The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,

It is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction

of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying

That the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.

No prayer fully expresses our faith,

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness,

No programme accomplishes the church’s mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted,

knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realising that.

This enables us to do something,and to do it very well.

It may be incomplete,

but it is a beginning, a step along the way,

an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results,

but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.
Prayer of Oscar Arnulfo Romero, 1917-1980.

week 1 – serve

thursday 19 april – 7pm – community meal: Sam & Dave’s

sunday 24 april – 10.30am – gathering: Florence Park, Family Robineau

week 2 – care

thursday 26 april – 7pm – community meal: Maison de Lott (R&T’s!)

saturday 28 april – going to….http://www.thestillpoint.org.uk/soilandsoul2012

sunday 29 april – nothing on this day

week 3 – justice

thursday 3 may- 7pm – community meal: Ali&Debs

sunday 5 may – 10.30am – gathering: southpark, Sam

week 4 – teach

thursday 10 may – 7pm – community meal: Ginny

sunday 13 may – 10:30 community conversation, convent

week 5 – preach

thursday 17 may – 7pm – community meal: volunteer needed!

sunday 20 may – 10.30am – gathering: ascension kite flying

week 6

thursday 24 may – conversation: Tom & Abi’s

sun 27 may – day retreat in Chalgrove

week 7

time and space for family and friends

…the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness…

and us in to Brasenose woods, well-managed to encourage the wilds of life.

It’s the 1st Sunday in Lent. Readings about temptation, wilderness, a voice from heaven, the kingdom coming near. We learnt a new song in Homebase carpark (very ‘thin’ place, if ever there was one) while we waited for people to arrive, then headed off into the woods with directions chosen by our 4 year olds.

We followed an Iona Community wee worship, but injected our improvisation after the readings.

A tree grows. Branches form and give it shape. Each branch a decision, an intervention, an accident?

Look at a tree today, where is it’s growth? Is it pleasing? To understand why you need to have seen it grow. Trees can change, themselves, or by surgery. And there’s always the unthinkable hope of the other side, of fruit, nut, seed being reborn in new soil.

We found trees that spoke to our own stories, of self, community, faith. We marked them out in silver to reflect our hope. We looked for things we could do, and we looked for signs of things we could see happening that we just need to wait for.

See photos

(we removed the tin foil after our improvisation!)

week 1

thursday 23 february – 7pm – community meal: Toby’s, TREES (Toby)

sunday 26 february – 10.30am – tree themed gathering: meet Homebase car park

week 2

thursday 1 march – 7pm – community meal: John & Emma’s, SHEEP (John)

sunday 4 march – 10.30am – gathering: South Park, John

week 3

thursday 8 march – 7pm – community meal: Ali & Debs’, STARS (tbc)

saturday 10 march – early evening, Chalgrove – gathering to see stars and worship, Sam

week 4

thursday 15 march – 7pm – community meal: Rich & Tracey’s, ANGELS (Ginny)

sunday 18 march – time and place tbc – gathering, Toby

week 5

thursday 22 march – 7pm – community meal: Abbie & Tom’s, CROSS (Sam)

week 6

thursday 29 march – 7pm – community meal: Sam & Dave’s, RISEN CHRIST (Kate)

sunday 1 april – 11.15am – gathering: Bethlehem Chapel, Andrea

week 7

friday 6 april – good friday walk (time and place tbc)

week 8

‘week 7′ time and space for family and friends

thursday 5 january – 7pm – community meal: Toby’s, resource: tbc

sunday 7 january – 10.30am – gathering: South Park, John

week 2

thursday 12 january – 7pm – community meal: Ginny’s, resource: Ginny

sunday 15 january – 10.30am – gathering: Florence Park bandstand, Toby

week 3

thursday 19 january – 7pm – community meal: Ali&Debs’, resource: Sam

sunday 22 january – 10.30am – gathering: Bethlehem chapel, Cara & Carolyn

week 4

thursday 26 january – 7pm – community meal: Rich&Tracey’s, resource: Abbie&Tom

sunday 29 january – 2.30pm – gathering: Bury Knowle Park, Ali

week 5

thursday 2 february – 7pm – community meal: Sam&Dave’s, resource: Toby

sunday 5 february – 10.30am – community conversation: Upton Rooms, Rich

week 6

saturday 11 february – 10.30am-3.30pm – mini-retreat: Kate’s house, Sam

week 7

time and space for family and friends

Creative reflections on experiencing the spiritual autumn when God feels not so near. Following discussions on Brian McLaren’s book, Naked Spirituality, ch 16

sunday 18 december – 2.30pm – christingle service, Bethlehem Chapel followed by refreshments in the Upton Room

we will begin a new cycle in the New Year

A great Advent retreat at Offa House led by Ian Adams. Some words on what went on…

Lighting the way

• Annunciation: Do not be afraid. God is with us. Missio Dei. Perplexing.
• Baptism: Venerating fish.
• Transfiguration: Seeing people in a new light.
• Crucifixion: Sometimes all you can do is lie down with your dead God.
• Resurrection: Doubt. Disbelief. New life. What gives us hope?
• Ascension: Jesus on a plate. A gift or a loss.

…and some words on being creative

Do things your way. Be brave and make the first mark.

Thanks mayBe for a lovely, refreshing weekend.

week 1

thursday 27 october – 7pm – community meal: John & Emma’s, resource: Sam

sunday 30 october – 10.30am – gathering: South Park

week 2

thursday 3 november – 7pm – community meal: Rich & Tracey’s, resource: John

sunday 6 november – 10.30am – gathering: Florence Park Bandstand

week 3

thursday 10 november – 7pm – community meal: Sam & Dave’s, resource: Doerthe

sunday 13 november – Remembrance Sunday (tbc)

week 4

thursday 17 november – 7pm – community meal: Ali & Debs’, resource: Ali

sunday 20 november – 10.30am – all community conversation: The Mish

week 5

thursday 24 november – 7pm – community meal: Doerthe & Jan’s, resource: Sam

sunday 27 november – 2.30pm – Eucharist: Bury Knowle Park

week 6

thursday 1 december – 7pm – community meal: Cara’s, resource: Tracey

sunday 4 december – 10.30am – gathering: Bethlehem Chapel

week 7

friday 9 – sunday 11 december – mayBe advent retreat: Offa House

sunday 11 september – 10.30am – gathering, South Park

monday 12 september – guardians meeting

week 2

thursday 15 september – 7pm – community meal: Ali and Debs’, resource: Jim

sunday 18 september – 2pm – outdoor Eucharist, Bury Knowle Park

week 3

thursday 22 september – 7pm – community meal: Jim and Annabelle’s, resource: Sam

sunday 25 september – 10.30am – gathering, South Park

week 4

thursday 29 september – 7pm – community meal: Ginny’s, resource: Rich

sunday 2 october – 3pm – Eucharist, outdoor chapel, Headington Quarry

week 5

thursday 6 october – 7pm – community meal: Sam and Dave’s, resource: Ali

sunday 9 october – 10.30am – gathering, Bethlehem chapel

week 6

saturday 15 october – time tbc – community meal: Abi’s (Reading)

monday 17 october – guardians meeting

week 7

time and space for family and friends