Page 10 - Moravian Messenger June 2019

Bath Weston
We have had quite a lot going on over the past few months here in Bath Weston. Christmas came and went - all services were well attended. In February it was a delight to have a
wedding in church: Richard Boddy who has been coming to our church since he was born married Sarah Woodruff on Saturday 16th February. The service was jointly taken by our minister Br Paul Holdsworth and Sarah's brother Rev Mark Williams. It was a lovely service and enjoyed by all who attended, and the singing nearly took the roof off! The reception was held in the church hall and the food prepared by Sarah's family who worked hard to produce such a great feast.
In March, Br Paul arranged a Charity Open Mic evening with the help of a mother of a BB member, in aid of Dorothy House Hospice. Br Paul soon had plenty of acts to take part. A drinks licence was arranged for wines and beers, and a raffle, which always boosts the coffers, the prizes for which were all donated. The evening was very enjoyable, and the hall was heaving - as with a lot of events you never know how many people will turn up (it was well advertised!). The total amount raised was £700, which was amazing.
The beginning of April during the school holidays, the church hall was being redecorated. The BB took down the curtains and notice boards, for which we were very grateful. The curtains have been washed and ironed, ready to go back up. To help pay for this work to be done, donations were given by people from the congregation and the groups who use the hall, to which the target was just about met. The work has now been completed and looks very welcoming. Maundy
Brockweir
Public was Death; but Power, but Might, But Life again, but Victory,
Were hushed within the dead of night, The shuttered dark, the secrecy.
And all alone, alone, alone,
Services during each night of Holy Week
were well attended and it is always a
privilege - though a harrowing one at times
- to read of the events of this week. Sr
Holdsworth took the services on Monday,
Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday whilst
other members of the congregation took
the remaining services. Sr Groves led the
service on Easter Day and as usual part way
through the service, we retired to God's
acre, to remember those that had died during the previous year. Whilst listening to the wildlife and pondering about the nature of life it was interesting to see a speedboat travelling upstream, as it's not something you see very often in a burial ground! The weather was warm and sunny and reflected our mood as we received eggs from the Easter bunny and then went over to the Sunday school for breakfast. Smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and bacon butties revived us, as well as vegetarian bacon and sausages for those of
Thursday service which was led by our minister Br Paul was well attended, with members from Coronation Avenue, Swindon and friends from Weston Methodist Church who also joined us. The service was followed by a cheese and wine supper that went down well!! Good Friday on the Hill was a service to remember the
crucifixion in a family friendly way. Before this event happened, members from our church met at 10am with Br Paul to read the Good Friday readings from the Passion Week and Eastertide book. Then people from the other churches who were able to walk up to the ridge, met in our car park at 10.30am, a cross was carried by a couple of strong men and erected at the top of the hill. The service was being led by our minister Br Paul and Rev Mark Searle. It was a lovely service with two readings, and we sang 'Were you there when they crucified my Lord'. It is such a beautiful place high up on the hill, one side you look all over Weston Village and on the other you look over the outskirts of Bath, it is so peaceful, just sheep and cows munching away at the grass, people out walking, the countryside is just great! This service was open to the whole community and was also being live streamed on Facebook, so people who could not walk the distance were able to see what was going on as well, that's of course if they have access to Facebook. Those who did not go on the walk were invited to have hot cross buns and a cup of tea in the church hall. Our Easter day service was very well attended and led by a Methodist lay preacher, who did a fine talk and kept us all involved. Our gifts of chocolate bars were given to a food bank.
Not long before summer is here - let's hope it will be a
nice one!
Sr Carole Young
that persuasion. We must thank Sr Buffrey for playing the organ during the week and Srs Harris and Richards for arranging the flowers so beautifully.
The Book Group is about to start a new book: 'Seven brief lessons on physics' by Carlo Rovelli. An unusual choice for a church group, one might think, but actually reading books of a religious nature often has us covering this fertile ground. The book provides a quick canter through general relativity, quantum theory, cosmology, attempts at a unifying theory and ending with our place within it all. Understanding
© Br Philip Ashton
something of the awesome nature of the universe in which we live, not only helps to put our human frailties in their true context, but also provides insights (however fleeting) for true wonder. At least, that's the intent.
I am sure we are going to have such larks but if we end up scratching our collective heads there's always that good old Moravian standby, tea and biscuits for light relief.
Sr Judith Ashton
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CONGREGATION NEWS
© Sr Carole Young
© Sr Carole Young