News

Believe – Live in Concert!

On Saturday 28th June West End musical theatre came to Knaresborough URC when the audience were treated to a preview of a new show called ‘Believe’ directed by Dominic Carter, son of one of the members of KURC and now working in London as a musical director, musician and composer following studying at the Royal Academy of Music. The show featured Thomas Spencer-Wortley and guests Gillian Ford and Gemma O’Duffy. Thomas has performed all over the world singing a wide range of pieces from opera to jazz including musical theatre. Gillian will be joining the cast of ‘The Sound of Music’ in the West End where she will cover the part of Maria. Gemma joined the company of ‘We Will Rock You’ where she played the part of Scaramouche, the lead girl and then went of to play Rusty in ‘Footloose the Musical’.

The programme for the evening had something for everyone – ranging from solos by all three of the performers, such as ‘The Rose’, ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Somebody to Love’. Spectacular as each solo was it was when the three combined to sing medleys from ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Joseph’ that the power and quality of their voices and the talent of the accompanying musicians really shone.

As soon as the final bars of the Joseph medley had been sung the audience was on its feet as one in a standing ovation – these are four young people with a huge amount of talent and who will undoubtedly go on to have glittering careers in musical theatre!

The concert was held to support the work of our Missionary Partners, Pam and Martin Scott, in the Philippines and a total of £463 was raised to help them in their work amongst the disadvantaged people of that country.

 

 

Pentecost Balloons

On Pentecost Sunday (11th May) the congregation at KURC released 100 helium filled white balloons to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. The tag on each balloon read ‘Receive gifts from God’ and this is the story of what happened to one of those balloons!

5,4,3,2,1,Go!!!

Up, up and away!

Where did they go?

On Wednesday 14th May KURC received an email from a lady in Co. Down, Northern Ireland to say that she had found one of our balloons on a little remote beach called Sand Eel bay near the village of Cloughey. She said in her email: ‘It was a lovely thing to find, especially with its reminder of Gods gifts to us. A walk on this lovely stretch of shore on such a lovely day was definitely a lovely gift, and not one that any of us can grant.’
Our balloon had travelled 165 miles before it was found!

Sand Eel Bay Co. Down, Northern Ireland

Sand Eel Bay Co. Down, Northern Ireland

Click to enlarge this image

Roast Lunch

Several of our fellowship gathered for a roast lunch provided by Edythe and Janet.

They were joined by our minister Bob and his wife Anne.

Here are some of the happy guests, and also evidence that Bob threw himself into the presentation himself.

Induction of the Reverend Bob Jones.

Saturday 12th January 2008 was an important and exciting day for Knaresborough United Reformed Church and for our sister church, Bilton Grange, when Rev. Bob Jones was inducted to the joint pastorate.

The service took place in the Knaresborough church, led by Rev. Arnold Harrison, Moderator of the Yorkshire Synod, with representatives from the Synod, the two churches, Bob’s previous churches (St Aidan’s Hexham and Haltwhistle), and other churches in Harrogate and Bilton. The sermon was preached by Rev. Rowena Francis, Moderator of Northern Synod. Worship was led by the choir and worship band of Knaresborough URC and by the Junior Churches of both churches.

At the reception afterwards, held at King James’s School, Bob and his wife Anne were presented with gifts from the congregations and the Junior Churches.

The planning of the service and the reception took a lot of hard work by many people, but it was all well worth it and gave a fine start to Bob’s ministry.