Zzzzzzzzzzz!

Home after an amazing weekend at Holland House, for part of the Mission-shaped Ministry course.
We covered so many topics in 23 hours:-

• Spirituality
• Gospel & culture
• Engaging with your community
• What is church 
• Handling setbacks
• Small groups
• Worship
• Prayer. 

If it sounds exhausting, it probably was!  However, the material was so well written that we were constantly being challenged, inspired and encouraged. Time limits did not allow us to cover all the material in each module, which leaves us with plenty to work on before we meet again.

One session included chocolate & theology. I think most of us loved the concept, but as it was sandwiched between cake and dinner, I was grateful that twirl bites were on offer. You can always manage one (or two) of those!






Holland House is a familiar venue, as for the last four years I have attended the Readers Weekend held there. This was the first time I had stayed in the older part of the house. The staff kindly left a large Pooh Bear in our room to keep us company. The KHT was disappointed that I did not plan to bring it home.

Don't look down Pooh...!

Opposite our room is a Winnie the Pooh themed toilet, and I am now starting to regard the Bear in a completely new light...










It was strange being at Holland House with a group of people the majority of whom I didn't know, but we were all in the same boat, so that made it easy to chat.

The food, as usual, was excellent. Despite being conservative with my portions, I still ate far more than I normally do! Three cooked meals a day, is two more than I am accustomed to consuming!

We did get a few hours free time on Saturday afternoon, to allow all the information to percolate. My husband had never seen the river, so we duly clambered down to the landing stage, but no boats passed by.

We wandered on, up the main street of the village, crossing the road according to the vagaries of the footpath, before heading back to the sanctuary of our room, and I had a sneaky nap, while my husband read the course notes. We are very different...



On Sunday morning we were divided into eight groups and given a few minutes to put together elements that would combine to create a short service of Holy Communion within our context. DH & I were given 'senses', and borrowed the large basket of fircones from beside the fireplace in the lounge. We felt they would link in well to the intercessions - world-shaped - many parts the body of Christ - unique - imperfect like us - contains seeds...  
We put on our coats and went outside. For the confession/absolution element, we poured water over our hands and dried them. I was glad the water was warm! We repeated scripture, listened to music, prayed for those in need whilst holding a fir cone in the palm of our hand. We shared the Eucharist. We felt the wind, were grateful for the sun, looked up at the trees circled around us and returned to the warmth of the building.

After a final session, it was time to head home as the light was fading from the sky. Strangers transformed into fellow travellers, both physically and spiritually.


At tea time on the first day, I discovered I was sat next to a lady whose son had autism.  Later my husband and I were chatting with two other ladies, both of whom had experience of having autism in their households.  The next morning, autism came up in conversation at the breakfast table, and one of the speakers had a son who was autistic... I may not have physically taken my daughter with me, but autism accompanied me in a way I did not anticipate. Life is full of surprises!