00:00So we're here at Colliegate Providence Methodist Church and Landmark Day really,
00:05last day of the service here. Not the last day of the church but so fill us in
00:10on who you are and what's happening today.
00:12Hiya, I'm Hannah. I have been coming to Providence for many many years and it's
00:17a very sad day as we say because it's closing but we are moving forward into a
00:22new venture just across the road with some of our current congregation.
00:27And Martin, you've got the honour of doing the last service. Well, there's an afternoon
00:30service as well. You're taking the morning one. Quite an honour isn't it really?
00:34It is. It's a historic day. I've had 44 years of involvement with Providence
00:40one way or another. Going back to the time when my father was a minister
00:44in this group of churches back in the 1980s and early 90s. So it's a sad day
00:51because it's the end of an era but there's hope for the future as well.
00:54This is not the end, it's just the beginning of the next part.
00:57So I'm looking at the building. It's obviously not a brand spanking new building.
01:00Is that kind of where the problem comes in? Why are we moving?
01:04The building is old but also our congregation is dwindling and the bills just keep going up as they do for everybody.
01:12Energy bills and so on. So it's bye-bye for this place but it's just over the road isn't it?
01:19It is, yeah. How many do you normally get on a regular congregation?
01:23Between 20 and 30 I'd say. Something like that.
01:27So there's some good numbers come out today to say goodbye.
01:31So the new services will start from when?
01:33The 10th of November at 10.20 over at the Laurels with Lighthouse Christian Community.
01:38Great stuff. And it must be a range of emotions you're going through, both of you today really.
01:43I guess first off just panic because I'm holding you up.
01:47But yeah it must be kind of... although the church is, you know, you come to love a place don't you?
01:54A place represents something so it must, yeah, like you say it must be sad, yeah?
01:57It's very sad, it is. And there are people that were coming with us over to Lighthouse
02:01but we're also going to not see some people as regularly as well which is really sad.
02:07Yeah and it's these focuses for the community isn't it that kind of, you know, in one form or another
02:13whether it be your local pub closing or your church, it's the places where we gather and we meet and
02:18but I'm glad that that's continuing in some form just over the road.
02:22Martin there'll be some special words I'm sure at the end of your service to mark the special day, yeah?
02:27Well there will. I mean I would make the point that God is all over this and he's got a message for
02:33the locality, this nation, everyone who's here this morning and yeah he's got a plan for our lives
02:40and we can all be part of it.
02:42Well thank you and thank you for letting us join you on this special day folks and good luck in the new venue.
02:48Thank you, thank you.
02:50174ish years but this is an obstacle, something that God has control of and knows what he's doing.
03:00Whether you're coming over the road next Sunday to Lighthouse with us or popping in when you have the chance,
03:04whether you're going to another Methodist church or finding another denomination to explore,
03:09maybe you're going on a completely different path but God will guide you and look after you. Let's go.
03:15Congregation, who knows what the future holds for this building?
03:19You know Lord but we are dedicated to you just as this place has been dedicated to your worship
03:25for the last 60 odd years. Lord we too are dedicated to you and we give our lives, we offer our
03:36monetary gifts in your service, we offer ourselves, all that we have and all that we are and we offer
03:41you this day, we offer you our worship, we offer you our very mixed emotions, we give you ourselves
03:47and give you all the praise and the glory. Amen. And we sing together a hymn that is I think very apt,
03:57reminds us of God's faithfulness throughout the generations and it's Lord for the years.
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