Community Gossip from 2019

Gossip? In Old English, a “godsibb” was a godmother or godfather, from “god” plus “sib,” meaning “relative” (related to our modern “sibling”). It was later used to refer to companions in childbirth – people from the community who were there in difficult and celebratory times.

Here you'll find a list of things we've been doing/thinking/reading.

photo of bee art we created

mayBee!

We gathered in Florence Park as the weather signalled the turning seasons - it was dry on arrival and very wet as soon as we started worshipping huddled under the bandstand.  We celebrated Creation Time (a new church season to extend harvest to a wider reflection on our relationship with the natural world), making links to the Global Strike Climate Protest which some members had taken part in last Friday.  Extinction Rebellion use the bee as one of their symbols - dramatic declines in bee numbers threaten us all.

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Monday, September 23, 2019 - 12:00am
Enneagram diagram

mayBe book club

Facilitated by Tilly, Some of us have been meeting each month to explore the Enneagram together.

We have worked our way through a book, agreeing to read a few chapters between each meeting, with some supplementing this with podcasts, webs searches or other books on the subject. We gather together to share our thoughts, and try to discover kernels of truth that speak to us, challenge us, and need further chewing over.

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Monday, August 5, 2019 - 10:48pm
Photo of our gathering

German visitors

We had a surprise email from some German ecumenical rural church leaders, who were coming to a fresh expressions conference at CMS, asking if they could visit.  We gathered in Florence Park for worship and a picnic, so they could find out more about our life together.  We always feel complete frauds when people want to know about how we ‘do’ church!! We kind of make it up as we go along, learning from experience what seems to work and what doesn’t, gratefully receiving whatever anyone is able to offer into our life.

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Sunday, July 14, 2019 - 12:00am
photoo of spinners we made for pentecost

Summer 2019

In attempt to re-establish a ryhthm, mayBe aim to meet up monthly at Florence Park (near band stand) 10.30am every 3rd Sunday of the month. You, yes you, inquisitive website stumbler, would be very welcome to come along to any of our inclusive gatherings - please get in touch just in case plans change at the last minute. The default plan will be to use a liturgy from the Iona community's Wee Worship books and then have a play/coffee in the park, but we hope to embellish this structure as anyone is able to offer something more; we encourage eachother to bring what they can.

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Sunday, June 23, 2019 - 8:31am
colourful windmill

Camping June 2019

We met for our annual camping weekend at Bridge House just outside of Shillingford 14 - 16 June. We had a great turnout and some descent weather. Bridge House is part of the Northumbira Community and they have built a tiny chapel from an old shed where we joined them for some of their regular prayers, summoned by a bell. I love the chapel, it has only a few windows so it's dark and coloured by candles and the light that comes through the single stained glass window. It's a hidden place, a place of safety.

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Sunday, June 23, 2019 - 7:30am
Photo of kids on a walk

Spring 2019

Here's what we have planned so far in 2019

  • Not a meet up, but Sam shared a link to 99 good news stories you didn't hear in 2018 to fight off the chill of winter!

  • Sunday 6 Jan - we met up in Botley park for epiphany.

  • Sun 24 Feb 10:30am - Meet in Botley Park for one of our small and short informal gatherings including some songs, prayers, thoughts, playing and café visit. Thanks Sophie for organising!

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Sunday, February 10, 2019 - 11:22am