Page 10 - Moravian Messenger August 2021

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Belfast University Road
Sr Marian Woods - the end of an era!
For the Church Committee at University Road Belfast, Monday 14th June 2021 saw the end of an era. It was the final meeting attended by Sr Marian Woods who had announced her intention to stand down after an astonishing 30+ years of unbroken service as a member of the Committee.
Although the meeting was being held remotely
by Zoom, due to the restrictions of the COVID-
19 pandemic, the occasion did not go unmarked.
As well as the many tributes paid to Sr Marian
by the 'virtual' participants at the meeting she also had an unexpected visitor to her home in the person of fellow Committee member Sr Mandy Kernohan who presented her with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the Church Committee. Sr Marian's surprised and delighted expression was captured by the webcam and much enjoyed by us all as she declared herself (for once) speechless!
Belfast Cliftonville
When Sr June McGrath passed away on 17th December her friends at Cliftonville were unable to attend her funeral because of Lockdown, so it was good to have the opportunity to join Jim and their daughters, Susan, her husband Mark and three sons, and Jennifer, husband Alan and their two daughters in a memorial service on 20th June, the day before what would have been June's birthday. Her presence is sorely missed by her family and friends.
A church family picnic and walk at
Hazelbank was planned for 4th July. After Monday to Friday of lovely weather, the forecasters warned of a change to thunder and heavy rain, so it was decided to bring coats and umbrellas and hope for the best, even if it meant eating our lunches in the cars. However, the sun appeared as we left the church and continued to shine during several hours of good fellowship by the sea and an opportunity to catch
Horton
We are getting
used to a new
'normal'
following
lockdown and
are so grateful
to be able to
attend church
and see each
other again,
even if it is
behind a mask,
socially
distanced, with no singing, no chatting, and no cups of Yorkshire tea after the service, all things we love. Like most congregations we have kept in touch during lockdown using WhatsApp, Zoom, phone calls and sometimes a letter or card, but its not the same as being in the same room with
Over the many years in which she has been a member of the Committee, Sr Marian has worked tirelessly for the good of the University Road congregation, rarely, if ever, missing a meeting, taking on a myriad of challenging roles and always being the first to step up for whatever work needed to be done.
We will miss her words of
wisdom and common-sense approach in all our deliberations and decision making, but we know that she will continue to serve the congregation in
her indefatigable and unassuming manner in many other ways and we wish her well for her 'retirement'.
Sr Carol Ackah
© Br John Cooper
up with conversation that was not possible during the long months of Lockdown. We had such a happy time we hope to repeat the event in the near future.
After Cliftonville members filled the slots provided for the Prayer Watch, as
last year, we thought of Moravians no longer living near a congregation who may not have an opportunity to take part. The notes were sent to several with the suggestion they might like to share an hour with one of us, and among others, Br Eckhard Buchholz in South Africa, our past minister, was pleased to take part.
Sr Edna Cooper
our 'church family'.
We have all been supported in lockdown by our church committee who have made regular phone calls to make sure we were all ok and to ask if any help was needed and we give thanks for that support.
Now we are back in church we have started once again to collectively support others including donating to a local foodbank, sponsoring Sr Maureen Colbert's drastic haircut in aid of Cancer Research, and at last being able to hand in our Mission boxes. We look forward to the next step out of lockdown and hope that we are able to do more fundraising, socialising and singing.
We have just heard that at Synod 2021 our minister, Brother David Howarth, was elected for one year as a fulltime stipendiary PEC member. Our best wishes go with David for his work in the coming year, we will miss his ministry, support and dry sense of humour!
Sr Linda Barraclough
CONGREGATION NEWS
© Br Derrick Woods