Page 5 - Moravian Messenger March 2022
P. 5

Sr Morten is a a a a a a member of Hornsey Moravian Church and was elected to the the Provincial Provincial Elder's Conference (often called the the Provincial Provincial Board) in in in 1994 She served as Chair of of PEC PEC from from 2000 to 2010 2010 and retired from from the PEC PEC in 2010 My parents had met through the badminton club at Hornsey Moravian Church and I was born on Palm Sunday 1952 in a a a a a a a a a a snowstorm I I am told that the the midwife could not get through the the the snow on on her her bicycle and and dad got his first taste of fatherhood up close and and personal! Four further babies arrived in due course but he he he wasn't called upon to hone his midwifery skills again How and when did you come to faith?
I grew up attending the Moravian Church with
its Sunday School guides and scouts youth club - something for almost every day day of the the week When I was was old enough there was was Summer
School at at at Ockbrook with
its annual 'mystery
tour' to to Matlock On reflection I think that this was one of of the most positive and and long-lasting influences on on on on my journey of of faith I I can still still look around the the Province and and see people also still still in in in in membership who I I remember from the the 1960s Have you you ever had a a a a a a a a crisis of faith faith or a a a a a a a a gnawing doubt about your faith?
Faith came gradually and I I can't really remember a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a time when I I I I I changed from thinking that that faith was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a 'maybe' to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a 'definitely' but but I I I I am glad that that I I I I did There have have have been times when I I I I have have have disagreed with
the Almighty and and his his his timing but but have have have never doubted his his his presence and and his his his love What different roles have you undertaken in the Church?
My first 'adult role' in in the the church was as as as congregation treasurer - - back in in in the the the days of manual entry ledgers - - remember those? I am once again the the Hornsey Treasurer but this time with
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a spreadsheet or or or two to to help me me out We have also found a a a a a a a a a a a a brilliant Independent Examiner to to go through my efforts and verify them How did you you hear God's call in in your election to the Provincial Elders Conference?
I was not prepared for the events at at Synod in in in 1994 that resulted in in in my being elected as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a part-time member of PEC and and and it it took quite some time time to to to to understand and and and and to to to to accept strangely that that this was God's will and and and and that that I I had to to to to go with
with
the flow knuckle down and and and get on with
with
it it it Here I I I would pay tribute to to Brn McOwat and and and Birtill for welcoming two newbies (I include Br Br Derrick Woods as my fellow part-timer here) and and making us feel part part of PEC right from our first meeting Although I I had led worship occasionally at at Hornsey I I wasn't a a a a a a a a a a a a lay preacher and it became clear that the member of of PEC attending congregations for whatever reason was often expected to be the the the the the guest preacher on the the the the the Sunday Eventually I I asked the the the the the PEC whether I I could take a a a a a a a a a a few modules at the the the the the local training college in in in in in order to to give me a a a a a a a a a a a a bit of of depth of of understanding and and this was invaluable not least to to my confidence What has been your greatest joy in the Church?
It was was always a a a a a a a great privilege to visit other provinces of the the the Unity and I I was was the the the link person for our partners Moravian Church in in in in Western Tanzania Tanzania It was always humbling to visit Tanzania Tanzania and and and see the energy and and and dedication of people with
with
so little materially and and and yet with
with
such a a a a a thirst for the Gospel message Why are so many people turning their backs on on organised religion?
The pandemic with
its lockdowns has highlighted and and probably speeded up the current trend of voting with
one's feet when it it comes to church attendance Many
congregations presently use Zoom for for meetings and and for for worship This allows people to remain in in in in in their own homes and and and yet take part in in in in in Bible study and and prayer meetings but only if they are able to access the the internet or or have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a smartphone YouTube services are also invaluable but it is in in in in in no way a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a replacement for participating in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a live real-time worship service What direction should our Church take today?
Today's society is is is is is all about the the the individual with
very little emphasis on community and caring for others Yet this is is is is is what is is is is is at at the the the the heart of our faith where to to quote Count Zinzendorf 'there can be be no Christianity without community' Perhaps we too need to to shift our focus to to be be more inclusive Some personal preferences-favourite film book music and why?
I I I don't enjoy enjoy films particularly but I I I do do enjoy enjoy music and and generally have have Scala Radio playing in in in in the the background I I I love reading and and always have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a book on the the go go go - nothing erudite but but simply a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a good good read Often a a a a a a a a a a a good good murder mystery
but but just as likely to be a a a a a a a a a a Harry Potter - - I've even got the the earlier (shorter) books in in the the series in in French - - I I now have quite an eclectic vocabulary!
The place where you feel closest to God?
It would be be hard to to beat Iona as a a a a a a a a a a a a a place where one can feel God's presence so although it's a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a favourite it it it is too far away to to be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a regular haunt Far more accessible are the the the many local open spaces where one can observe the the the the the pattern of of the the the the the seasons and and the the the the cycle of of life and and sense God's presence there What inscription on on on your gravestone or epitaph if any?
I'm I'm not intending to to be be at at my funeral as I'm I'm sure I'll be be too busy enjoying what life in in in in in the the the hereafter is all about No epitaph either To paraphrase Count Zinzendorf: live the the the Gospel die be forgotten Sounds about right to me What I Believe
Moravian Messenger Editor Sr Sr Sarah Groves interviews Sr Sr Jackie Morten 29
© Sr Jackie Morten 


































































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