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| Reports |
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| September Men's Breakfast, Harvest Festival |
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| Harvest Festival | |||||||||||||||||
  This year's 'Harvest Thansgiving' was on September 25th when a congregation of around 70 gathered in Dymock Church for a traditional Harvest Service to celebrate this year's crops and thank God for his gifts. The adult and junior choirs, the 'Young Voices', led the singing of traditional hymns, plus the choirs sang a contemporary song called 'Lord of the Earth'. The spirited Young Voices rendered a South American song 'Harvest Samba'. (Return to Top)
There was a short sketch presented by Mia Walters and Sophie Challonder to remind us of how food provision in the 'developed and 'developing world' continues to be in stark contrast, Molly Freeman performed a thoughtful song she'd composed herself - accompanied by our Musical Director Bob May, harvest gifts were presented at the altar table, and the Service concluded with the joyous African chorus 'Sanna' (Hosanna). (Return to Top) The people retired to the Parish Hall and enjoyed a harvest feast of cottage pie or Lasagna with vegetables or salad, followed by a choice of desert with cream or custard - quince or apple crumble, cherry pie, meringues and jelly thoughtfully prepared by several of the ladies. (Return to Top) |
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| Men's Breakfast | |||||||||||||||||
 On September 3rd, our guest was a retired Environmental Health Officer and 'Recovering Alcoholic'. He’s recovered, but there's always a danger you might slip back, so they usually describe themselves as 'Recovering'. (Return to Top)
He describe some of the problems he'd experienced as an Environmental Health Officer, including flee infestations and inspections of food premises etc, but the worst problem he'd had was to attend an exhumation. Apparently by law several people must be there including an Undertaker, and a Health Officer to see there's no health problems. In this case, a widow was 'emigrating' to Jersey to live out her last years and wanted to take the body of her husband for reburial, despite his having died three years earlier. He had to fill in export forms, even though it was only going to Jersey, and certify there were no drugs or alcohol in the coffin! (Return to Top) At work he'd been in charge of a department with many staff and a large budget, but his department was merged with another and he was offered, and took, early retirement. Not expecting it, he hadn't got many outside interests and as a result spent much time 'hanging around' at home and had an occasional drink, which became more and more until he was an addict. He said the most difficult thing for addicts is to admit it. (Return to Top) He graphically described how this had adversely affected his life, which can happen to any of us, including the break-up of his marriage and conviction for driving while over the limit, which brought him to his senses and he sought help. He described how he now acts as a mentor to others who're going through the same process. (Return to Top) |
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