FROM CHURCH HOUSE Provincial Diary for March Below is the timetable for credentials, reports and proposals for the forthcoming Synod. March 2 Women's World Day of Prayer Synod 2012 3 Midlands District Conference, Leominster 10 Feb Information, Synod Credential Out from 17 Weeks Lancashire District Conference, Dukinfield Br Cooper forms and Nomination forms Church House 4 Unity Prayer Day 2012 sent out 7/8 PEC, BMB, Unitas Estates Meetings The PEC 10 Irish District Conference Sr Groves 9 March 1. Proposals affecting Sections In to 13 Weeks 12 Ockbrook School Governors Br Hopcroft March 2012 2 and 3 of Church Book Church House 14 Unitas Estates Meeting, Ockbrook Sr Taylor 2. Names of deputies Br Hopcroft 17 Social Responsibility meeting, Fulneck Sr Taylor 20 April 1. Reports and remaining In to 7 Weeks 19/22 Serving Ministers' Retreat, Sarum College proposals Church House 2. Nomination forms Unity Prayer Day 2012 is designated for Nicaragua to 18 May All reports and proposals Out from 3 Weeks Church House assist the orphans and children affected by Hurricane Felix. As yet we have not received any further information but hopefully something Br. Ashton McIntosh recalls Provincial Synod 8 - 11 June will be coming soon and we will forward it straight on to everyone. contact with the Moravian 50 years of witness PRAYER NOTES Church in Britain 50 years ago and the development of in Birmingham 1st March - Founding of the Unitas Fratrum (Moravian Christian) Prayer for St. David's Day the Moravian Congregation 2nd March - St. David's Day (Christian) Almighty God, who called your in Birmingham servant David to be a faithful and 4th March - Orthodox Sunday (Orthodox Christian) wise steward of your mysteries for 8th March - Purim (Judaism) your people: in your mercy, grant I left Jamaica on August 18th,1959 membership and Br. Gerald Farrar was useful time for them both to be in that, following his purity of life and on board the S.S. Begona to join my the minister in charge of reception. I England together as some of their 9th March - Hola Mohalla (Sikh) zeal for the gospel of Christ, we may brother Herbert who was living in don't have room to mention all those congregation members had moved to with him receive the crown of 17th March - St. Patrick's Day (Christian) Birmingham. Luckily for me I got a who were kind to me but I take leave Britain. Br. Paul met with Rev. Keith everlasting life; through Jesus Christ job within a short time. I'd worked on to mention Sr. Ethel G. Orchard and Beck a minister at Sparkhill Methodist 19th March - St. Joseph's Day (Christian) your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the the buses in Kingston, Jamaica and I Br. and Sr. Janet Rea who did so much Church and a colleague he'd studied 23rd March - Ramayana (Hindu) Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. was soon working as a conductor on to make me feel welcome. with. He was a useful contact and it 25th March - The Annunciation of the Virgin (Christian) Amen the Midland red buses in Birmingham. On July 22nd, 1960 my wife Evelyn resulted in a Moravian Communion Having got a job, my next priority and our young son Selvyn joined me Service being conducted by Bishop was to find a church in which I could from Jamaica. We continued to visit Gubi in Birmingham. Weekly services Foundation Prayer for Spring seek membership. As I was a Moravian, Ockbrook occasionally and Moravians arose as a result of this. Hussites were defeated, beaten by the Utraquists. Dear Lord, we thank you for bringing us through the my first choice was to find a Moravian in the British Province were becoming We were able to have our own They were not defended; Ziska's lion heart was missed. winter, once again and for painting our part of your church. After a few enquiries I aware that a large number of West premises at Anderton Park Rd because Defeat had sealed their fate, hiding with no place to stay, world with the bright colours of spring. discovered that there weren't any Indians were coming over to live in Rev. Beck moved on from Birmingham. Weary of wear and hate, Gregory led them away. We see new life emerging all around us in field and furrow and we feel our spirits rising at the same time as churches in or around Birmingham some of the big cities such as The minister taking over from him Fourteen fifty seven, on the first of March, the temperature in our barometers. and that most people hadn't heard of Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, was Rev. Michael Woodridge, a single Was the date of the birth of the first free church. We