NEWSLETTER 67

The Greater World Church
- Ilfracombe
The photograph shows David Gravell, on the left, President of the Church and Roy Hanks, medium for the evening, leading the Remembrance Service at the Ilfracombe Church on 11th November 2007. Everyone who attended made comment on the beauty of the service and how much they had enjoyed it.

David Gravell
President


Temple of Light, Chatham
- Greater World Church
On Sunday 7th October the church held their Harvest Festival Service conducted by Jeanette Fleming CGWM. We sent healing prayers and love to those who could not be there: We sang hymns and the Reading was given by Roy West, member of the church.

The produce was spread out on the steps of the Rostrum for everyone to see. After the service the congregation descended into the tea room for a Harvest tea.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this service to make it such a success.

Roy West
Committee Member

Baptism in Kirkaldy
Young Ryan Thynne and his parents, Fred and Jane came from Toronto, Canada to Grandma Agnes’s home in Kirkaldy to attend a wedding. Before they left for home, Fred asked Agnes if she could arrange for Ryan to be baptised. So it was that on Thursday, 29th September 2007 we all gathered at Grandma Agnes’s house.

Surrounded by family and friends Ryan was baptised. During the service he behaved very well and the only time he showed disfavour was when we were singing – and not out of tune – he became a music critic and lay on the floor at Mum, Jane’s, feet and put his hands over his ears until the singing was over. As soon as the singing had ceased he once again became the bright and happy wee boy that he is.

Service conducted by Glynis Dailly
GWMin CGWM

Light of Christ CSC,
Newcastle-under-Lyme
On Monday 28th January 2008 Elaine Bagshaw GWMin. CGWM held a clairvoyant evening to raise funds for the disabled. All tickets sold quickly and on the night Elaine gave a two hour demonstration in her special way, bringing loved ones from the world of spirit to make us smile, laugh and sometimes cry. The evening was a great success and with a raffle to increase funds a grand total of £340.00 was raised.

Elaine thanks everyone for helping to make it a special evening.

Christine Sellars
Member of the Light of Christ CSC

Opening of the Greater
World Church, Luton
On December 23rd, A Sunday of freezing fog, Trustees and members of The Greater World along with many others travelled to Luton for the re-Dedication of the church and its first service, which fittingly was a Carol Service.

From Harrogate, Leeds, Coventry, Oxford, Ware and the surrounding district we gathered to participate in a service of spiritual fellowship and upliftment. Trustees and members of The Greater World gave Christmas Readings interspersed with carols. Megan Long gave the address and led the prayers. At the end of the meeting Megan Long announced to the congregation that Cynthia Barnwell had been appointed by the Trustees to be the President of the Church.

A raffle was held when Abby, granddaughter of Cynthia Barnwell, did the running with all the prizes to very happy prize winners. Then everyone joined in a sumptuous
celebration tea. Megan Long cut the Christmas Cake – which was delicious.

Thank you to everyone who took part and all who came to join us on such a wintry night. We look forward to many other such events.

60th Wedding Anniversary
11th October 2007 saw the 60th Wedding Anniversary of Flo & Jim Essex MBE's of the Nazareen Christian Spiritualist Church, Yeovil, Somerset. Friends of the Church celebrated this happy occasion with a carvery meal at the White Lion in Crewkerne and bought the happy couple an Arbour seat for them to wind away the hours in their garden. Earlier in the year friends of the church also gave Flo & Jim a well deserved, all expenses paid, holiday in the coastal resort of Weymouth which was the first holiday they had ever experienced.

Those of you who know of Flo & Jim will know that the opportunity for them to sit and rest is rare. The couple who have dedicated their lives to the Christian Spiritual Church and for the last 45 years have welcomed people into their home, are also avid charity fund raisers. Even now, Flo aged 77 and Jim aged 81, are still raising funds for local charities and the Yeovil hospital. Their most recent event, laying on a double bed of nails, as well as an open-day fete held by friends of the Church, successfully raised £6000 for the Yeovil Hospital's baby unit.

