Page 10 - Moravian Messenger July 2018

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© Sr Norma Machell Safari dinner
Gomersal
Following three separate incidents of theft of the Yorkshire stone flags from our church pathway, we took the decision, to prevent further thefts by replacing them all with Indian stone. We are now reaping the benefit of our actions by having a level and much safer access to church.
In May we held our 16th annual
Safari Supper, held in church but
still called Safari Supper as
originally we travelled to a
different house for each course.
This year 41 people enjoyed wonderful evening of fellowship, whilst eating a delicious four course meal.
Well Being Wednesday has been a feature of our activities for a number of years. From the beginning of May this year it has been extended from two to four meetings per month. Two new groups have been added to the original Walk plus Yoga and the Julian Meeting. The new activities include a Walking for Health group which had its first walk on 2nd May, and attracted ten walkers. We were blessed with good weather for our 60 minute walk around Gomersal. Carpet Bowls got under way in Church on 23rd May. This was for all abilities, which was a good thing, as some of us were hopeless (I am thinking of myself in particular). We had lots of fun and laughter and it was attended by 19 enthusiastic bowlers. All the Well Being meetings are followed by refreshments and plenty of chat.
Sr Norma Machell
did not disappoint, as we collapsed in laughter for all manner of bizarre reasons!
We have been busy fundraising and are grateful to Srs Heather Armstrong and Hilary Lee for hosting a coffee morning and plant sale. Sr Patsy Holdsworth has
painted a delightful watercolour picture of the church, which we've had made into cards which can be used for any occasion. Last but not least, Sr Sue Groves has been boiling up great cauldrons of jams and chutneys for sale in the porch with an honesty box and has raised hundreds over the year. Keep trying those new potions!
Sr Judith Ashton
© Sr Norma Machell Carpet bowls
Brockweir
'Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough ...'
Poetry, like Marmite divides the nation. Some people love it with a passion and others are left largely unmoved. It partly depends upon how we were introduced to it at school, for many of my friends regarded learning large swathes of 19th century verse as a punishment rather than a cornucopia of delight. Hopefully times and teaching styles have changed, for if we persevere, words explode with meaning as we are catapulted into other worlds and experiences.
Poetry is all around us, if we care to look; in popular
song lyrics, hymns, leaflets in doctor's surgeries, the Watchwords and the Bible. It can also summarise the
mood of a city or a region, we have only to think back to the events of 22nd May 2017 at Manchester Arena when Tony Walsh's poem 'This is the place' spread around the world. It is with interest therefore that I await the deliberations of the Book Group as we begin 'The Splash of Words' by Mark Oakley. The book is written 'for those who are committed to a religious faith, or who are intrigued by the possibility of such a commitment ...' Having attended the first reading it
© Sr Philip Ashton
Sr Groves with jams