ALL EVENTS FOR 2018 (this page is under construction) see separate entries 2018

2018 - Christmas Services - To be filled

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November, 11th 2018 - Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday 1918 -2018

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them".

This year, across the world, millions gathered to mark the centenary of the armistice that ended fighting along a Western Front that stretched from Pfetterhouse on the Swiss border to Nieuwpoort, on the Belgian channel coast.

Earlier in the week, on the lawn outside St Mary’s Chapel, Weldam, Lub Gringhuis constructed a Garden of Remembrance. A simple wooden cross, styled on the grave markers that once dotted the Western Front, from which spread 100 small white crosses, each bearing a simple red poppy.

On Sunday morning, under a grey sky and a light drizzle, ninety people, of many nationalities and ethnicities, gathered before the crosses to hear our chaplain, Canon Brian Rodford begin the Remembrance Sunday Service. Philippa te West read the poem, ‘The ‘Wound in Time’, written for the occasion by the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. After which, the visiting choir, The Veluwse Cantorij, led the way into the chapel, where the rest of the service was held.

With angelic choral music, silver noted trumpet calls and traditional, solemn readings by Arthur Cass, the service was memorable. Many an eye was discretely dabbed dry.

For me personally, it was that moment when, during the Last Post, contrary to custom, Canon Rodford laid the flags of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom onto the altar carpet. There the two national symbols lay, crumpled, discarded, so reminiscent of the tens of thousands of bodies that once lay scattered across the Western Front.

Sadly, this year was the first time The ‘Bond of Wapenbroeders were not able to mount the Honour Guard. The Dutch veterans, with numbers depleted by age and infirmity, retire

©Blair Charles

My personal thoughts regarding Remembrance Sunday - 100 Years on.

While sitting in the sun, at the far end of our peaceful garden, handling my automatic jigsaw and cutting a hundred Remembrance Crosses for use in this years’ Remembrance Sunday, my mind floated away over the meaning of the occasion we observe every year at St. Mary’s. A day "to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. This time, on November 11th, we are remembering one hundred years of Armistice.

Preparing the crosses, I thought of all the casualties in WW1 - “the war to end all wars" (described by H.G. Wells. Wells, like many idealists of his time, he hoped that the sheer destructiveness of the First World War, unprecedented in its time, would persuade mankind to abandon war as a means of solving political disputes > Wikipedia). But did it?

Now we know that these expectations or hopes did not really materialize, as just over 20 years later WW2 broke out. Some five years after the capitulation of Nazi-Germany, the Korean War (1950-1953) started, quickly followed by the Vietnam war (1954–75) and in more recent years the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Also, numerous other conflicts that did not get so much attention in other parts of the world smouldered on.

In Europe during the 'Cold War', two opposing Blocs were quite hostile towards each other. NATO and Warsaw Pact were on several occasions close to an armed conflict as well. In a few instances only minutes apart from a nuclear war breakout. Thanks to some bright political and military leaders, this never occurred, so far.

When looking at our crosses, there is a white face, with the ‘Poppy’ and the text “In Remembrance” in which we honour all the lives that have been lost to provide others and us all with freedom and the ability to live in peace. In these crosses, I also remember many Dutch Armed Forces personnel that were killed during the course of their duty home and abroad.

But there is also another side to our Weldam ‘Poppy’, which appears brownish and bears no text. To me, this side symbolises numerous unknown collateral victims that fell during all the conflicts that occurred since November 11th 1918.

© Lub Gringhuis

October, 14th 2018 - Harvest Festival and All Sorts Service

Today we did celebrate this years Harvest Festival. Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land. Thanksgiving ceremonies and celebrations for a successful harvest are both worldwide and very ancient. In Britain, we have given thanks for successful harvests since pagan times. We celebrate this day by singing, praying and decorating our churches with baskets of fruit and food in a festival known as 'Harvest Festival'. 

Harvest Festival reminds Christians of all the good things God gives them. This makes them want to share with others who are not so fortunate. In Churches, people bring food from home to a Harvest Festival Service. In our congregation the harvest goods have been donated to the Voedselbank in Goor.

A special feature during this service was that the children from Sunday School were asked to join in the conduction of the service. They did take part in the commencing procession in bearing the cross and the candles, did conduct the intercession (in the English language) and at the end headed the procession with the cross and candle to the exit again.

Our Chaplain Brian did surprise us all by conducting part of his sermon, specially aimed at the children, in the Dutch language.

After the service we gathered for a "bring and share meal". This was once again a success and for everyone did their best to make their cooking / food preparing skills.

Lub Gringhuis

Images by  Lub Gringhuis

2018 - Castle Fair

Magnificent Fair

This year's Weldam Castle Fair was blessed with the most beautiful late summer weather. After some light fog when arriving early in the morning, the sun rapidly dissolved the thin fog patches and temperatures were rising fast. Almost eight o'clock the first Stallholders arrived and started to build up their merchandise and display. Antique British made cars were driven onto the circle green at the forecourt. Cakes, scones and rolls were prepared in the Tearoom and everywhere final preparations were made.

At the chime of eleven the Highland regiment Pipers and Drums marched out to the gate to welcome the visitors already waiting. The Weldam Castle Fair 2018 had opened. Visitors also did have chance to win a prize, connected to their entry ticket, at the Raffle stall.

