Page 9 - Moravian Messenger March 2019

Hall Green
Ordination of Sr Lorraine Shorten
What a year 2018 was for Hall Green United Community Church in Birmingham. There was disruption for months as builders remodelled our buildings to make them fit for use in the 21st century. As always seems to happen, deadlines got missed, timetables were extended but we were just ready to open the doors to our local community on 13th October. Amazingly, over 400 visitors came to see what we had been doing and were inspired by our Community Day and everything that goes on here.
Talking of inspiration leads me to the high point of our year. On 3rd November we saw the ordination of our minister, Sr Lorraine Shorten. Visitors descended on us from all over the province and ensured a full church for this very special occasion. Ministers, in their surplices, processed down the aisle like a fluttering flock of white doves.
The service was led by Bishop John McOwat and the very thoughtful sermon was presented by Rev Dr Graham Adams, one of Sr Lorraine's tutors at Northern College.
For me, the highlight of the service was the obvious joy on Sr Lorraine's face as she received her surplice, an indication of the years of hard work and dedication she has already put in to her ministry.
Her challenge at Hall Green is a special one for a Moravian minister. To weld together the great traditions of her church with those of the United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church. It is a formidable task for anyone, especially for a newly ordained minister, but one she is tackling with
Horton
We held our Harvest Festival in September and the service was conducted by our minister Br David Howarth. The harvest produce was collected for the local Bradford Food Bank which we support not just at harvest but also at each Lovefeast and Holy Communion Service when we bring donations.
Our Social Committee have been really busy organising fundraising events for ourselves and outside projects such as a craft coffee morning where we knitted and crocheted squares that Sr Hollindrake made up into a blanket. We try to support the Gianna Project Charity which offers support and advice to women and girls during and after pregnancy. Some of the mums and children helped by the project came along and they were able to learn a new skill. It was great fun and we sent them home with needles and wool. The blanket was appreciated along with a small donation and we were also able to donate other items.
We also held a Casserole Lunch, which was basically different types of fillings in giant Yorkshire puddings - what else would it be in Yorkshire!
On Advent Sunday evening we were hosts to the Yorkshire Singers and it was lovely to see a full church appreciate the singers. Their hard work rehearsing over the previous months certainly paid off. Well done everyone.
We thank all the visiting preachers including our own
enthusiasm, love, passion, humour and faith.
One of the hymns in the
ordination service was written specially by Jan Berry. The first
two lines reflect our minister:
'I lift my heart to praise you, God With laughter and surprise.'
Sr Lorraine continues to surprise us week after week and her ministry blesses us with laughter.
Br Blair Kesseler
members: Sr Liz Wood who has taken a number of services lately and Sr Maureen Colbert for leading us in a Café Church. As a congregation we all try and do our bit in readings, sketches and sometimes members use their craft talents in knitting blankets and hand-made gifts to support various charities.
Our Christmas offertory this year has gone to the Nick Smith Foundation which is a local charity supporting research into Motor Neurone Disease (which Nick had when he died at only 38) it also supports help for bereaved children as Nick's children were only three and five when he died.
We also had a Moses basket placed along with the Christmas Tree and Crib in the baptistry. Our members then filled the basket with things a new born baby would need and we passed them on to the Gianna Project at the beginning of January. This gift giving is very poignant at this time of year, particularly in that setting.
Christmas services took place as usual and advent candles were lit and figures put into the crib. This has been a tradition at Horton for many years. The advent star went up and so did our Christmas tree and we are blessed with members who do this work each year as part of the work for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Br Jamie Spencer
33
CONGREGATION NEWS
© Sr L Shorten