My main task, during March, has been to prepare the material for our own Mothering Sunday Service, on March 14th; this went very well, and the people who either attended it, or read it, seem to have enjoyed it. Roger provided the technical support for the service---no easy task---but all went off smoothly; we had sound when we needed it and not when we didn't, and some excellent photographs, into the bargain; thank you, Roger. Padiham Unitarians offered a taster-course for those interested in the technical side of Zoom services, which Roger found both interesting and helpful, and Robert Foreman, who ran the course, was of great assistance with our service; thanks to him, too. We enjoyed four readings from excellent readers; it's good to hear different voices, from time to time. Much to my surprise, and with a little help from their father, both my daughters attended the service, and enjoyed it, too!

Roger and I have attended the services at Padiham and Bury, on other Sundays in March; they dovetail nicely! On Easter Sunday, I have been asked to take the service at Blackpool, and this will be in-person; the material is nearly ready, with only one or two items left to complete. Unfortunately, this means that we will not be able to attend either Bury's service, or Ainsworth's, on that day, but our thoughts will be with both congregations.

Discussions about my contributions to the GA Annual Meetings continue; some of the portions are to be recorded, in advance, just in case, and it is seeming more likely than not that I will, finally, be installed as President; I will not , however, have the Presidential regalia, on the day, as this must remain with Celia Cartwright until she has finished chairing the Meetings and formally relinquished her post; it will then be couriered to me, and my Vice-President's medallion will be couriered to Sue Woolley. On the day, the installations will probably take place, between 4 and 5 p.m.; I will then conduct the Closing Devotions, so there is a fair amount of devising and writing to be done, before then; decisions are not completely in place; I will let everybody know, once I've been informed.

Preparations for our Congregational AGM have occupied my time, these past few weeks, and I'm most grateful to Kate for all her help with printing, collating, and distributing required material; Hopefully, all the extra work will prove to have been worthwhile---and maybe we shall have learned how to streamline our future AGM's. Thank you to everyone who voted, and for doing so in a helpful, constructive way; all compliments have been appreciated!

Once again, I thank Kate and Ade for all their hard work, this month; we have very much enjoyed Kate's Tuesday Meditation services and found them restful and soothing. All the usual weekly services continue, but it is no easy feat to produce services suitable for zoom and to be read at home, and April should bring in-person services, too. If our Easter Sunday re-opening should prove permanent, this will represent a huge and positive step. I really am looking forward to seeing many of the Bury folk, at church, in the very near future; in the meantime, Roger and I send you all our love and very best wishes.

Click here to read all Anne's diary entries since her installation

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