United in the snow
January 2013
The theme of the 2013 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was “Walking” so perhaps it was fitting that many of the stalwarts who attended the seven daily prayer meetings and the United Service on Sunday donned their walking boots to trudge through the snow.
To download a copy of the Order of Service, please click here (PDF format - file size 113,959).
Remarkably ALL the events went ahead as planned despite the extreme weather conditions.
The Revd Karen Hutchinson, Vicar of the Bourne and Tilford, warmly welcomed members of churches and denominations from around the area to St.Thomas-on-The Bourne and hosted and led the inspiring United Service on behalf of Churches Together in Farnham.
The Revd Vida Foday, Farnham Methodist Minister, who came originally from Ghana, gave a moving sermon on the Week of Prayer theme from Micah: “What does God require of us? To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God”. This focused on social injustice, as it affects the outcast Dalit communities in India and other rejected groups throughout the world.
Sadly for CTF it was also something of a farewell occasion, as Vida will be parting from us in the summer to continue her ministry in the Romford Methodist Circuit, Essex.
Others leading prayers and giving readings during the Service (in order of involvement) were the Revd John Edwards (Holy Family, Heath End), Pastor Michael Hall (Chair of Churches Together in Farnham), the Revd Elaine Collins (St.Thomas), Canon Jeffrey Bell (All Saints, Tilford), Stella Walter (St Thomas'), Bob Skinner (Weybourne Baptist Church), the Revd Michael Hopkins (Farnham United Reformed Church) and Michael McDonnell (St Joan-of-Arc Church). The organist was Julian Cooper.
After the Service, everyone enjoyed fellowship over a bring and share tea hosted by St.Thomas and great interest was shown in the Churches Together in Farnham Golden Jubilee exhibition - the centrepiece of which was a large panoramic reproduction of the outstanding picture of our Golden Jubilee Celebration. This was hosted by Fr Niven Richardson at St Joan of Arc Church on 14th October 2012.
 The photograph, taken by Benedict Parsons, shows the church leaders of all denominations around the Sanctuary and the symbols of Churches Together’s members and activities grouped at the altar. |
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