hear the birds singing more joyfully as they work for the Moravian Church. I then wrote to Leeds, London and Derby. Moravians man and as the manse was too large The Unity of Brethren came home at last, their new families and the sounds of new born animals Rev. Ben Muncaster who was living in felt obliged to seek out their church for him he requested a smaller manse. To build a future, forged from the past. fill the air: the audible sigh of nature waking up. We cannot possibly show enough gratitude to you for all Ockbrook and he invited me to visit brothers and sisters to make them The Methodists enquired if the Chelchicky ploughed his fields, and wrote his books against war. that you do for us, especially at this time of year when him and I also had a look at the school feel welcome - as much as they could. Moravians would like to rent it. This His work was an appeal, what was all the fighting for? the rebirth of the glories of creation blossom, yearn and and the church. All the people I met, Br. Kirby Spencer the minister at was readily agreed to. The Methodists The Brethren read his book and learned from what they had seen. grow all around us. gave me a very warm welcome and an Hornsey and Upton Manor felt there had rented the manse for a nominal Went out to take a look, built their own community. So we simply say, thank you...Amen open invitation to visit Ockbrook was much more that he could do to sum from an elderly lady and she Fourteen fifty seven, on the first of March, again. welcome these Moravians. He began continued to rent the house for a Was the date of the birth of the first free church. Before Easter Although Ockbrook was about 50 to gather names and addresses of a similar sum to the Moravians, believing The Unity of Brethren came home at last, it was the one good deed she could To build a future, forged from the past. Twigs tipped with black buds shudder - lattice crossing at each miles from Birmingham, I decided to large number of people including erratic gust. ask for membership. I knew I couldn't Bishop Peter Gubi and Br. Paul Gubi. do! In a wooded valley, near the castle of Lititz. Skeletal leaves, frost fingered, escape their places of long hiding. attend every week but I wanted to Br Paul Gubi was returning to service Once the manse became available The brethren knelt to pray, and the flame of hope was lit. Over webbed hedges and snowdrop's limp heads chill mists disperse show my commitment and resolved in the British Province after serving my family and I were asked to move Kunwald was their safe town; their house is still there today. As last grey crystals drain away. They saw the seed was sown, showed our church was here to stay. Days lengthen; strengthening rays warm raw mornings of mystery. to attend whenever I could. On Sunday in the Eastern West Indies, whilst Br into the premises until a permanent Distant hint of hoof unseen, illusive scatter of wings 3rd April, I was received into Peter was over on furlough. It was a person could be found. We stayed where disturbed birds scuffle on lichen, Fourteen fifty seven, on the first of March, stir of fur half-glimpsed blend and blur... Was the date of the birth of the first free church. continued inside Till suddenly sluggish blood quickens at the immanence of rebirth. The Unity of Brethren came home at last, Sr. Margaret Connor To build a future, forged from the past. INSIDE THIS MONTH’S ISSUE YouthZone Provincial Gracehill Grandstand Around the District Committees THE MORAVIAN MESSENGER 24 hour As Phyl saw it Open Book versus the View from Werewolf Conferences A Tribute by The Church Official Journal of the Moravian Church in the British Province. Editor: Judith Ashton. Contributions for the Messenger should reach World David Newman 2 Thessalonians Game Western District Paul Gubi Book Published monthly by the authority of the Provincial Synod. the Editor, Sunnybank, Raglan Road, Tintern, Monmouthshire NP16 6TH Lizzy Mewha Good sports... Eastern District Advertisements and all communications concerning distribution and E-mail: [email protected] by the 3rd day of the preceeding David Costley Committee supply should be sent to the Moravian Book Room, 5 Muswell Hill, London month. PLUS ALL THE REGULAR FEATURES N10 3TJ, and NOT to the Editor. Produced by David Bull (Red Rag Design) 240 Huddersfield Road, Liversedge, West Yorkshire WF15 7QQ Tel 01924 410339 e-mail: [email protected] • Your Letters • News from Congregations • Church House News Update • Printed and distributed by G.R.Walkden, 3 OakTree Close, Shap, Cumbria CA10 3PR Tel/fax: 01931 716703.