Page 9 - Moravian Messenger Dec 2021

In the last few weeks I've I've been been thinking how lucky I've I've been been to be be be so little affected by COVID I I I haven't had it it it and neither have have any of of my close family or friends but of of course we've ALL been touched by it to to a a a a greater or lesser degree in the last two years Personally it's exacerbated my natural predilection for for 'crossing bridges before I I I get to to them' It used to to drive my husband Charles potty! I I I remember once when we we were planning some MWA event and dear Mary France asking me me what I I was doing with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sheet of of paper and and and a a a a a a a a a a pen and and and I I I replied replied 'making a a a a a a a a a a list of of things to do' and and and she replied replied 'I've never made a a a a list in in my my life' I I won't record my my reply to that!
I chew things over and suffer from a a a a 'what if'? mentality Sometime in in my my early 30s my my old head mistress from Fulneck Miss Dorothy Augusta Connor (always known as 'Gus') came to visit me me for the day I had a a a a a a a a a houseful of young children aged between twelve and two years old and and a a a a a a a very poorly husband I suppose it it must have all seemed a a a a a a a a a a bit chaotic She wrote me me a a a a a a a a a letter of thanks in her beautiful hand which I still have have and and she she must have have been concerned about my wellbeing because she she referred me to 1st Peter Chapter 5 verse 7: 'Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you' I have re-read that letter many times in the the the last 60 years and and looked up the the the verse and and other words of Jesus in in similar vein yet STILL I I worry especially now about the future and what sort of a a a a a a world my beloved young ones are inheriting from me I have to to admit to to even turning off the news with its terrible pictures of homeless people and starving children Last weekend I I planned to to go out in my buggy to to get some fresh air It was a a a a a a a lovely morning but by noon it it had started to blow a a a a a a a Hooley with driving rain and hail so I picked up my copy of Mary Oliver's Selected Poem 'Devotions' and it fell open at this wonderful poem!
Sr Libby Mitchell
Baildon I Worried 'I Worried' by Mary Oliver I worried a a lot Will the garden grow will the the rivers flow in the the right direction will the earth turn as it was taught and if not how shall I correct it?
Was I I I right was I I I wrong will I I I be forgiven can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing even the sparrows can do it and I am well hopeless Is my eyesight fading or am I I imagining it am I getting rheumatism lockjaw dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing And And gave it up And And took my old body and went out into the morning and sang Cliftonville
Cliftonville
Council Meeting was held after the service on on Sunday 21st October and 13 people took part We are hoping that it will be be possible to to to celebrate the the Christingle and other Christmas events more normally this year On 28th we we were very happy to have our friend the the Rev Ken
Gomersal Here at Gomersal we are still functioning without a a Minister since Br Michael Newman left for Hornsey in July We as a a a congregation would like to thank both Sr Kathryn Woolford and Br Bob Hopcroft both 'retired' ministers without whose dedication we would have found life at at Church very difficult They have both given their time and expertise to make our interregnum as as smooth as as possible Life at church is slowly getting back to normal MWA (Moravian Women's Association) and the Ladies Fellowship have have both now resumed although we have have changed the Doherty as the the preacher while Br Stephens presided at the the Council Meeting in in in Ballinderry During the year Srs Vivyienne Davis and Lorraine Gill collected items to fill shoe boxes for needy children in Europe They expressed grateful thanks to the the eight other members who joined them to help pack the the 112 boxes ready for transport In addition there were four large bin bags containing knitted baby cardigans sweaters and hats and two boxes of crocheted blankets all made by Isabelle Maginnes a a a a a a friend who for many years has carried out this work and donated it to the Shoe Box appeal Our congratulations and and thanks to Vivyienne Lorraine and and Isabelle Sr Edna Cooper
timing of the Ladies Fellowship from an an evening to an an afternoon meeting Walking for health carpet bowls and the Julian meeting are all taking place again It feels so good to be able to meet and socialise once again with fellow members and friends of our Church family A group of our young people held a a Pumpkin Party in in church for Halloween which attracted a a a a a few visitors from the Gomersal Pumpkin party © Sr A L Rivers
area A good time was had by all Sr Norma Machell
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CONGREGATION NEWS
© Br John Cooper