eco-discipleship & spirituality weekend - a few places still left - HURRY!

DIOCESE OF CHELMSFORD
‘LET US BE HUMAN’
eco-discipleship & spirituality weekend

FRIDAY 24 – SUNDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2010


AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A SPIRIT-PROVOKING WEEKEND AT THE WONDERFUL RINGSFIELD HALL RE-CONNECTING OUR LIVES WITHIN GOD’S GOOD CREATION.


THE WEEKEND WILL FEATURE:.

SEMINARS AND TALKS;
GAMES AND ROLEPLAYS;
PRAYER AND SINGING;
BEAUTIFUL WALKS;
CRAFT & CHILLOUT SPACE;
ANIMALS;
LABYRINTHS;
AN EVENING AROUND THE CAMPFIRE!;
AND PLENTY MORE!...

ALL ALONGSIDE GOOD FOOD AND EXCELLENT COMPANY IN A FABULOUS COUNTRY HOUSE ON THE SUFFOLK/NORFOLK BORDERS.
WILL IT FEATURE YOU?
YOU ARE INVITED TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN, CALLED TO BE GOOD NEWS IN YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT!

*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TRANSPORT, FOOD AND OTHER COSTS WILL BE MET. YOU ARE REQUESTED, HOWEVER, TO BRING WITH YOU YOUR OWN BEDDING (IE. QUILT COVER, BOTTOM SHEET, PILLOWCASE) AND TOWELS.

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEKEND

FRIDAY

Late afternoon Depart home – details below†
9.00pm (approx.) Arrival – tea/coffee, introductions, prayers, chill† & bed


SATURDAY

8.00am Breakfast
9.00am ‘Crisis? What crisis?’ – starting to explore…
11.00am Coffee break
11.30am ‘Being in a disciple in God’s whole world’ – going deeper…
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Prayer walk, labyrinth, meeting the animals, ‘magic spots’
3.30pm Tea break
4.00pm ‘Living it out at Ringsfield Hall’
6.00pm Supper
7.00pm Free time†, including time around the camp fire!


SUNDAY

8.00am Breakfast
9.00am ‘Practicing the Communion of all Creation’ – how shall we live?...
11.00am Coffee break
11.30am Holy Communion, with craft and contributions…
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Depart for home


† Chill/Free time – there is plenty to absorb you at Ringsfield Hall – games room, 14 acres of grounds, reading rooms, strawbale house, craft barn, chill-out loft…and plenty more!

† Transport will be via minibus or car. Details of pick-up points will be sent to you.

Eco-Spirituality and Discipleship Weekend

Eco-Spirituality and Discipleship Weekend
25/26 September 2010
Ringsfield Hall, Norfolk

As part of a series of environment-focussed projects in the Diocese of Chelmsford, we are looking to recruit THIRTY young adults and teenagers to come and learn more about what our Christian faith has to say about God's good creation and how to live what we believe about His love for the whole world.

Those who will grow into adulthood in this generation are facing the prospect of a natural environment reeling from shocks and devastation which have been visited on it by the last couple of generations. How can we learn to draw on our faith to live more wisely and lovingly and to see God's redeeming work extending even to the ends of the earth?

This weekend will feature seminars and talks, games and roleplays, prayer and singing; it will feature the beauty of walks in the countryside around Ringsfield Hall, good food and excellent company. Will it feature YOU? You are invited to grow as a Christian, called to be good news in your own environment!

All costs for this experience will be covered, so it is entirely FREE from your perspective. This is to include:
• coach travel to and from Ringsfield Hall from a number of pick-up points in east London and Essex;
• accommodation in comfy, shared rooms;
• full board, beautiful food for all our time away;
• ...and some other goodies!

Ages 13 - 25.

If you are interested in going - or even in just finding out more, at this stage - please contact Paul Trathen, Bishop Laurie's Advisor for Faith in Action, who is coordinating and helping to lead this weekend event. You can reach him on 01268 766766 or paul.trathen@btopenworld.com

What are you waiting for?!?! Sign up before all the places are gone!!!

Fr Paul Trathen
Faith in Action Adviser
Bradwell Area Team

Diocesan Eco-Essay - win a trip to Copenhagen!

ECO-ESSAY COMPETITION

• Are you a Christian?
• Are you aged between 18 and 29 years old?
• Are you passionate to make a difference in God’s precious world?
• Would you like to be a part of one of the most significant events of our time?
• Could you be an ambassador and champion in our Diocese of churches?

“Yes!”.....?
…then this Eco-Essay competition is for you!

December's UN climate summit in Copenhagen will shape the way the world combats climate change. It’s vital an effective deal is done for the sake of the planet which is God’s good creation and for the millions in the poorest countries who are suffering the effects of climate change now.
Chelmsford Diocesan Environment Group (DEG) is pleased to be able to offer to pay to send
FIVE DIOCESAN DELEGATES to Copenhagen.

Could you be one of the five?!?...

If so, you will be joining a group from Christian Aid, for a packed itinerary!...

Friday 11th
• Travel from UK to Copenhagen, arriving in the evening for dinner and bed at a school, where basic accommodation will be provided in dormitory-style.
Saturday 12th:
• Participate in large civil society march from Copenhagen city centre to the Bella Centre, where the United Nations climate change talks are taking place. You will be marching with Christian Aid partners who have come to take part in the talks and campaigners from all over the globe.
Sunday 13th
• Participate in an event, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu will handover all the Countdown to Copenhagen pledges collected in the UK together with actions from across the globe to a representative of the UN. This event is being organised by Aprodev, the European coalition of which Christian Aid is a member.
• Participate in an ecumenical church service, at which the Archbishop of Canterbury will speak. The service is taking place in Copenhagen cathedral; we hope to join in via big TV screens nearby.
• Depart Copenhagen early evening. (time TBC)
Monday 14th
• Arrive back in the UK at various times!
So, what do you need to do to enter this competition and be one of the five?...

Simply write an essay of between 2000 and 2500 words, which addresses the following brief:


“Climate-change and sustainable lifestyles are vital issues for our shared future in God’s good creation.
What perspective and contribution can the Christian faith bring? And how do we raise up a prophetic generation of young people to live out this faith and make a difference?”



Submission deadline: Friday 13 November 2009

Entries will be judged by a panel of members from the Diocesan Environment Group.
The winners will be announced by the Bishop of Colchester on Friday 20 November 2009.

Please send your essay entry to Paul Trathen, the Bishop’s Advisor for ‘Faith in Action’, at:

Rawreth Rectory,
Church Road,
Rawreth,
Essex.
SS11 8SH

or

paul.trathen@btopenworld.com