Page 2 - Moravian Messenger Jan 2021
P. 2

Editorial
Watchnight Services are a lovely tradition in the Moravian Church but for a number of reasons many Churches no longer hold these services. They gave an opportunity to look back over the past year and reflect on what has happened. In a more informal way in the new year, one of our services at Gracehill is a very relaxed service looking at all the pictures taken in the past year and sharing memories of the year that has just gone. We typically give thanks to God for all the good things that have happened and remember before God things that have changed and friends and members who have died in the year.
Looking back over the past year will be very different this year - there will not be pictures of all the fundraising and social activities or of our children and young people in their various groups. So, what will we look back at? It is easy to see what we have lost and there are fears that some of that might be permanent. But what have we gained, what have we learnt? How has God led us and blessed us during this time?
Firstly, we are still here, despite all that the year has thrown at us we still have our Churches, our congregations and our ministers. We are still us! Secondly, the Church has taken to new technology in an amazing way - we have learnt so much over the past year. Zoom meetings are common place. Mobile phones have been given new uses as services are filmed on phones for release onto YouTube or as a live stream onto Facebook or for Zoom. We have even had an ordination filmed and live streamed. Many congregations have kept worship going on-line and there has also been the Provincial Worship online. So many folk have watched or shared in their own local service and watched the Provincial worship as well.
We have gained a deeper sense of being a national Church as members have seen those from other congregations leading worship and we have all gained from the diversity of our Church.
There has been a greater realisation of our international identity too as we have watched services from other Provinces, particularly those from South Asia with whom we celebrated the Headship of Christ in November. Our world has become smaller. We have peeped into each other's Churches and shared in a way that simply would not have happened in past years.
Thankfully, giving by members has been very generous which has been a real blessing though all the Churches are missing the income that comes from our fundraising. Our Provincial Board have led us wisely over the past year and have drawn the ministers together through regular consultations via Zoom. As editors we are delighted that the Moravian Messenger has kept going through it all. We are so very grateful to all our readers and to those who write for us, and to us, for your contributions. We are also thankful that Dave Bull who does the design and artwork and our printer Graham Walkden have been able to keep going through all of the difficulties. We hope that the Messenger has added to the sense of being together in all of this.
The Psalmist wrote, in exile in Babylon (Psalm 137:4), 'How can we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?' Last year, Covid year, was a foreign land for us but we learnt that you can sing the Lord's song in new and strange places. God is faithful and Jesus Christ is still the same yesterday, today and for ever (Heb 13:8). We can continue to trust in him as we go forward into this new year.
Sr Sarah Groves
Thanks Editorial Team
The Editors would like to thank Br Peter Gubi for his four years of reflective pieces 'From the Sanctuary' that have graced the back page of the Messenger over the past three years. They have been very well received and appreciated by our readers.
Obituary
David was born on the 27th January 1943 to Amos and Christina Hudston and grew up in Ockbrook. He attended the Church there and was greatly influenced by Michael and Janet Rea.
Influenced by his time at
Ockbrook, David applied to the Moravian Church to train as a minister, he was accepted and went to Manchester for three years. After completing his college course in 1966, David was called to serve the congregation at Wellhouse, and following his marriage to Carol they moved into the manse, the start of six years of ministry. David was ordained at Wheler Street Church along with David Dickinson in July 1967.
David, Carol and the children were well loved, and David particularly for the way he conducted his ministry. Around 1968- 1969 the congregation faced a challenge when it was found that some of the main timbers supporting the Church roof were rotted away, this started a lot of soul searching and worry until a decision was made to pull down the old church and
Br David James Hudston
rebuild. Then the real work started and David along with Carol was in the thick of it. David was there to organise, convene meetings, and plan
events. His enthusiasm carried us through. He led from the front through those years of doubt and
worry and into the years of fund raising to repay the loan from Church House.
After a time of discussion and worry for David and Carol, they accepted a call to serve in Jamaica, at the time Carol was expecting and their daughter Ruth was undergoing eye treatment at Leeds and Carol knew the climate would not be good for her condition. But off they went in July 1972. Unfortunately things didn't work out and after six months and a final service where the text was preached, 'Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted us', they came home, having sold all their possessions to pay their own fares.
A colleague from college, put David in touch with the U.R.C. Church and David was successful in being invited to preach
with a view at two churches in the North East. David served those Churches for six years. With a desire to be nearer to aging parents David then came to Heckmondwike U.R.C which led to a ministry for the next 21 years.
After leaving Heckmondwike David spent his last 71/2 years of ministry in Sheffield, with three churches, and then he and Carol retired to Ossett. David enjoyed his holidays where they walked out on the hills, so the hymn, 'I lift mine eyes to the quiet hills' was particularly special to them.
Earlier this year David was taken seriously ill, but he bore his illness well. Finally, after over 77 years, 54 years of service to the Church and 54 happy years of marriage, David passed into God's eternal keeping on the 10th November 2020.
He will be sadly missed, but none more so than by his family, whom he loved and cared for with all his heart. He has left an unforgettable example of love and care and service to those around us.
Br Kenneth Evans
Wellhouse
2© Sr Sarah Groves
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