Church Weekend Away

We left Hull Braves Guild early last Friday so that we could do our pick ups for the Church Weekend Away on time. We had arranged to take Val H. and Brenda S. We were right on 5pm at Brenda's house and shortly afterwards at Val's. There was the usual Friday evening traffic on the way to Beverley but after that, we made very good time. There was no evening meal arranged on Friday so late arrivals weren't penalised. So we went for fish and chips just round the corner from the hotel before we went and booked in.
The Green Gables Hotel was good for our purposes. There were plenty of rooms for us and games room, snooker room and swimming pool for those leisure moments. Not much had been arranged for Friday. The children had some play time and then the Roald Dahl version of "Cinderella" ably read by Hayley J. Then we had a question and answer session with our new Minister, Christopher followed by a short epilogue.
The next morning, our two car passengers were doing the early morning prayers. They asked me to take part. Barbara and I nearly didn't make it. We'd been awake several times during the night but "gone off" again and had to rush at 7.30. to be there for 8am. Quite a lot of people made it and Brenda really is a prayer warrior. Breakfast followed and then we had two sessions on Philippians Ch.1 lead by Carol McW. Plenty to talk about in both sessions.
The morning sessions finished around noon and then we were free until dinner time at 6pm. Our passengers joined us for the afternoon and we went up to Robin Hood's Bay. We had intended to call at a pub on the way for lunch but kept missing them! In the end, we went to the Victoria Hotel in Robin Hood's Bay. We were pleased that we had driven past all the others. The three ladies had a crab sandwich and I had a steak sandwich. Mine,in particular, was a misnomer. There was a bread roll on the plate but there was also salad garnish, coleslaw, onion rings, chips as well as loads of tender steak. We needed the walk down to the harbour and back up to burn some of the calories off. Mind you, we drove along to Ravenscar afterwards and walked to the cafe where the ladies had a cake with their drinks. I couldn't have eaten another thing, must have been the chips!

After dinner, there was a barn dance arranged by Margaret and Steve S. There was a very important Rugby League Match being played so our numbers were down as some people went to the pub to watch it on the television and one brave soul drove down to the KC Stadium to watch Hull FC lose out in the play-off semi final game. They missed a good evening. Some of the children joined in causing chaos in the dances as the difference in height made it more difficult than usual to keep track of the steps! We also had "Snow White and the seven dwarfs" by Roald Dahl as a bedtime story.

I had been asked to take part in a sketch and was rehearsing it with the other participants in the TV room when the epilogue started next door. Didn't feel too bad as Rev'd. Christopher was in the sketch and missed the start too! After the epilogue some of us went round to the bar for a drink before bed.

Not wanting to get caught out again, Barbara had set the alarm on her mobile so that we were awake in plenty of time for the Communion at 8am. Of course, we then waited for the thing to go off. Still we had time to bathe and get down in time. I always enjoy the closeness to God that I feel with these quiet services. Afterwards, it was breakfast time and then a service lead by Margaret and Steve. We then had some free time until lunch at 1pm so we went for a walk up into the park behind the hotel. There is a great view from up there over Scarborough.

Brenda's husband had come up to spend the afternoon with her so we only had Val to take home. Again we made good time and, after a call at Morrisons for petrol and some bread, we were home by 3.30pm. There was a celebration service at 6.30pm and we went. It was a very good end to the weekend. The sermon was short but to the point, the choice of hymns/songs excellent and we certainly felt uplifted and very, very challenged by the whole weekend. As I said to some of the people who were remarking on the part I'd played "Now I've just got to become as good as people think I am"