News from First Church

We got away with a Book Fair!

Well, the long-awaited Book Fair took place in August, and what a fantastic 3 day event!  First Church owes an enormous thank you to our convener Pam Colenso who with Carol Hawkins worked with determination, enthusiasm and great physical effort over many weeks to bring this off.  Postponed from its usual wintery date in June, we had fine sunny days over this Fair weekend which encouraged many keen book buyers both local and visitors to the Town Hall.

  Thank you too to the wonderful First Church folk and supporters who worked very hard over weeks beforehand sorting the donated books as they were dropped off at our Hall, helping with the setting up in the Town Hall and assisting over the Fair days right through to the huge heavy job of clearing up.

This has been an amazing community effort resulting in a best ever result, and we are humbled by the generosity and goodwill of all who contributed to the success of this Fair which was held so triumphantly in these uncertain times of virus spread and lockdown levels.  And who said Books were finished!

Pleased to have this Book Fair behind us, First Church continues to meet on Sunday

mornings forming a supporting group encouraging each other as we cope with the changing situation both in our community, our country and all round the world. 

There is much anxiety and sadness too, as many of us are worried about family members overseas – perhaps older siblings or even grandchildren they have not yet met.  We all know people who are feeling confined, unhappy about the restrictions on our lives, and perhaps longing to travel freely again, and to see loved ones again. We were introduced to the following lines, written as long ago as 1883 which made us think:

Go not abroad for happiness;

behold it in a flower blooming at your door.

Bring love and laughter home, 

and ever more Joy shall be yours as changing years unfold.

(But it is hard, and we feel very much for all separated families)

But our Minister Jim’s message is still relevant:

   ‘Care for each other. Value phone calls. Keep safe. Enjoy the sun’.