Page 12 - Moravian Messenger September 2019

When my dad came to live with me - now three years ago - I was keen that he
didn't stop doing things that he
previously enjoyed. One thing that he
enjoys is growing vegetables - albeit his
way of doing so is rather more unorthodox than
mine, which can cause some disagreement at times. So, last
summer, a small plot in an existing bed was duly allocated,
and dug over, at the bottom of the garden. Bulbs were moved to other areas of the garden, and other plants
shifted into other beds, or thrown away if they hadn't been 'successful'. The trees that overhung the garden bed were cut back to allow
more light and rain through, to benefit any plants that were sown. At my father's request, a copper strip was placed around the garden bed to deter slugs (even though it is utterly useless, but my father doesn't like using slug pellets. He's
a bit more 'organic' than I am). Spinach, radishes and red cabbage were duly planted and 'caged' to deter the cat from
digging in the freshly turned soil. Each day, we have enjoyed looking to see what is happening. Now, much of the produce is ready to reap.
Over the same period of time, I enjoyed watching documentaries on TV, detailing how much of our food is 'manufactured'. The factories are enormous (the size of several football pitches); the design of the machines involved has been amazing; the infrastructure involved from getting the raw materials to the factories, to delivering the end products of crisps, biscuits, bread etc., to supermarkets, is utterly mind-boggling. I have been struck by how awe-inspiring it all is. From seeing little seedlings emerge from the soil in the garden to grow into food we can eat, to looking at how our food is produced on a national or global scale - it has all been amazing.
It is easy to see how removed from nature (or 'how things were meant to be') the food factory process is. However, God is certainly in the human ability to design such machines, structures and transport systems to feed the world. God is also in the small radish that is pulled up from my dad's garden. At this harvest time, let us enable ourselves to see that God is in all that is - whether it is the tinned food, or fresh vegetables; the blossoming flowers or freshly baked bread that we bring to Harvest. I personally find it harder to believe that all of this awe-inspiring wonder happened from random chaos (which some scientists claim). For me, faith in a creative process - and therefore a Creator - makes much more sense.
Dukinfield
From the Sanctuary
Br Peter Gubi,
The British Province - Future Directions and Sustainability
Do you have a view on the future direction and sustainability of the British Province?
If so, read on, this is your chance to give your views...
There was a Synod Resolution in 2018:
“... the Provincial Board appoint appropriate persons to assess the strength, sustainability and future direction of the British Province, and report back with recommendations to the next synod.”
PEC has set up a Taskforce, to implement the Resolution, and also decided that if the Taskforce was to do a proper job, a full Report would be made at Synod 2022.
PEC asked the Taskforce to make information gathering its first priority. More information about the Taskforce will be given at District Conferences in the autumn of 2019.
INFORMATION GATHERING
The Taskforce will meet with each Congregation in the autumn of 2019. Congregation meetings will be open to all members of that Congregation, and will be arranged by the Taskforce member with your Minister. The Taskforce has also met with the Ministers as a group, and will meet with Youth representatives, the MWA, and the Men's Fellowship.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Each Congregation will complete a Questionnaire which asks for the Congregation's views on:
• its strengths and weaknesses
• on any actions in response to Congregation opportunities and challenges
• the strengths and weaknesses of Districts as organisational units
YOUR CHANCE TO COMPLETE A QUESTIONNAIRE AS AN INDIVIDUAL
You can also give your views as an individual. Contact the Taskforce Secretary Sr Jane Dixon* and you will be sent a copy of the Questionnaire, which is the same as that which Congregations will complete. All individual responses must be returned to the Secretary, who will collate them.
You will not be identified in any way to the Taskforce.
All Questionnaires must be completed and returned to the Secretary by 31st December 2019.
The Taskforce expects to meet early in 2020 to consider all the responses, and to start to consider next steps.
Please note, the Taskforce will only accept submissions made on the Questionnaire form.
*Sr Jane can be contacted
(preferably by email) at jane.dixon@moravian.org.uk, or at:
1, Mayfield Grove, Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 4EE.
Any questions? ... ask Sr Jane!
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