ON FRIDAY, March 6, at 7.30pm in the Community Room of Rodborough Tabernacle United Reformed Church a Scout Quiz and meal to celebrate St David’s Day was organised by Mary Jones, Denise Westerman and team on behalf of Rodborough Scouts.

Chicken and leek pie with potato topping and a vegetarian option of Quorn and leek hotpot both with mixed vegetables and the desserts of sticky toffee pudding with custard and Welsh cakes with ice cream and apple were greatly appreciated.

Bryan Small was the quiz master and he tested everyone’s knowledge with eight rounds of very varied subjects and his grandson Chris, an ex scout, provided a table quiz.

There was fun and banter but the eventual winners were Kate and Eric Moss’s team.

This is the scouts major fund raising event and over £500 was raised.

Everyone thanked the team for providing such an enjoyable evening.

On Sunday, March 22, at 12.00pm in the Community Room, the Annual General Meeting of the Tab was held led by the Minister Rev Eric Massey.

A minute’s silence was held to remember Rose Wixon, Jill Goode and Peter Furley who have died and who were very loyal members.

Eric spoke of the 300th anniversary of George Whitefield and the Sutton’s Diamond Wedding Anniversary and eight new members who have been inducted since the last AGM.

Prayers were said for Therese Mansbridge who is currently in Palestine as an Ecumenical Accompanier observing the situation there.

Votes of thanks were given to Diana Davis and her husband Richard retiring as treasurer and John Cook as secretary with much help from his wife Rose who also does invaluable work as one of the authorised persons for Registration of Marriages.

Two new elders were elected.

Bruce Appelmelk and Clive Malcolm and they will be inducted at a later date.

Jenny Wills, Glenis Massey and Eddie Johnson have very kindly been re-elected and Clive Malcolm will be the new treasurer.

A comprehensive Book of Reports had been collated by John and Rose Cook which showed the Tab to be a very Community Based Church.

On Saturday, March 28 between 12 and 1.30pm a Big Soup took place in aid of Christian Aid under the guidance of Gill Gyde and her team in the Community Room.

The ladies of the Tab and Parish Church provided a variety of soups and people were spoiled for choice and £82.26 was raised.

A very welcome time in fellowship with the inclement weather outside.

On Sunday, March 29, at 10.30am in the Main Sanctuary Rev Eric Massey conducted a service for Palm Sunday.

The choir sang “Born to set us free” and Miriam and Adam gave out the Palm Crosses to the congregation.

Eric had everyone cheering and waving palms as they sang “We are marching.”

He said that he had seen the gateway where Jesus had entered and it was very small so it would have been very congested.

He read one gospel reading and Richard Davis read from John 12 of the triumphant entry of Jesus on a donkey.

Eric went on to compare the daily parades at Euro Disney.

How Pontius Pilate and his soldiers always had a massive parade at all the Jewish celebrations to show their authority and the occupation of the Romans.

The comparison of might and Jesus’s humility and how the religious leaders were planning his death.

He then questioned the congregation “Whose parade would they have joined.”

During prayers of intercession he reminded everyone of the terrible news of the air crash in France.

The service ended with Andrea Frusher singing “I don’t know how to love him” accompanied by her mother Diana, which was very moving.

The children came in to tell what they had learned about Fair Trade and how there is still hardship, poverty and unfairness in the World today.