No sooner finished, than beginning again...

The Visitors' Centre Video

We finally competed the video on the Hyde Park Visitors' Centre which you can find on the link below. The professionals say it takes about 30 hours for every minute of video to script, film, edit and produce a completed product. Sadly, I'm not even close to that estimate!

www.mormonnewsroom.org.uk

It is just a bit intimidating to be filming and producing a video with Duane Cardall as the principal spokesperson after watching him on Channel 5 News and Editorials for all those years. Elder and Sister Cardall our wonderful directors for the visitors' centre lead with an enormous amount of patience, grace and dignity. We are constantly amazed at the talent the Lord draws on to run His Church.

The visitors' centers around the globe are presenting the documentary Meet the Mormons in their theaters. The response has been very 'favourable' as the sister missionaries ask those of other faiths about the film. In a non-sanctimonious, informative manner the film presents the six families around the world in a way that helps to dispel stereotypes that many have of members of the Church. We are just trying to do some good and live in the best way we know how to conduct ourselves.

Speaking of Meet the Mormons.....

The Area Presidency asked the Europe Area Public Affairs team to put together a country-by-country roll-out for the documentary Meet the Mormons. We developed a questionnaire for each NDPA (National Director of Public Affairs) and Area Seventy to ask for their input assessing the interest of members, public, opinion leaders, etc. In addition, they were asked to advise on what would be the best venue to view the film. Sister Russell and Sister Banner collected the input and then our Solihull team made a recommendation to the Area Presidency on possible options for individual country roll-outs. One would never believe the depth and breadth of information that is required by General Authorities to make what some would think is an "easy decision." I'm truly amazed at how much thoughtful deliberation is given every aspect of the organization or doctrine of the Church. We sometimes fail to realize how much pondering, praying and waiting on the Lord is involved in the everyday administration of the gospel.

Local Church administration....

Bishop Michael Stilger is a wonderful man with an enormous capacity to care for people. Bishop Stilger grew up in President Uchtdorf's ward and stake in Frankfurt where he gained tremendous respect for the leadership of this great member of the First Presidency. The bishop is generous and his heart is as big as they come... but he still is 'fun-loving' as attested by what he would like to see as the 'official' photograph of Sheldon Ward Bishopric.

As members of the bishopric, we each teach a Sunday School lesson every month in addition to speaking in sacrament meeting at least quarterly. Joyce gets the added blessing of being the assistant ward activities chairperson as she is married to the ward activities chairman. We'll talk about our latest activity later in the blog. We home teach the Bishop's family as well as Daniele Camisani's (the first counselor) which is a joy as their families are delightful.

Take a look at the next entry in the blog to see who really has to be prepared each week as she makes a real difference in the ward.

Thanking parents who paid for all those lessons

Mama and Daddy paid for years of piano lessons for Joyce which come in handy each Sunday. As a counselor in the Primary she is over the music (literally) by being an accompanist. It generally doesn't stop there as often she is called to be the Sacrament Meeting accompanist (without the blessing of advanced preparation). Unlike Dan's six years of piano lessons which are largely forgotten (sorry, Mom), Joyce has honed her skills to bless the lives of many here in Sheldon.

Four Seasons

Winter has come to the United Kingdom as we have had gale force winds, lots of rain and even a snow 'skiff' or two to remind us that there are four distinct seasons. Each brings with it the joy of renewal and the appreciation to anticipate a new season's weather. Our little 'garden' area at our flat gives you an idea about the small amounts of snow the midlands receives as compared to back in Utah. We are anticipating an Arctic blast which will drop the temperatures all the way down to -4 C or 25 degrees this week along with up to 10 cm (less than 4 inches) of snow!

Hampton Court with David Jones

There are a great number of Joneses in the world, but David has to be one of the most dynamic and charming. He worked a decade for USA Today in Europe and then was a management consultant for a dozen years. David was a Bishop at 27 years old and a counselor to a hero of mine, President Brian Ashworth of the Ashton Stake outside Manchester. David jumped in to bring organization to The Christmas Truce as a member of the GB National Public Affairs Council. An afternoon was spent reviewing data regarding the event and then he gave us a tour of his neighborhood palace.

Elder Jones, Sister Jones and David Jones on a windy day at Hampton Court just off the Thames.

Sister Jones falls for a more animated, wooden man in the base court of Hampton.

Lady Catherine Howard, the fifth of Henry VIII wives, complaining about a gold chain just prior to losing her head... 'literally' we are told in history.

Hampton Court is a beautiful castle once occupied by Cardinal Wolsey until HenryVIII decided that the Lord Chancellor (Number 2 in the kingdom) was being a bit too grand for a Cardinal and the King needed his home. Once Wolsey could not obtain an annulment from the Pope for the King, he fell out of favour and was sent packing to York. Later Wolsey died of natural causes on his way back to London after being summoned to answer to the charge of treason.

Grace and Favour is a phrase that describes why this door in Hampton Court Palace has a commoner's name on it and is that person's official residence. The individual generally has serve the government or the royal family and as a token of esteem receives the apartment inside a palace free of rent for the balance of their lives. Not bad to have the postal code of Hampton Court Palace!

Dan and David in a courtyard by the kitchens where they would have invariably worked had they lived in the 1500s. Come to think of it... David would have worked in a more elevated position in the King's court and Dan would have been out in the fields somewhere. 