Over the last 10 years Flo & Jim have raised in excess of £80,000 for local charities and recognition for their hard work saw each of them receive an MBE in last year's honours list. Her Majesty the Queen who also celebrates her Diamond Anniversary this year, sent a letter of congratulations to Flo & Jim, which is proudly displayed in the entrance of their Church, for all to share.

We wish Flo & Jim God's Blessing to continue their good work for many more years to come.

Linda Bassett

Remembering Family Matters
One photo shows Heinz Bolliger, the devoted grandfather, caring for two grandsons, Marc and Matthias and the other, Hanni, wife of Heinz and Barbel and Alfons Heim, who live in Bad Reichenhall, enjoying a day together. Heinz and Hanni live in Switzerland and we had the pleasure of their company at a Residential Week some while ago. Alfons has recently gone through a cancer operation – he has been on our prayer list for a while now. It is lovely to see them smiling.

They have been associated with The Greater World for many years. There is one partnership missing – Paul and Theresia Jaeggi, who also live in Switzerland. They are all Trustees of the Nowotny Foundation and all three were involved in the Nowotny Course that was held by The Greater World some years ago.

We send our love to Barbel and Alfons at this difficult time and to all of them for their continued support of the family of The Greater World.

Greater World, Munich,
Germany
Our monthly service in October was a very special day for all who attended. We celebrated our annual “Harvest Festival” and the church was wonderfully decorated with fruit, vegetables and flowers, a sight glorious to behold!

Towards the end for the service we held a dedication ceremony where several new “Messengers” were awarded their well earned Certificates along with a bouquet of flowers.

Each one received a personal blessing and it was an emotional experience. The service was led by Rev. Paul Meek GWRM

It is a joy to know that new Messengers are willing and able to do the good work. These faithful dedicated souls have completed the Medium’s training course over several years. We are truly international as one Lady was born in Finland, one gentleman is Austrian, the other Messengers came from various parts of southern Germany and the Minister is a Welshman.

Christian Spiritualism knows no bounds and is spreading throughout Europe like wild fire. This special day will stay in my
memory for very long time. The new Messengers are!

Dr. Evelin Kainz, Dr. Gerald Schütz, Rosemarie and Peter Weiss and Liisa Mayer.
Paul Meek GWMin. GWRM
München Germany Nov. 2007

STOCKPORT CSC
Sadly on 29th November 2007 Bob Turner passed away. He had been vice-President and authorised person for Marriages for many years until 10 years ago he suffered a serious stroke which left him completely disabled. Bob was very popular in the Church, always charming, very diplomatic and a ready word for everyone – more so to newcomers. His wife Gladys gave 10 years of loving devoted care to Bob and helped him to have a reasonable quality of life.

On December 4th 2007, Pat Pickering passed away after suffering a long illness. Such was her faith in Spirit that she managed to attend church four times a week. Her family passed a comment that she would bring her bed if she could. Pat was a great family person and they showed devotion to her in time of need. She was also much lo9ved by church members. Both funeral services conducted in the same week by President Albert Parker. Such was the popularity of both Bob and Pat many people came to show their respect.

The Christmas morning service was well attended and the congregation gave a hearty rendering of Christmas carols. The President told the Christmas Story through Bible readings. Adding to the atmosphere Jane Jones brought her newly born daughter to the service. At the close of the service the congregation joined hands to sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

All the world loves a lover! In our church on Valentines Day 2008, Justin Shaw and Dionne Birchenough both members of the church decided to join together in Holy Matrimony. The marriage ceremony, conducted by Albert Parker, brought together both families as they shared the happiness of this young couple.

When Mike and Jaci Nelson brought their six months old daughter to be
baptised on 24th February, Albert Parker conducted the service. He named the baby, Abigail Grace, and then he placed flowers on the baby and requested the Spirit Guide for a Spiritual name. The name given was Elizabeth. It was heart warming to see so many friends and family gathered to witness this very important ceremony.

Albert Parker GWRM
President