is a daily devotional service run by the nurses, for patients who want to come to hear the Bible and sing songs There is close involvement with and support for the local Lalgadh church in the village about 1 Km away, with enthusiastic church services and baptisms in the nearby river; Most of our senior staff are Christian (all are Nepali...I m the only foreigner at Lalgadh) and every evening we have a fellowship gatherings in someone s house (taking it in turns) for prayer and song meetings and Bible study The whole place runs on a tight shoe-string budget, sometimes we don t see how some of the work can continue, but we always work prayerfully and in faith, and are repeatedly rewarded with clear evidence of God s amazing guiding. So your ongoing support has been of enormous help in enabling Lalgadh Hospital to be a Christian light on a hill, achieving those two major goals of Mission work that Jesus asked of His disciples... Reaching out to the poor, sick, and leprosy-affected, with healing, love and care; and Holding out the Gospel Message of Jesus love, grace and salvation, in a very dark and superstitious world. Many many thanks again to you all. Dr Graeme A. Clugston & Meena Clugston, Medical Director, & Nursing Adviser, Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital & Services Centre, Nepal clugstong@gmail.com Want to contribute? For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12

12 Page 12 Fair, 17 November 2012 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness" 2 Corinth. 9:10 " The summer has passed, and it s time to look ahead to our Annual Church Fair. Once again our Fair and the evening Ceilidh will be held in the familiar surroundings of the Salle Communale in Grand Saconnex, with many stall offerings from last year making a welcome return, as well as something different. Lesley Reddy is coordinating the Fair this year; her contact details are: lesley.reddy@yahoo.co.uk; But, suggestions and ideas are more than welcome as to anything else that could also be included. So we are having a planning pot-luck meeting in the Salle Communale on Thursday 13 September. Please come along if you are able. An A to Z of the Fair: Advertising and Publicity: Nan Braunschweiger has taken charge of publicity this year, to try and tell as many people as possible in the hope of a good turn out on the day. But your help is also invaluable to pass on details of the Fair through your Clubs, social gatherings, work places, and through friends and family. Publicity posters and are being created, so let Nan know where we can send these posters, and locations for advertising the Fair, so that all potential locations are fully used. Posters will be made available for you to distribute. For more details: Contact Nan; nan@wcc-coe.org African Food: A wonderful array of foods to wake up your tastebuds! Can t make the potluck planning evening? Contact Antoinette/Laurent Djamen; Enyonam; Akpene; Mawunu; Lucy; Michael; Grace Bacon Rolls: Would you like to be the bacon roll organiser for the Fair? Contact Lesley Reddy Book Stall: Always a great favourite and needing donations of in good condition books and offers of help, not only on Fair day but also before / after to help transport books from the Church Salle to the Fair. Since brochures, annuals and magazines do not sell, there is no need to donate them. Contact Paraic Reamonn, Bottle Stall: All donations of unopened bottles gratefully received at Church over the next weeks, Friday evening prior or on the day. Bottles can contain anything alcoholic, non-alcoholic, bubble bath, shampoo etc. Do you fancy running this stall? Need more details? Contact Lesley Reddy Cake Stall: A very popular and busy stall, but needs you to provide cakes and bakes. Please bring them along either the evening before or on the day (See also text on next page). Would you like to organise the stall this year? Contact Lesley Reddy Cards and Gifts: A large selection of cards and gifts, as sold in the Church Salle each Sunday, will be available for you to buy at the Fair. Contact Ritchie Panetti r.pannetti@ bluewin.ch, Mary Couper coupermar@gmail.com or Belinda Chan at a_belinda_chan@yahoo.com Ceilidh: A wonderful evening (19:00-22:00) of Scottish dancing organised by Peter and Alice Tulloch, but grateful for some volunteers to assist during the evening, and just as importantly, at the end of the night to clear and tidy the Salle. Peter and Alice are looking to hand over the Ceilidh reins in the future. Would you like to organise the next Ceilidh? Speak with Peter or Alice. Tickets (25 CHF per adult) are ON- LY being sold on the day, at the Fair or on entry that evening. Children s Corner: Kathryn from the Crèche will be arranging free games and entertainment within a room in the Salle for the children whilst parents have time to browse, help, and spend! Do you have any suggestions for activities or could you help out for a short while on the day? Contact Kathryn Moreno akmoreno@neuf.fr Christmas Stall: A wonderful chance to stock up on Christmas gifts and cakes before the frantic month of

