Rodborough Tabernacle United Reformed Church

ON SUNDAY, August 2, at Rodborough Tabernacle United Reformed Church during Morning Worship, Rev Eric Massey inducted Clive Malcolm as an Elder.

As Clive made his promises and Eric blessed him two elders, his wife Gillian and Jenny Wills placed their hands on either shoulder.

The children, after witnessing the ceremony, went away for their time as “Live Wires” and everyone gave Clive the right hand of friendship during coffee after the Service.

In the afternoon between 2pm and 5pm at the Rodborough Community Hall and playing fields, the Rodborough Churches had organised their second “Summer Fun Day” which will continue for four further Sundays with games and crafts and bring your own picnic.

All are welcome.

On the same Sunday evening at 7pm in the Little Chapel, Rev Eric Massey had invited Rev Maz Allen to speak about “Understanding Taize,” the fourth monthly lecture he has organised in the summer months.

Maz is the Minister in charge of three churches in the Cheltenham District.

She explained that Taize is a small village in Burgundy where Brother Roger, who originated from Switzerland, set up a community there many years ago.

Maz has been going for many years.

There are buses departing from Birmingham and London during the summer months.

People stay for a week and as the years have passed new buildings have been constructed to hold all the people who come.

There is a huge camp site where the young people stay, but there are also facilities for older people in what is called the infirmary.

There are between sixty and seventy different nationalities with an increasing amount from Eastern Europe.

Everyone is awakened by the bell ringing which happens again at the end of the day.

There are three quarters of people under thirty in comparison to a quarter of the older generation.

Three services are held every day with chanting by the Brothers in many different languages which Maz replicated with Tab folk but she spoiled them with everything in English.

There is always a period of silence and Maz gave everyone seven and half minutes for contemplation.

She said at the beginning of the week this is very difficult but as time goes on it becomes much easier so that in the end the whole time is devoted to God.

All the jobs are shared out and that is the task which they keep for the whole week.

She especially enjoyed the small discussions groups which are formed and because of language everything is simplified.

She told of how in 2005 Brother Roger was killed by a young woman with mental problems and how the community sent flowers to her troubled parents.

The work continues under Brother Alois and goes from strength to strength.

Now when the Tab folk have a Taize Chant in a Service it will be more meaningful and everyone was very grateful to Maz for sharing her times of that wonderful place.