rounds the verdant Servizio Cristiano with its white buildings of distinctive architecture . No , Riesi is all this , and yet something more ; I will need time to be able to identify its identity .
It would still be premature for me to try to talk about the two Waldensian ‘ souls ’ in Riesi ( the Church and Servizio Cristiano ), so I will focus on the Waldensian community . Like any local Church , Riesi ’ s has had moments of very high cohesion accompanied or followed by internal frictions and fractures ; however , Riesi has in itself three enormously positive factors : welcoming willingness to do and be there ; being on and with the territory . Riesi is a community that has been able to welcome and make its own the commandment to be a believer in the world , proclaiming God in word and deed . This is without forgetting the importance of meeting to celebrate Sunday worship together .
My service here promises to be intense but very interesting . There were originally several congregations but today , unfortunately , only Riesi ( the ‘ main one ’) and Agrigento remain . Both congregations have welcomed Noemi and me with sincere enthusiasm and desire to get to know each other and live a faith journey together .
Giovanni Bernardini
HOPING TO SEE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE ON ZOOM ON 28 JANUARY , I WISH EVERYONE A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS ! Erica Scroppo Newbury , Editor
For those who receive the paper magazine by post , there is a novelty : a little brochure about the Case valdesi all over Italy , from Torre Pellice to Venice to Vallecrosia , Pietra Ligure and Rio Marina by the sea to Florence , Reggello , Rome , Palermo , Riesi , WHERE ONE CAN HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WHILE HELPING THE CHURCH IN ITS NUMEROUS WORKS AND PROJECTS . On top of offering a friendly welcoming service they are often in ancient palaces or villas in stunning areas of the cities or countryside . Absolutely worth trying !
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