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Their varied programme, well received by the audience, included in the first half pieces by Thomas Tallis, Edward Elgar and an organ solo by John Wade. The second half included another piece by Elgar as well as pieces by Charles Stanford and Peter Maxwell Davis and featured a tenor solo by James Bryant and a soprano solo by Ellie Hanwell. (Return to top)
After a full English Breakfast of bacon and eggs with all the trimmings, Andrew spoke to us about study groups and how you can improve your personal knowledge and faith that way, but also how reaching out to those who currently don't come to church often helps you grow your own faith at the same time. (Return to top)
Today's Service followed our usual informal format, except before the Reading there was a short account of the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, with the congregation encouraged to call out 'but wonderful' each time the reader said 'it was weird'.... but wonderful. (Return to top)
This was followed by the reading of the account from the Book of Acts of the coming of the Holy Spirit onto the disciples gathered in a closed room after Jesus had Ascended back to heaven. The 'sermon' took the form of four children sharing a short message with someone in the congregation who then had to pass it to the rest of those gathered in a whisper. The ensuing 'chaos' was likened to the chaos on the actual day when the startling event occurred and the 'sending out' of the message of Jesus with all who would hear it. (Return to top)
The Young Singers (Junior Choir) sang a spiritual and the adult choir sang an anthem, whilst we all sang two traditional and two modern hymns on the theme as well as 'Happy Birthday' to the church, which traditionally began with the Pentecost event. (Return to top)
Twenty-Eight parishioners gathered in Dymock Parish Hall, where Bob's first presented slides about the geography and commerce of Sikkim, the 22nd of the 28 provinces of India, squeezed in-between Bhutan and Nepal in the north of the country. It was worth paying attention because several of the answers to the table quiz were given during the presentation! (Return to top)
Chris May, assisted by a few helpers, then served her home-made chicken and potato curry with dahl, rice, poppadoms and a selection of side dishes including spices, bananas and 'happy carrot' salad! (Return to top)
Bob then gave a second slide presentation of the pictures they took during their trip which included visits to Delhi, Darjeeling and Calcutta as well as a 6 day camping trek into Sikkim in the Himalaya (we learnt they're called 'Himalaya' and not 'Himalayas'). (Return to top)
Unfortunately the weather turned cold and very windy with threatened rain so some 30 people from across the benefice met in Redmarley church instead to celebrate this important feast of the church, with traditional hymns and the sharing of Holy Communion. (Return to top)
After, we were able to join together in Redmarley rectory to share a lunch of soup, bread and cheese and home made cakes kindly provided by the Rector. (Return to top)