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From the mmoravianoravian Sanctuary JANUARY 2019 mmessengeressenger Last night, I couldn't sleep. 'Things' were playing on my mind, as 'things' can do at 3am. I found myself feeling low, and generally angry with God. All I was hearing on the radio (which I was listening to as I couldn't sleep), in the small hours of the morning, was yet another bombing and yet more threats from terrorism. 'How many more peace candles, and prayers for peace, do we have to say before there is peace?!' I was that saying to God in my angry prayers. we need reminding of, Just as I had got that off my chest (for prayer, I find, often day by day, as we changes my perspective on things), God answered! The begin a new year - that depressing news on the radio was followed by an encouraging however bleak things may look article on how many people, who are in prison because of drug from time to time, or whatever twists and addiction, have used the experience of prison to re-educate turns our lives may take, God is in it with us. There is always themselves, and have made a success of their lives once they light in the darkness if we can but see it; and if we can keep are on day release from prison. Examples were given of a lady enough of that light (that awareness of God and of goodness) who learned floristry in prison. On release, she had set up her in our vision of life, we can maintain a sense of hope and own business using the skills and advice of The Prince's Trust. optimism in a seemingly bleak world. Whether there is more Now, a few years later, she had three outlets to her business darkness than light, or more light than darkness, depends largely and was employing others. She had gone from being on the attitude we bring to life; and our faith can help us see unemployable because of her prison record, to being an more of the light if we choose to remember it, and to live with employer. I also know of a friend who, once imprisoned, learned an awareness of God constantly in our lives. to read and write braille, and spent his time in prison translating books for the blind. Now, out of prison, he has set up his own With more light than darkness in our vision - more of God than Bishops Graham Rights, Volker Schulz, Sarah Groves, Joachim Kreusel and John McOwat after Sr Sarah's Consecration © Sr Roberta Gray business and is continuing the work that he learned in prison, doom in what we see, and how we regard what is happening giving him a new direction in life, in which he feels purposeful to us and our world - let us embrace the opportunities of a new again. year with hope and gratitude. Let there be light! New Bishop Consecrated at Gracehill Out of the darkness has shone forth light! This is the message Br Peter Gubi, On Sunday 8th July 2018, at the Synod Alison McCullough (organist), Sean this congregation: 'Stand Up and Bless of Christmas, but not the message only for Christmas. It is one Dukinfield of the British Province held in Swanwick, Tranter (cornetist), two youth, Jessica and the Lord' by James Montgomery, 'Be with Sr Sarah Groves was elected to serve as Katie McCullough (instrumentalists) Me Lord' by John Cennick, and 'Jesus a bishop of the Unity. There followed provided music for the service, which Lord of Life and Laughter' by A. J. Lewis. four and a half months of preparation began with the Processional Hymn, Representing the Provincial Board, Br British Mission Board News and anticipation. Sr Sarah, the Church ‘Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation.’ Livingstone Thompson then addressed Committee of Gracehill Moravian Church, The opening sentences were led by Bishop McOwat and requested on behalf Student Calls Delhi Fellowship - the Provincial Board, Bishop John Bishop McOwat who presided at the of the British Province that he as Bishop New Home McOwat, and others went to work on all The British Mission Board are delighted service. The hymn 'Worthy is the Lamb' of the Unitas Fratrum 'consecrate Sarah of the matters that needed to be to announce that three of our students The Delhi Fellowship was sung and prayers were led by Bishop Gillian Groves to the office of Bishop in continues to thrive, and addressed before the service took place. in India have completed their Volker Schulz (from Basel, Switzerland) the Church of God, by the power theological training and student since its foundation has met in people's homes. As the day for the service approached, and Bishop Joachim Kreusel. The scripture committed to you by Christ and the placements and have now received Two members of the all roads seemed to lead to Gracehill. lessons were read by Sr Roberta Church: and I testify that she has been their first Calls. fellowship have recently Many crossed the Irish Sea, including a Thompson, Br Billy Kitson, Br Henry duly chosen and elected by