The Second European
Assembly – 2017
Ray and Brenda Waters
Theme: From Where We Are – “No matter where you are on your spiritual
journey, the Lord leads you from that place.”
I
t is five years since the last European Assembly, of recent times. So the
organizing committee, chaired by the Rev. Howard Thompson, decided
to make this a “really memorable event.” Everyone present agreed they
succeeded! Their bold decision to cater for 100 people (we actually totalled
90-plus) necessitated moving to High Leigh Conference Centre, near London,
with its good transportation links.
Another bold change was running the event from Friday afternoon until
midday Monday (four days). This was intended to give plenty of leisure time
for mingling, while still leaving scope for a full program of four plenary (main)
sessions and a choice of eight workshops. All this was made possible by the
participation of the Church’s Executive Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith and
the Rt. Rev Peter M. Buss Sr., plus eight ministers and a number of members
of the laity. They all led us through various aspects of the Assembly’s theme
focusing on: “The means by which The Lord leads us.”
Upon arrival we realised how much High Leigh had expanded since the
British Assemblies of some years ago. It now has more than 150 bedrooms
and can cater for 250 people. Therefore we weren’t the only group present.
Was that a problem? Emphatically No! We had our own meeting facilities and
dining area; and the members of other groups were universally courteous and
friendly.
Early arrivals had the joy of encountering old friends and meeting new
faces. This process was accelerated by nametags, distributed by Dale Morris,
the organizing committee’s secretary. They acted as superb “conversation
openers.”
We gathered first for supper, followed by our opening worship, fittingly
412