Dear Friends,

I love the stories that emerge from our congregation and want to share them more widely. So, instead of our weekly minister’s letter, you’ll find a reflection by Giles Francis from their time in South Africa. Going forward, we’ll feature biweekly contributions from members—art, photos, writing, poetry. Our creativity thrives in community. If you have something on your heart, please send it my way.

All the best, Marius….

Dear friends,

“Look, O Lord, at my affliction,  

for the enemy has triumphed!  

All her people groan  

as they search for bread;  

they trade their treasures for food  

to revive their lives.  

Look, O Lord, and see  

how worthless I have become.”  

These are the lamenting words of the prophet Jeremiah, often called “the weeping prophet,” after the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of his people by Babylon around 597 BC.

This passage is perhaps best known through Rembrandt’s visual depiction of it. In 1630, Rembrandt completed his painting Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem when he was only 24 years old. What makes this painting so striking is Jeremiah’s face as he mourns for his city. Last year, this painting was featured in the Turning Heads exhibition in Antwerp, which focused specifically on tronies – an art genre dedicated to single anonymous heads (the word “tronie” is an old Dutch term for “face”). This seemed unusual because Rembrandt’s painting is neither anonymous nor simply a facial portrait; it features a full-body image, and Jeremiah’s slumped posture communicates as much as his expression.

Nevertheless, the museum displayed it next to a true tronie by Rembrandt. When viewed together, we discover that the anonymous figure shares the same face as Jeremiah. Apparently, the same model was used for both.

I appreciate this idea because…

Dear friends,

I’m currently reading the dystopian novel Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. It depicts a near future in which the far-right National Alliance Party seizes control of the Republic of Ireland, implementing emergency powers that suspend the Irish constitution. This gives the Garda Síochána extensive authority and establishes a new secret police force, the Garda National Services Bureau (GNSB).

The novel follows Eilish Stack, who becomes aware of her husband’s vaguely anticipated but unimaginable arrest without charge after a trade union protest. When she first receives the news of his arrest and disappearance, she fears what she might have to tell her children, who are expectantly awaiting their father’s return. A poignant moment in the story illustrates her turmoil: 

“She keys the ignition, afraid now for what lies must follow, the lies growing further out her mouth. She sees how a single lie told to a child is an outrage; there can be no untelling it. Once the lie is known, it will remain outgrown from the mouth like some dead-tonguing poisonous flower.”

Isn’t that a vivid image? The words we speak, the lies we tell, and the hurt we cause can grow from our mouths like poisonous weeds, difficult to uproot once established. Eilish finds herself ensnared in a web of lies, not due to any fault of her own, but the potential for this web to take root in her soul and spread further is concerning. It’s a forest of poisonous flowers….

Dear friends,

Tonight, we will come together for a special concert to support the Mulanje Mission Hospital. I must admit, I didn't know much about the music style called chanson, which will be performed by the talented Café des Chansons. I’ve learned that this style has roots dating back to medieval times when traveling troubadours went from town to town, bringing communities together to share stories of love, bravery, and the funny moments that made life interesting. It feels especially meaningful that, tonight, we have the chance to immerse ourselves in music, let the stories take us on a journey, and reignite our creativity and joy after a long week, especially given the challenging times we’re living in.

This concert is not just about relaxing and enjoying the music; it also helps…..

Dear friends,

Many sayings from the Desert Fathers and Mothers may seem out of touch with modern life, but their radical dedication and ability to escape the corruption of city life continue to inspire me. During the growth of the church in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, they felt that the church had become too powerful and disconnected, losing its spiritual depth. A key figure in this movement was Anthony the Great. After hearing a sermon in 270 AD, he became convinced that true perfection comes from selling all one’s belongings, giving money to the poor, and following Jesus. As a result, he sought solitude in the desert.

One of my favourite stories is….

Dear All,

“For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” These words resonated in the vibrant Krijtberg as we welcomed the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. This year, I didn't feel prepared for Lent. It's likely that one can never truly be ready to embark on this cruciform journey with Christ, but the pleasant weather and bustling terraces made me feel a sense of naivety about what Lent is asking of me: to confront reality…..

Dear All,

We’re all familiar with the motivational quotes that adorn the walls of local cafés. One of my personal favourites is, “Life begins after coffee.” After Esbé and I began our working lives, we quickly realized that we would often only see each other before sunrise and after sunset. As a teacher, she starts her day early, while my meetings typically run into the evening. To counter this contactless routine, we established a deliberate slow coffee ritual in the mornings. 

There’s something sacred about those early hours: grinding the coffee, slowly pouring the water, hearing the satisfying click of the gas stove igniting, and waiting for the coffee to fill the moka pot. We’ve considered switching to an electric coffee machine several times but always come back to our trusty moka pot. It has accompanied us on…

Dear Friends,

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today we celebrate the commercialization of love, complete with cheesy heart-shaped helium balloons, pink chocolates, and overpriced dinner reservations. I must admit, I’ve never been a fan of Valentine’s Day ever since my crush rejected my heart-decorated card in the fourth grade. However, Esbé reminded me that we actually value love and should take every opportunity to acknowledge it. Valentine’s Day serves as a moment to pause and reflect on love. As much as supermarkets want to sell us love, we are inherently people who seek to deeply love and to be deeply loved. And if I’m being honest, I am a sucker for a good love story…

Dear Friends,

Last week, on Saturday, we had our long-anticipated Consistory Away Day. This gathering is organized by the Consistory to reflect on the year ahead and to discern what needs to be done. Since this was my first Away Day, I found myself pondering a fundamental question: Who is the ERC, and what are we called to do? While these questions may seem obvious, it is crucial for us to hold onto our core identity and to understand what we believe God is doing through our community. Otherwise, we risk being swept away by political uncertainties, public opinion, and the fleeting trends of our time.

During the Away Day, we created a timeline mapping out what God…