Page 4 - Moravian Messenger May 2020

This Very Hour continued
may be sure that the welcome we shall certainly prepare for them will be doubly acceptable if it gives them the warm sense of a live and forward-looking Church.
A third duty of the Church - and certainly of our Church - is to seek a renewal of contacts with other branches in occupied and enemy countries. A reconciliation with the enemy is, for reasons which shout aloud, difficult; but for equally obvious reasons it is one of the tasks of a period of peace. We can be thankful that in Christian circles in Germany the Nazi outlook found most opposition; in these circles the point should be found where useful contacts can be made. The Church has already taken the first step. The fund for the Reconstruction of the Christian Church has been well launched.
Christian Reconstruction! Not only in England, not only in Europe, but all over the world. Do we realize how strong the longing has
become, in spite of, or perhaps because of, all the happenings of these war years, for a rebirth
of Christian faith, the
permeation of civilization by a
Christian spirit. Whether the world is ready to yield its obedience to Christ we know not, but for us the point is whether we are prepared to go ahead with our example.
This hour is God's hour. We meet it with gratitude; we will seek to use it with wisdom and with hope.
(Signed) C. H. Shawe
Br Dick Porter reports on the spring conference of the Yorkshire Moravian churches, held at Wellhouse on 22 February.
Members of the Moravian Churches in Yorkshire are being urged to put themselves forward to serve the province on a committee. Sr Roberta Hoey, of the Provincial Board, told the conference that some committees had experienced vacancies for the last three or four years.
The church is looking for members to serve four-year terms on committees that include Finance, Church Book, Church Service, the youth committee, Mission and Society, the World Mission Committee and the panel that advises the province in faith, order and ecumenical matters. Sr Hoey said that to be effective, committees had to meet regularly. She estimated the work would involve a week's worth of commitment over the year. Anyone wishing to stand should make themselves known to Church House.
In other news, Sr Hoey reported that Br Livingstone Thompson was continuing to explore re-establishing a Moravian presence in the Dublin area. Currently, services are held once every other month at St Mary's Church of Ireland in Navan.
Closer to home, the conference was told that significant damage had been caused by the accidental fire on Boxing Day at Hornsey Moravian Church. No one was
injured as the previous service had been on Christmas morning. The congregation were currently meeting in the church hall and have thanked other churches that have sent their support. Sr Hoey said the repairs should be finished in time for next Christmas.
Brockweir, the settlement in Gloucestershire, has also had its share of sorrow. While the church escaped the worst of the recent flooding, some of the riverbank homes have been affected. A task force has now been established to support the congregation in considering future plans for the church properties there. Sr Hoey said the floods served to highlight the need for sustainability.
The MWA 70th anniversary was scheduled to take place on 25 April at Fairfield Moravian Church, the conference heard. Sisters from all over the British Province were invited.
The morning service was scheduled to have Sr Carol Ackah as the speakers and Holy Communion in the afternoon was to be led by Sr Sarah Groves. The cost for the whole day is £6, but the services, of course, are free.
For the Moravian Singers, delegates heard that the shared leadership between Br Glynn Jones and Sr Diane Thornton was working well and they planned to continue it for the new season. Br Jones will look after Advent 2020 and Sr Thornton the Palm Sunday service.
It was reported the group had around
23 members but could do with more, particularly sopranos. Sr Thornton stressed it was a relaxed group for people who enjoyed singing.
On behalf of Sr Joy Raynor, it was reported that Summer Camp was scheduled to be held at Dovedale House, Ilam, Derbyshire, from 1-8 August. To keep costs down, the holiday would be self-catering for the first time this year. Youngsters aged 10 to 17 are being urged to attend. The youth committee says it is aware that the cost of £330 is a lot for many families but several delegates stressed there were ways that financial support could be accessed so families do not need to stand the entire cost by themselves.
The meeting then turned to the annual election of officers and all were re-elected. They are: the chairman, Br Michael Newman, Sr Jane Dixon as vice chairman, Sr Thornton as secretary, Br Les Machel, treasurer, Br Kenneth Evans the West Yorkshire Churches Together representative, Sr Dixon as youth co- ordinator and Br Dick Porter as Messenger correspondent.
The conference went ahead in the absence of Br David Howarth, who was ill, so the meeting unfortunately had no representative from Baildon and Horton. Delegates sent him their best wishes for a quick recovery.
That's all, folks! Stay safe.
Report on the Yorkshire District Spring Conference
....Br Dick Porter
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