Love came down at Valentine's Day!
A large congregation welcomed Bishop Bill Love, his wife, Karen, and daughter, Catie, to Movilla Abbey Church on Sunday 14th February. Also present were our own Bishop, Harold, accompanied by his wife, Liz.
Bishop Bill shared his family's delight in being back in Ireland and how much he appreciated the link between our diocese and Albany diocese. He told us that whilst it was still cold here, it was much warmer than the New York state he had just left, where there was also lots of snow. Something of course we, also, enjoyed not so long ago!
Bishop Bill preached on the Transfiguration of our Lord from Luke 9, reminding the congregation of the challenge to listen to Jesus, as his Father had commanded Peter, James and John, and also continues to command us today. He also reminded everyone that, just like Jesus and the few apostles present, we too cannot stay on the mountain but must come back down so we can be effective as disciples.
Following the service, Bishop Bill, Karen and Catie met many of the parishioners sharing a cup of tea in the church hall, as well as some of our Methodist sisters and brothers as they gathered to worship at Movilla Abbey Church.
During his few days visiting Movilla, Bishop Bill and his family were introduced to some of the more far flung areas of the diocese previously unseen by Bishop Bill and his family, in particular, Mount Stewart, where the Love family were able to see so many trees native to their own country. This Valentine’s Day will be fondly remembered by the folks at Movilla Abbey when 'Love’ was present in many guises!