Happenings

We had a busy and inspiring weekend this week!

Don with Brother Cornelis Taekema

 On Saturday night, March 23rd, the Wealdon Consort Choir performed a wonderful and inspiring concert at our Visitors' Centre. They are a community choir from Hastings, in the county of Kent. Cornelis Taekema, Director of Music at the Dulwich Preparatory School, and a member of the Church, is the director of the choir. They performed here on the temple grounds in January inside the Manor House and we have been anxious to bring them to the Visitors' Centre ever since!

The Wealdon Consort Choir

Their program (or programme to those reading this in England) included:

• Down to the River to Pray - from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?
• Swing Low - American spiritual
• Steal Away - American spiritual
• Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
• Ave Verum Corpus
• Lift Thine Eyes
• How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings (How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place)
• Crucifixus ad 8
• The Deer's Cry
• Ave Maria
• Two solos from the Messiah
• The Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah
• Abound in Love - composed by Brother Taekema
• Gaelic Blessing

A very impressive repertoire, indeed, for a choir of 26 people, and they did a magnificent job. It was a wonderful way to begin the week preceding Easter. We hope to see them again at the Visitors' Centre at Christmastime.

President Brian Martin, ELSM

The next night, Sunday, March 24th, we welcomed back President Brian Martin of the England London South Mission presidency for a Fireside presentation that he first presented last year just before Easter. We were eagerly anticipating his return. His presentation, "An Eight Day Walk With Christ," also prepared us  for the observance of Easter this coming Sunday. With his permission, we have included the scriptures and commitments he presented which are designed to help us each individually turn our hearts and minds to our Savior at this most important time of year. You are welcome to consider the scriptures and suggestions yourself this week.

"An Eight Day Walk With Christ" Fireside

An Eight Day Walk With Christ

Sunday, March 24th - Day of Recognition
Read:  Matthew 21:6-11
Challenge:  Today, think of Christ more often and find a time to bear testimony of Him. Have meaningful prayers to draw closer to Him.

Monday, March 25th - Day of Authority
Read:  Matthew 21:12-15
Challenge:  Choose one thing that you need to cleanse from your life and sincerely repent and strive to do better.

Tuesday, March 26th - Day of Teaching
Read:  Matthew 25
Challenge:  Today let your light shine and let others come to know Christ through your actions.

Wednesday, March 27th - Day of Rest
Read:  John 15:4-17
Challenge:  Try to show greater love and kindness to friends and family.

Thursday, March 28th - Day of Atonement
Read:  Matthew 26
Challenge:  Today strive to have greater trust that the Lord is aware of your problems and is always near to help you through them if you turn to Him.

Friday, March 29th - Day of Suffering
Read:  Matthew 27
Challenge:  Today remember the sacrifice the Saviour made for you and show your love for Him by being obedient, by defending the truth, by being strong and faithful.

Saturday, March 30th - Day of Silence
Read:  I Peter 3:18-19
Challenge:  Today look for the hand of the Lord in all things in your life.

Sunday, March 31st - Day of Triumph
Read:  Matthew 28:1-8
           John 20:11-18
Challenge:  Today stand as a witness of Jesus Christ and carry His name in your heart from this day forward.

And one more personal suggestion about preparing for Easter. This is a perfect week to spend some time watching the beautiful Bible videos the Church has produced. There are 43 of them now, most of them from 1-5 minutes in length. There are several available now about the last week of Christ's life. You can find them at http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos?lang=eng, or you can just go to lds.org and click on "Bible Videos" under Quick Links on the left side of the page. There is also an Bible Videos app available. How cool is that? During the past year I have grown to love these videos! They are inspired representations of some the most sacred and important events in the life of our Savior.

On Monday March 25th, we had a complete change of pace. We had an unexpected opportunity to tour the inside of Parliament and meet with one of the members of the House of Commons. (Well, actually, we have been eagerly anticipating this event for several months, but it was something we had not expected to be able to do while we were here in England.) We just happened to attend the Brighton Ward early in December on the week that a very dear sister invited her ward members to a private tour of Parliament and meeting with her son, David Rutley, the only member of Parliament who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We asked if we could join the group and she graciously included us. 

Pat on the way into the Parliament Building

Our little group was given a special tour by a man who has worked with Parliament in various capacities for 26 years. He took us from Westminster Hall through the Robing Room (where Queen Elizabeth will dress before the opening session of Parliament on May 6th), the Royal Gallery, the House of Lords Chamber, the Peers Lobby, the Commons Corridor, the Members Lobby, and the House of Commons Chamber. He told us some fascinating stories about his experiences in all of those areas during the time he has worked there, and he gave us a greater education about the workings in Parliament than we ever had in school! I wish I could have taken photos (no photos for security reasons) or better yet, videotaped everything he said (obviously not allowed...). We enjoyed every minute of the tour. At the end, we were led into a beautiful meeting room overlooking the Thames, Westminster Bridge and the heart of London. There we met with Mr. Rutley for nearly an hour. He, too, educated us to the workings of Parliament and answered questions from the group about a wide range of subjects. He was gracious, sincere and completely focused on our visit. I guess that makes him a good politician! 

Inside Westminster Hall before the tour began.

We came away with a great respect for the Parliamentary system that has served Great Britain and all of its subjects since the year 1386.  Yes, we know there are a great many problems facing governments in Great Britain, the U.S., and most of the world, but they have stood the test of time, and a discussion of what's wrong in government would take several thick books, not just a blog. Just let me say that there are still good, outstanding men and women who sincerely want to do what's best for their countries. That's what we need.

We should be praying for them every day.                                  ~Pat~