Our Vows Service

We were delighted to gather with friends and family in St Mary's Church on Saturday to celebrate an important milestone in the life of the Gabriel Sisters.

Our Visitor, Bishop Peter Eagles, presided at the service of Holy Communion where he received the long-term vows of Maureen-Eunyce, (right) the renewal of long-term vows of Sue-Gabriel, our Foundation Sister and Claire-Aimée (centre) and the renewal of the temporary vows of Belinda-Marguerite-Mechtild. (left)

Maureen-Eunyce chose two hymns: 'O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder' and 'Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.' She also chose a reading from the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, the call of the child Samuel. The gospel reading was from the first chapter of Luke, relating the story of the birth of John the Baptist. Verse 19 provides the inspiration for our community: 'I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news...'

In his address, Bishop Peter spoke of his own experience of taking and renewing vows and how they have formed a framework for his life. He pointed out that 'paying an uncommon attention to the things of God,' being committed to prayer, to each other and to seeking to make a difference in the places we find ourselves, is a choice which runs against the tide of popular culture. He asserted that communities like the Gabriel Sisters have an important role to play in a society which so often focuses on what is instant, transient and superficial.

Belinda-Marguerite-Mechtild led the intercessions and Maureen-Eunyce sang the Lord’s Prayer by Albert Malotte.

The service ended with the hymn ‘Brother, Sister, let me serve you’ followed by Vidor’s Toccata and Fugue.

Our thanks to everyone who helped and enabled this special service.