Moravian Messenger June 2020

moravian
JUNE 2020
messenger
Not in Windsor
Br Keith Dennis from the Hall Green Congregation was due to go to Windsor on Maundy Thursday to be presented by the Queen with a gift of Maundy Money. The foundation of the ceremony is our Lord washing the disciples' feet. On all other occasions, people receiving something from the Queen go to her: this is the one ceremony where she comes to the recipient!
Br Keith writes: it would have been wonderful to go to Windsor and share in the Service with the Queen but the Royal Almonry Office, the Lord High Almoner (Right Rev Dr John Inge) and the Queen herself did all that they could to make the day special.
The postman came with a recorded- delivery parcel, with a Buckingham Palace postmark, a letter addressed to me from Her Majesty and the Maundy Money itself. The money came in two medieval- style leather purses. The red purse contained a £5.00 coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth and a 50 pence coin portraying Team Great Britain in the 2020 Olympics. In the past this was an allowance for clothing and provisions. The white purse contains Maundy coins; silver pennies, twopences, threepences and fourpences totalling 94 pence, corresponding to the Sovereign's age.
Maundy Thursday brought us beautiful weather so we dressed up, just as we would have done had we gone to Windsor, watched the recording on the Royal website (www.royal.uk) of the Maundy Money being blessed in the Chapel Royal and had a lovely time together.
Thank you to the Rev Kate Stowe, Chaplain to the
Bishop of
Birmingham, for
her care and to all of you for your love and interest. Kate's last email to me contained this prayer with which I finish.
Keep us, good
Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Br Keith Dennis
Hall Green
Open letter to all congregations
(page 75)
Pioneer Mission in Kensington and Chelsea
(page 76)
A Shared Egg
(pages 78)
Labrador: Off to the Unknown
(page 79)
© Br Keith Dennis