Dear La Côte family and friends,
Wouldn’t it be nice ?
In 1966 the Beach Boys released “Wouldn’t it be nice”, a song which expresses the frustrations of youth – the frustrations of not having what you think you really want (https://youtu.be/nZBKFoeDKJo?feature=shared). After talking to a friend about answering difficult questions about faith, I considered writing a new verse to this song. It would go:
“Wouldn’t it be nice if faith were simple?
Then we wouldn’t have to live with doubt
And wouldn’t it be nice if people ‘got it’,
In a world where no one feels left out?”.
Chief among the unhelpful features of faith is how un-convincing it is to be asked to believe something that no one properly understands! I find it very difficult to answer questions of faith: I have no idea! I’d make a terrible salesman … I have inklings, but no tidy certainties … wouldn’t it be nice if faith were simple…?
But, like the pursuit of happiness, the pursuit of certainty in faith can be counterproductive. Studies have shown that our obsession with happiness may be making us less content with our lives. Likewise, the pursuit of simple answers to the difficult questions of faith can lead to us being given the wrong (albeit neat) answers or to us being dissatisfied by the lack of a convincing answer … Each outcome is equally bad.
Clare Amos’ reflection last Sunday seemed to echo this. Clare spoke of the value of the paradoxical and elusive nature of the story of the foreigners who asked to see Jesus (John 12:22). “We wish to see Jesus”, they said. We are not told if their (simple) wish was granted but Saint John does allude to other ways in which Jesus, lifted up, may have been seen by them and may be seen by many others. Maybe this is a much broader (and better) answer to a (too) simple question.
Less neat, but maybe better, because the single-minded quest for a watertight explanation for the inexplicable can prevent us from seeing God’s fingerprints, those little patches of grace and love which abound, unsolicited and un-remarkable, in our daily lives.
Maybe it would be easier if faith were simple, but I doubt it would be as ‘nice’ as we might like to think.
Chris Potter
MEDICAL LEAVE as of 20 February
Carolyn writes: following my hip replacement operation I am now on convalescance. I am making good progress and look forward to being back with you as soon as I am fit.
Please be in touch with Anne de Tréverret and Liz Bramley regarding any church matters. Please also use Churchsuite to see when and where you are on duty and to swap among yourselves where possible. This will help Anne to keep things running smoothly. Do reach out to her with any queries about Churchsuite.
May I encourage all of you to be the welcoming body of Christ that we are, for visiting priests and lay leaders, as well as for newcomers and old timers!
Reminder to fill in the Bossey Day survey
Carolyn and the Chaplaincy Council would love to know what you thought of the recent away day in Bossey – or why you didn't attend.
If you were there, we’d like to know what you thought of the day, what you liked, and what we could improve next time.
If you didn’t go, we’d be interested in hearing what kept you away, and what could perhaps persuade you to come to next year’s event.
So whether you were at Bossey or not, please fill in our survey – it will only take 5 minutes.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bossey2024
Worship this week-end
Sunday 24 March - Palm Sunday
10.00 Divonne Holy Communion with Sunday Club
16.00 Gingins Taizé Prayer Service
Holy Week and Easter worship
PLEASE NOTE – If you are unable to attend one of our main services but would like private prayer in person, please contact Betty Talbot.
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.
ChurchSuite
Dear church members and volunteers,
You may be down on the rota to take part in a service. We encourage you to look at My ChurchSuite where you can view a list of your "Next serving" requests in the My Rotas section and “Accept/Swap member” any that are currently not responded.
If you are not available, please aim to swap using MyChurchSuite, asking the person you wish to swap with beforehand.
To check the March and April 2024 worship rota overview, please click here.
If you need help, please contact Anne (de Tréverret).
We still need you to sign up if you have not already done it. If you need help with this, Anne is available on Tuesdays 10.00-11.00 and Thursdays from 15.00 to 16.00, or do send her an email anne.detreverret@lacotechurch.ch
Please note that you are NOT disclosing anything except your name and contact details to help you communicate with each other.
Click here for a visual description of how to sign up.
Having your name visible in My ChurchSuite is essential ! Click here to show you how to make your name visible.
Coming up
Morning Prayer
Monday to Friday at 7.30 and Saturday at 8.30 - online
We are using a new link for Morning Prayer. Please use this one from now on:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84315258948?pwd=WWZaMTRzZEpnNHV3ekZYRFRUYU96Zz09
Meeting ID: 843 1525 8948
Passcode: 829662
Sunday Lunch Group - 24 March
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 around 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. 22nd so we can book the table! peta.tracey@lacotechurch.ch
https://www.auberge-coinsins.ch/
Bible Study - 26 March
Tuesday 9.30-11.00 - chez Jacky & Vincent
9.30am for coffee with the study starting promptly at 9.45am.
This week we will look at the final session in our booklets, “Finding Hope in a Terrorized World” - and Zoom will be available for those who prefer.
Tuesday Prayer Group
NB Prayer Group will not be meeting on Tue. 2 April in Easter Week. However, you are most welcome to send any requests for prayer, in confidence, to Peta Tracey (peta.tracey@lacotechurch.ch). Next meeting Tue. 16 April, 09.15-10.30 chez Tracey in Coinsins, or on Zoom.
Recent Happening 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/
Happening during Lent
Carolyn writes : Making time for prayer during Lent is a way of growing spiritually. I find it helps to have a guide for prayer.
You may like to join Our Morning Prayer at La Côte online from 7.30-8.00 each morning. See "Coming up this week" for the link.
Please also join the ecumenical circle of silent prayer, Holy Saturday 30 March at 11.00, place du Château, Nyon.
Click on this link for much more information on what is happening during Lent.
Happening elsewhere
Ensemble vocal Amaryllis
Music for Holy Week
For more information, click here
Children’s Holiday Bible Club
All Saints Church, Vevey
9 to 12 April 2024
Click here to see flyer and contact Calen Gayle for information and registration at sacredharmony@gmail.com
Weekend silent retreat
Saint Maurice, Valais
12 to 14 April 2024
Join the Geneva Ignatian Spirituality Centre for a weekend silent retreat on 12-14 April in St Maurice. The theme is "The joy of the Lord is (y)our strength". As we only have 20 places, early registration is recommended.
For more information, click here
Installation and licensing of the Revd Dr John Tomlinson as Chaplain
Christ Church, Lausanne
Saturday 20 April 2024
The Anglican Church in Lausanne invites you to attend the installation of the Rev. Dr. John Tomlinson as Chaplain.
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.
We are looking for volunteers to help with picking-up foods from supermarkets at the start and the end of the day. Please contact Andrea Goovaerts.
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
 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.
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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