Rapidly the first visitors arrived at the Tearoom to have the first choice of the many great cakes and scones prepared by our congregation’s volunteers. The outside terrace filled with many visitors who enjoyed their purchase.

This year our Castle Fair committee had once again done their utmost to make a diverse and high quality selection of stalls and attractions. They did succeed in attracting quite a number of interesting variations in homemade articles, artful skilled crafts and products.

Also the entertainment was again diverse with the 3 J’s playing the upright bass, clarinet and accordeon, the Highland Regiment Pipes and Drums band and the Morris Dancers. Additional there was a band dedicated to the Airborne Forces performing, later combined with the Highland Regiment Pipes and Drums.

At the final hour a "Dog show" competition was held on the lawn near the fountain. Dog owners did their utmost to persudade their dogs to do whatever needed to obtain a price. The dogs were presented with a nice playing gadget after the show.

To mark the origin of our Weldam Castle Fair the day was ended with a short "Songs of Praise" session in front of the Tearoom.

The Castle Fair committee would like to thank the Solms family for their hospitality at the Weldam Estate, all volunteers who made it possible and foremost all our visitors who came in great numbers and made this year's Fair to a success.

Lub Gringhuis, Webmaster

Images below by: Elisa Hannan, Eric Koster and Lub Gringhuis

2018 - Ascension Day Picnic

Ascension day May 10: The Service, the Picnic, the Results

Over fifty people attended the beautiful Ascension Day Service, which was our chaplains first at St Mary’s. A service that left people with a smile on their face, a spring in their step and a song in their heart. Feelings reinforced when they reached the Wood Yard and saw the sumptuous feast laid out before them. Over sixty people came together to enjoy the chaplaincies annual picnic.

However, before feasting could begin there were two important tasks to complete. First, our chaplain led us in the Grace and after that, judging of the pies in the pie bake had to take place. (After all, the pies were there to be eaten!)

The international panel of culinary experts, Canon Geoffrey Allen, Maureen Underwood and Blair Charles, who have well over a century of serious eating between them, nibbled, masticated (posh chewing) and pondered. It was a close run competition but by a majority decision, the winner of the Sweet Pie category was Caroline Siertsema. The winner of the Savoury Pie category was Everhard Ottens. The two expert cooks were congratulated and presented with a selection of culinary tools.

Then the feasting could begin in earnest. Once all the food was eaten everyone sat back to listen to the beautiful selection of music put on by Carol van Straten, on guitar, and Tom on piano accordion. It was yet another wonderful day out. If you missed it there is always next year.

Images below: Lub Gringhuis

Church Council 2018 

The Church Council has been (re)installed) on Sunday May 6th.

The Wardens; Jeanet and Blair did renew their declarations and will be in office for another year.

Those who had been chosen to serve our community as members of the Chaplaincy Council were invited forward and were commissioned.

Many faces remained from the previous Council, but also two new members were installed.

From left to right: Jan, Louw, Jeanet, Maureen, Hans, Charlotte, Simone, Joyce, Father Brian, Elisa and Blair. (Fred and John are missing)

April, 1st 2018 - Easter Celebrations

Preparations are underway for this year's Easter. The Church has been decorated with fresh flowers and the big candlestand which will support the new Easter candle has been polished to "shine" for another year.

On Easter Day the new Candle was blessed according to the custom and taken to the candlestand next to the pulpit.

2018 - Institution of Father Brian as Chaplain

On Sunday January 21st 2018 the Revd. Canon Brian was instituted as Chaplain of our Congregation.

The Archdeacon of North West Europe, The Venerable Dr. Paul Vrolijk was presiding this joyful service. He, together with the Churchwardens, did welcome all attending this Eucharist. Several representatives from other Anglican chaplaincies in the Netherlands, guests from the local community, ecumenical guests from other churches in Twente, as well as family and friends of the Revd. Canon Brian Rodford honoured us with their presence.

The Wardens did request the Archdeacon to institute Brian with the following words: "Reverend Father in God, as representatives of the people of God in Twente we have been glad to share with you in the choice of Brian to be our pastor and priest. On their behalf we now ask you to institute him". The Archdeacon replied: "I am happy to do so"

The form of Institution was then read and the congregation as well as Brian replied to all questions therein. Brian further stated the Declaration of Assent, The Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Canonical Obedience. After this the Archdeacon read the licence, and after signing it, Brian was lead to his usual seat and given the blessing upon his ministry.

Then the Rededication of the Ministry of the People of God took place. Members of the congregation came forward to address the new minister. The following signs were presented: Water for Baptism, Oil of Healing, a Bible, a Stole, Bread and Wine, a Hymn Book as symbol of Music, a present from the Sunday School Children, a symbol for the Local Community and a Symbol of Ecumism.

After receiving all these symbols Brian led the intercessions, followed by the Eucharist. A the given time, Brian took the opportunity to address the Congregation. He made some moving remarks to the text in the liturgy and the just finished Hymn: "Just as I am ...." mentioning that    he was really looking forward to serve and work together with the congregation.

After the service there was a lively and a, as usual, rich bring and share lunch, during which there was plenty of opportunity to talk to our new Chaplain and meet the guests.

May Brian serve our community in a fruitful and happy way. May we support him in his task.

"Together, by God's grace"

Access full Liturgy here.