Craig’s Corner
From Craig, – Associate Priest
At the Annual St Aidan’s Parish Retreat on 17-19 June around 50 people enjoyed a mid-winter Christmas theme as the background to a weekend spent in fellowship, worship and learning.
From making our own Christmas decorations on Friday night, to a mid-winter Christmas meal on Saturday night and exchanging presents in the presence of a very youthful-looking Santa a great deal of fun was had with this theme.
Our speakers, Karen Spoelstra and Chris Clarke gave us a lot to think about and generated plenty of discussion during our morning sessions as they opened up the book of Amos for us, gave us an overview of the lives of Susanna Wesley and William Wilberforce, as examples of two people in very different circumstances whose lives made a significant impact on their world, and then on Sunday Chris had us working in groups using lego to represent what we thought church should be like. (He assured us that this is a technique he uses with CEOs in the leadership course he teaches at Oxford University – J).
The wet weather did not dampen people’s enthusiasm and energy and a few youngsters enjoyed the challenge of the climbing wall on Saturday afternoon while in the main space of the gym an impromptu soccer game broke out among the adults, some of whom proved to be more than a little competitive. Lorraine Vercoe was the player of the game, a standout goalie who was as solid as a rock and would not let the opposing team score.
Throughout the weekend our worship was led by the 11:15 music team and we appreciated their ministry.
As in previous years, those who came to camp enjoyed the opportunity to make new friends, to enjoy the company of old friends and to be challenged, encouraged and inspired in their Christian life.