In the middle of June, thirty members and friends of the church, ranging in age from 2 to 88, enjoyed a weekend together at Glenfall House, just outside Cheltenham. This was an informal time of fun, fellowship and relaxation as well as an occasion for reflection and spiritual nourishment. During the weekend we spent some time together thinking about mission and what it means to be a mission-shaped church. We played games, both in the wonderful grounds that there are at Glenfall and also indoor party games. We shared a film together (Enchanted) and there were opportunities for walking and a visit to the local playground, a chance to meet the horse on the farm next door, time to be quiet and enjoy the gardens, as well as time to sit and chat, make new friendships and deepen old ones. The weekend concluded with a time of worship together when we shared some of the things we had done and some of the things we had made, including the bread we had baked for communion.

To see some more pictures, please play the video clip below. If you have access to the members’ pages, there is also a much more extensive picture gallery available there.
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THINKING ABOUT GOD

Going away to think about God;
For a whole weekend?
How strange …. But, odd?

Meeting new people
Some old, like me,
Some very young and full of smiles
In a beautiful place ….
And thinking about God

All around us beauty
In flowers and trees, grass and stream,
Well groomed horses, peaceful cows,
Birds sweetly singing
All this coming from God

So perhaps it is not so odd
To go away and think about God

Helen Anderson
Written during our 2007 weekend

Our next weekend away is scheduled for 18th - 20th June 2010.

In the meantime, we have an away day on 7th February 2009.
See the notice board for further details.