13 Page 13 December descends! Last year the Christmas stall was the place to stock up on many gifts, cards, crackers and decorations that cannot be easily sourced in Geneva. With that in mind, donations are greatly welcomed either prior to or on the day of the Fair, specifically decorations. If each member of the Congregation donates one Christmas decoration, it would make for a well stocked stall, and very well decorated Christmas tree! Contact Jenny Reitbergen Jennifer.reitbergen@wanadoo.fr Drinks Stall: It is hoped that this stall will again be participating in the Fair, as a place to buy soft drinks and beers for taking away. Can you provide any drinks for this stall (e.g. Iron Bru, Robinson s diluting juice, British beer), or help out on the day? Contact Lesley Reddy lesley.reddy@yahoo.co.uk Interesting Objects: The perfect opportunity to find an owner for unused or unwanted gifts Please, only in good condition and no electrical equipment. If batteries are required, please provide them with your donation so buyers have proof that an object is in working order. Bring your donations to the Salle on Friday evening before the Fair or to church the week before. Contact Rosaleen Walker on or rmwalker@bluewin.ch. Irish Coffee: Organised by Hazel and Arthur Griffiths Tea and Coffee: Organised by Wilbert and Judith Broeksmit fambropea@bluewin.ch Lunch: Haggis, neeps and tatties are the order of the day. Can you help? Contact Roberta Manson robertamanson@freesurf.ch Pantry: It is hoped that this stall will make a return to the Fair this year, packed with lots of jams and chutneys, with your help! Contact Lesley Toy Stall: A golden opportunity to have a clear out and donate clean toys in good condition. They can be passed on to the Sunday School on 16 September, or on the day of the Fair. Contact the Sunday School Team via Freda Craeye on Freda.craeye@neuf.fr. Treasure Hunt: A successful and challenging fun addition to the Fair, with prizes for adults and children. If you have any item that you think would make a suitable prize. Contact Karen Walker Tuck Shop: A huge favourite last year and, with your help, it can be again this year, especially with a large choice of all those tuck shop favourites that sold so well last year. If you are travelling over to the UK before the Fair, perhaps you would be able to provide some sweets, crisps or biscuits for the stall. Would you like to co-ordinate the Tuck Shop stall this year? Contact Lesley Scottish Stall: Isi and Hew Watt will again be providing a wonderful array of all items Scottish on the day. Have you any items to donate? Contact Isi and Hew on isiwatt@hotmail.co.uk Silent Auction: by popular demand once again. Further details to come! Smoked Salmon and Champagne: Organised by Jeff and Lorna Donkin Wreaths for Advent and Table Decorations: A wonderful addition to the Fair last year, Antonia Bruce is returning this year. If you can help Antonia during the day, it would be most welcome. Contact Antonia on antonia.bruce@hotmail.com Would you like to participate in any form, either by donating goods or time? Please do not hesitate to contact either the Stall Organiser, or Lesley. With the efforts of many we can look forward to another successful Fair, so don t be shy, volunteer yourself, and help the Church in hosting another day to remember. Due to another commitment, Eleanor will not be having a stall at the Church Fair this year. So I sought permission to sell home made cakes, scones etc. after Church on the four Sundays in October. I do hope you will support my effort to raise some money for the Church funds. Eleanor Strittmatter

14 Page 14 Contact List Brigadoons Betty Morris Bible Reader Coordinator Nicola Hollyman Caring for One Another Jim Sharp Choir Director Lucie Goodman Church Fair Lesley Reddy Church Flowers Janet Askew Congregational Committee Arthur Askew Crèche Kathryn Moreno Cursillo Eleanor Strittmatter Diary Coordinator Carleen Knowlton-Winch Fiction Bookstall Mary Couper Free Will Offering Jurg Strittmatter Fabric Sub-committee Douglas Murray-Jones Mission Projects Eric Gerelle Newsletter Suzanne Murray-Jones Session Clerk Alice Tulloch Sunday Coffee Rota Terry Angleys Sunday School Freda Craeye Treasurer Han Broere Ushers Arthur Griffith Woman s Group Carleen Knowlton-Winch / Christine Bunn / Website Eric Gerelle erg@ibex.ch Carleen.knowlton@rocketmail.com bunnc@bluewin.ch Youth Group Lidian Shark dsharksharks@gmail.com Visiting his grandparents, a small boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out. He picked it up and found it was an old leaf that had been pressed flat between the pages. "Mama, look what I found," he called out. What have you got there, dear?" his mother asked. With astonishment in his voice, the boy answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear!" Think Afghanistan is nothing but a war-torn country full of bombs, conflict and hate? Think again... it is also a fascinating country with wonderful places to visit like this National Park, Bande-Amir. Six stunningly beautiful lakes in limestone canyons, 3,500m above sea level. My colleagues & I enjoyed a short break from work in some swan pedalos that are rented out here!! Suzanne Murray-Jones, Kabul If you have any news / articles of interest for the newsletter, please do send it to the Editor, who would be happy to include it. Suzanne Murray-Jones, murrayjo@unhcr.org