Magazine for October 2009
A visit to Swanwick
I spent a week this summer exploring my faith at The Hayes Conference Centre at Swanwick, with The Methodist School of Fellowship.
The Bible Study theme was Sharing Stories. In one session we were encouraged to ‘close our eyes, breathe in the power of the holy spirit and breathe out any worries we might be laden with’ –preparing to transport ourselves to ‘the wedding at Cana’ and consider talking with Jesus after the fine wine appeared. I momentarily dozed! Having tentative plans of proposing to Jan, ‘the Love of my Life’ perhaps God encouraged me.
(In fact, a fortnight later I proposed under the stars at Whitby. Jan asked me to repeat the question before accepting! Wedding next year).
We had a ‘drumming’ session: 170 people of all ages were given a drum, and taught how to combine to make an impressive symphony – (no bookings yet!). There was a Silent Communion, Storytelling, Discussions, Analysis of Christian Art, and more.
The President was Inderjit Bhogal’, a theologian awarded an OBE for work in Inter-Faith Groups in UK. He cleverly included teenagers, getting them to introduce sessions.
He masterminded the closing Act of Worship: , singing the Alan Bell song ‘Bread and Fishes’ we processed to the lake, and shared communion of bread and small pieces of fish. The rain gave way to a lovely warm evening!
Please speak to me if you want more details: the next conference will be July 2011 !
Cliff Daniel