The entrance to the marvelous gardens at Hampton Court where guards clearly restricted passage in the days of Kings at the Palace.

Runnymeade

Just around the bend from the Palace is the famed Runnymeade acreage. This year the nation celebrates the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta which was issued by King John here at Runnymeade as a means of ending the rebellion of the barons that bristled from the demands of their King. Though originally a document that neither side honored and only meant to offer the titled any liberties it has been considered a forerunner to the American Constitution which certainly wasn't drafted as a 'universal' guarantee of rights of its citizens.

Nonetheless, the Magna Carta asserting that Kings had limited rights over any of their subjects was a novel idea in a day where Kings believed they were divinely anointed by God to rule with absolute power. It has been pointed out that the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta will be on display at the British Museum for the balance of the year. We are planning our time to try to see the exhibit later in the spring.

The Berkshires is a lovely part of England just outside London.

Harry Potter and the Dudley Family Home

David drove us around the corner from his home to share the famed residence of Harry Potter. Remember the Dudley family that kept Harry Potter under the staircase? That's the Dudley's house on the left (#12) without the fireplace that was digitally attached. This charming house along with the wooded areas around Bracknell is where many of the scenes for the movies were filmed.

Aren't we glad we are 'American tourists' and can be a bit cheeky by walking up someone's drive to take a photo of their home?

The with 'all' the Joneses

David and Debbie Jones treated us to dinner at the Golden Retreiver in the Berkshires. Debbie (an accountant and full-fledged Jones as her maiden name is also 'Jones') is delightful and has raised four outstanding children that are all active in the church.

Windsor

Windsor Castle goes back to William the Conquerer in the 11th Century and sits on a 13 acre site that is still distinctly Norman in architecture.

The Union Jack was flying but the Queen's standard was not up so she wasn't in residence for our visit. I'm sure she would have invited us in had she been home....

Windsor Castle sits majestically on the hill overlooking the town.

Christopher Wren, the famed architect, designed much of London including St. Paul's Cathedral in the late 17th Century following the great fire in the mid-1600s. One of the charming hotels in Windsor, The Christopher Wren, named in his honor is where we stayed the evening before traveling into London the next day.

Elder Jones outside Windsor Castle with the High Street in back of him.

On Eton bridge in Windsor that connects two parts of the town which is directly on the Thames River. Eton College is in Windsor and is famous as many of the elite of British society  (including the current Prime Minister) attended this public (really means 'private' in England) school prior to attending a university.

Paul Wilkins' Concert

We home teach 5 families whom we love and one of them is the Wilkins family. Paul is a gospel doctrine teacher that prepares and gives outstanding lessons with a wealth of background information. Carol just accepted the calling of Primary Chorister although she has little musical background as compared to Paul who sings as a member of a Welsh Mens' Choir. They have three children.

Paul and the mens' choir performing at the St. James Church in Mere Green where their music was sensational in the lovely little chapel. The Welsh tradition of choirs is deep and rich as their director is a famous English musician and conductor who directs the choir as a 'side-career" because it is an honour to be associated with a Welsh Men's Choir. It may be interesting for you to note that the choir performance raises funds for the St. James Church as Anglican Churches across England are struggling. With the exception of the Wilkins family, we were the youngest members of the audience... it's kind of like going to an assisted living centre to feel young again! It is interesting to note that the Church of England is dramatically aging as the young do not feel any reason to attend church, even at the traditional Christmas and Easter services.

Carol, Amy and Paul Wilkins at the concert 

Amy is a sweet, faithful young woman who reads her scriptures, attends her meetings and passed her annual seminary assessment with flying colours!

Ward Munch and Mingle

What is commonly known as "Linger Longer" at home in Utah is known as  "Munch and Mingle" here in the UK. As the Activity Chairman, Chairwoman and sole members of our 'ad hoc' Ward Activities Committee, we put together a little event following church on Sunday, 25th of January.

Joyce prepared two crockpots full of homemade soup (Tomato and Chicken Noodle) to which Sister Jolley added a Minestrone Soup for the ward. We added fruit (pineapple, clementines and grapes), fresh baked breads, cheeses and a sheet cake (thank heaven for Costco) to make a small snack for everyone. The response was wonderful as about 75 attended and commented, "We've never had such a healthy Munch and Mingle before." It is typical of Joyce as she said, "People are hungry at 1:00 p.m. after three hours of church and you just cannot serve them crisps and biscuits (chips and cookies)."

The Christmas Truce Results

Lindsay Hoyle MP taking part in The Christmas Truce in the Chorley Stake Centre where more than 1500 viewed the programme over two nights. The final tally for attendance are as follows:

Nearly 14,000 viewed The Christmas Truce

Over 2,500 community friends attended

41 Venues across the UK

6 MPs participated

More than 20 Mayors and Councillors attended

More than 20 positive articles in local press outlets about the Church-sponsored programme

This marvelous event was created from the vision of Martin Cook (NDPA), the skills of Russell Babidge of Southbay Design, funding support provided by Gabriele Sirtl of the Europe Area Public Affairs, organizational follow-through of David Jones and wonderfully responsive Stake Presidents. It will probably set the pattern for future special events created with wards/stakes in mind where they can use all or some of the graphics, video and music depending on their ability to present the programme.