Mrs. Margaret Gillan, writes…

Revd. Mary Taylor and I attended the Women’s Anglo German Gathering, or WAGG at Ford Castle in Northumberland. This year there was also a representation from the Northern Synod and four young people from Yorkshire who led us in worship each morning with their praise and music.  It is hoped that in two years time a group of young people from Germany may also join us.  Although the weather could have been kinder and our boat trip round the Farne Islands was cancelled twice, sitting in the lounge with good company and a roaring log fire at night certainly helped to block out the rain.

 The theme of the week was ‘In the Footsteps of the Saints – what effect do they have on our lives?’  We looked at the lives of St. Cuthbert and St. Aiden, who both resided at Lindisfarne and then at the lives of Edith Stein from Poland who lived and worked during WW1 and Dorothee Solle, from Cologne during WW2.  We discussed their lives, their work and their beliefs.

 A new format of visits has been set; visits will still be every two years, but a three-way rotation with Britain, East Germany and West Germany.  It will be back in Britain in 2017.  Our thanks go to the Synod and to Women’s Union for their kind donations towards our costs for this event. It is wonderful to be able to meet with women from other backgrounds and to find our differences and our similarities, to meet with them and give and receive hospitality in our homes.