Been away? - Church of Scotland Geneva

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 798 29 09
Church Office:
6 ch Taverney
Tel: 022 788 0831
E-mail: cofsg@pingnet.ch
www.churchofscotland
geneva.com
Church Bank Account:
UBS 279-C7114389.0
Events:
21-23 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
at19:00
8 - 11 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

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!
Church of Scotland Geneva
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

Church of Scotland Geneva
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 14.30 .
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 e-mail or phone (Tel. 022 752 229). )
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..
2011 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

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
Church of Scotland Geneva
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.

Church of Scotland Geneva
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 19.00 and we will eat at 19.30. 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
022 366 1860) or Alice Tulloch (0033 450 411 723 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!

Page 6
Church of Scotland Geneva
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
2000. 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 2001-2003. He served as a
member of the Congregational Committee
for 4 years, prior to his ordination
as Elder in November 2004.
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 1965. 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
2002. 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
01786 820 226;
b_s_blair@hotmail.com

Church of Scotland Geneva
Page 7
And another former member of our congregation ….
Anne Whiteford, former Church of Scotland Geneva 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 2012.
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 26:36-39. 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

Page 8
Church of Scotland Geneva
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 21-23 September
(http://gsbernard.net).
If you haven't told us yet that you
would like to join the fun, email 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)

Church of Scotland Geneva
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
www.churchofscotlandgeneva.com/repo
rts/ekwendeni_visit_2012.pdf.
You can also read the rest of Gill
Lorimer‖s thoughts at
www.churchofscotlandgeneva.com/repo
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.

Page 10
Church of Scotland Geneva
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 www.deti.zp.ua 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
http://deti.zp.ua/eng/show_article.
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.
www.deti.zp.ua/eng/show_articl
e.php?a_id=500330
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

Church of Scotland Geneva
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
E-mail: clugstong@gmail.com
Want to contribute?
www.lalgadh.org/Bank/Blank.html
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

Page 12
Church of Scotland Geneva
Church of Scotland Geneva 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;
+33 450 368 881.
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;
022 793 2289 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,
paraic.reamonn @gmail.com
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

Church of Scotland Geneva
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 022
7761090 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
karenalisonwalker @gmail.com
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

Page 14
Church of Scotland Geneva
Contact List
Brigadoons Betty Morris 022 734 2450 elizabeth.morris@bluewin.ch
Bible Reader Coordinator Nicola Hollyman 022 346 8047 nicolahollyman@hotmail.com
Caring for One Another Jim Sharp 022 786 48 47 jimsharp@bluewin.ch
Choir Director Lucie Goodman 0767 07 60 82 luciegoodman@yahoo.co.uk
Church Fair Lesley Reddy 0033 450 368 881 lesley.reddy@yahoo.co.uk
Church Flowers Janet Askew 022 758 1445 janetaskew@greenmail.ch
Congregational Committee Arthur Askew 022 758 1445 theaskews@greenmail.ch
Crèche Kathryn Moreno 0033 450 431475 akmoreno@neuf.fr
Cursillo Eleanor Strittmatter 022 796 2956 jurgstrittmatter@yahoo.co.uk
Diary Coordinator Carleen Knowlton-Winch 00334 50 426569 Carleen.knowlton@rocketmail.com
Fiction Bookstall Mary Couper 022 776 3840 coupermar@gmail.com
Free Will Offering Jurg Strittmatter 022 796 2956 jurgstrittmatter@yahoo.co.uk
Fabric Sub-committee Douglas Murray-Jones 0033 450 948250 dmurrayjones@aol.com
Mission Projects Eric Gerelle 022 771 3389 erg@ibex.ch
Newsletter Suzanne Murray-Jones +93 791 990 255 Murrayjo@unhcr.org
Session Clerk Alice Tulloch 0033 450 411723 alicetulloch@voila.fr
Sunday Coffee Rota Terry Angleys 0033 450 948153 angleystak@wanadoo.fr
Sunday School Freda Craeye 0033 450 64 91 40 freda.craeye@neuf.fr
Treasurer Han Broere 0033 450 203 492 Broere@cern.ch
Ushers Arthur Griffith 022 776 9636 griffith@bluewin.ch
Woman’s Group Carleen Knowlton-Winch /
Christine Bunn
00336 7539 8924 /
022 732 1589
Website Eric Gerelle 022 771 3389 erg@ibex.ch
Carleen.knowlton@rocketmail.com
bunnc@bluewin.ch
Youth Group Lidian Shark 022 784 6050 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 Church of Scotland Geneva newsletter,
please do send it to the Editor, who would be happy to include it.
Suzanne Murray-Jones, murrayjo@unhcr.org