Page 1 - Moravian Messenger January 2019

JANUARY 2019
messenger
moravian
Bishops Graham Rights, Volker Schulz, Sarah Groves, Joachim Kreusel and John McOwat after Sr Sarah's Consecration
New Bishop Consecrated at Gracehill
© Sr Roberta Gray
On Sunday 8th July 2018, at the Synod of the British Province held in Swanwick, Sr Sarah Groves was elected to serve as a bishop of the Unity. There followed four and a half months of preparation and anticipation. Sr Sarah, the Church Committee of Gracehill Moravian Church, the Provincial Board, Bishop John McOwat, and others went to work on all of the matters that needed to be addressed before the service took place.
As the day for the service approached, all roads seemed to lead to Gracehill. Many crossed the Irish Sea, including a large number of Moravian clergy. On Friday evening, 16th November, the Gracehill Moravian Church was almost filled to capacity with a congregation estimated at 300.
Alison McCullough (organist), Sean Tranter (cornetist), two youth, Jessica and Katie McCullough (instrumentalists) provided music for the service, which began with the Processional Hymn, ‘Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation.’
The opening sentences were led by Bishop McOwat who presided at the service. The hymn 'Worthy is the Lamb' was sung and prayers were led by Bishop Volker Schulz (from Basel, Switzerland) and Bishop Joachim Kreusel. The scripture lessons were read by Sr Roberta Thompson, Br Billy Kitson, Br Henry Wilson and Sr Alice Frazer of the Gracehill and Ballinderry congregations. The congregation choir sang a 'Gracehill Moravian Medley’. The medley included hymns by three ministers who had served
this congregation: 'Stand Up and Bless the Lord' by James Montgomery, 'Be with Me Lord' by John Cennick, and 'Jesus Lord of Life and Laughter' by A. J. Lewis.
Representing the Provincial Board, Br Livingstone Thompson then addressed Bishop McOwat and requested on behalf of the British Province that he as Bishop of the Unitas Fratrum 'consecrate Sarah Gillian Groves to the office of Bishop in the Church of God, by the power committed to you by Christ and the Church: and I testify that she has been duly chosen and elected by her brothers and sisters to serve the Church of God as a Bishop; and her acceptance of this office declares her sincere intention to follow Christ in loyalty as a true shepherd of the flock.'
Continues inside on page 146
Cennick 300 Weekend
(page 149)
From Suchdol into the World:
(page 150)
Lay Preachers Training Weekend
(pages 151)
Training with Leaders and Potential Leaders
(page 153)