her brothers Br Jacob Gangmei has been called to opened a restaurant and large number of Moravian clergy. On Wilson and Sr Alice Frazer of the Gracehill and sisters to serve the Church of God as serve in Assam, covering Binnakandi, there is enough space to Friday evening, 16th November, the and Ballinderry congregations. The a Bishop; and her acceptance of this Haflong and Latingkhal. Br Bir Bahadur accommodate at least 25- Gracehill Moravian Church was almost congregation choir sang a 'Gracehill office declares her sincere intention to Rana has been called to serve Rajpur 30 people and it will open filled to capacity with a congregation Moravian Medley’. The medley included follow Christ in loyalty as a true shepherd Moravian Congregation. Br Levi for 2-3 hours on Sunday to estimated at 300. hymns by three ministers who had served of the flock.' allow the fellowship to Continues inside on page 146 Ruangmei has been called to serve in Br Nathaniel Gengmei and Br Dimchui Rongmei are meet. The first service took the Delhi Fellowship, continuing to in their final year of studies. Please continue to pray place there on 9th develop ministry in the city. for our students and their work in South Asia. December 2018. The Moravian Messenger Advertisements and Editorial Team, Church House, Design & Artwork all communications 5 Muswell Hill, London N10 3TJ David Bull Official Journal of the Moravian concerning [email protected] [email protected] Church in the British Province. distribution and supply should Contributions for the Messenger Printed & Distribution Cennick 300 From Suchdol Lay Preachers Training with Leaders Published monthly by the be sent to the should reach the editorial team by G. R. Walkden Weekend into the World: Training Weekend and Potential Leaders authority of the Provincial Synod. Editorial Team. the 7th day of the preceding month. Tel 01253 681338 (page 149) (page 150) (pages 151) (page 153) New Bishop Consecrated at Gracehill Editorial Letter to the Editor After Bishop McOwat's acceptance of this as a shepherd of Christ's flock, and places testimony and granting the request, the in your hands the royal law. Receive this Few members of the Church will be hymn, 'Come, Let us all with Gladness book, here are the words of eternal life. unaware of the upset caused to many Raise,' was sung - a hymn that, according Take them for your guide and declare them Christingle people by the incorrect claim made by to tradition was written for the ordination to the world.' of the first Moravian ministers in 1467. The Children's Society that they As the official representative of the Unity introduced the Christingle Service to this - It's more than 50 years! Bishop Graham Rights (from Winston- at the service, Bishop Rights then read a country 50 years ago. Salem, USA) then preached the sermon letter to Sr Sarah from the Rev Cortroy Anyone who receives information acknowledge that it does help them for the occasion, offering four images for Jarvis, President of the Unity Board and Perhaps there are deeper reasons for this from The Children's Society will no raise money for their work. However, upset than just inaccurate claims from a doubt be aware that this year they it surely is not too much to ask that charity wishing to maximise its are celebrating 50 years of they get their facts right! Repeated fundraising potential. Part of our hurt is Christingle. Facebook posts promote requests to The Children's Society over the perception that this is trampling 'last chance' to apply for your for them to do this have fallen on © Sr Roberta Gray over a beloved tradition in our Church, a Christingle pack and register your deaf ears over the years! treasured memory from our childhoods Christingle celebration; and their held in your church or in the local county It is not known exactly how the and one memory we hope to bequeath website is full of information about archives to find references to Christingles Christingle developed from the to our children and grandchildren. I am this 50 year anniversary. sure too that another feeling is that this and all children's services at Christmas. original candle tied with a ribbon to has happened because we are small We want to be able to have accounts It is true that it is 50 years since the the orange stuck with sweets and a church. One cannot imagine a charity from every congregation of their Children's society held THEIR first frill that we know today, but our archives show that they developed Gracehill Choir 'borrowing' a visual image from a bigger children's Christmas services to discover Christingle service in Lincoln church, and then omit to recognise its how the Christingle tradition emerged in Cathedral on 7th December 1968 into this form prior to the first world Sr Sarah to keep in view in her service as the Rev Jørgen Bøytler, Unity Business origins correctly.