A frosty walk

After last week with illness, we set off this morning with children excited by seeing lots of icicles over the River Kent. 5 children and 3 adults walked round what is becoming a faviourite walk - levens Park. The last time the children came round the park was in the summer, when we were distracted by swimming in the river. This time the frost took our interest - and the salmon by the river bank. We were amazed by their size. The children also found huge peices of very thick ice.

It was a time to consolidate friendship, espcially for the children who do not see each other very often, and to talk about some changes that will be happening in our lives.

We saw God in the beauty of the countryside - the countryside, the salmon, the icicles, the deer and goats. After Christmas, it was good to reflect on the story of Christmas - still fresh in our minds, and the meaning for us as we walk with God in our daily lives - the different ways in which that is and will be fulfilled over the coming months.

The last couple of years have been a time of preparation for all those invovled in the walking church - and now our lives are moving forward with God. The preparation feels like it is to be put to use in the mission of God. The walks are not a 'church' in one sense, and yet they provide a time for both theological and personal reflection. They provide me with a sense of renewal and transformation.

Sickness...

We planned a walk for Mon 22nd Dec - with our children. However, our son was ill - so I couldn't make the walk. A shame, as the weather was glorious. We planned to walk between Christmas and New year instead.

This is one of the difficulties of a walking church - or maybe leading anything that is not so regular. It was a shame not to meet up, and I missed the walk, company and conversation. It would have been a great way to prepare our minds for remembering the birth of Christ - surrounded by His creation.

Yesterday, my family and some friends went on a boxing day walk just north of Kendal - I thought it might give a new walk for the Church. It didn't start too well - it felt like we were walking through a rubbish dump - a farm that was not so well kept. It also went quite close to the A6. However, after half a mile or so it was glorious, then half way round we came to the River Sprint - an amazing site. So we sat and had our drinks here.

The walk would be good for adults, but a short part of it goes along the A6 - so not so good for the toddlers.

A walk in the snow

Friday 5th December
The Christmas spirit is here – snow had fallen in Kendal and our walk round Seizergh postponed – the back roads are lethal with black ice – instead we met on Windermere road at the north end of town for a walk round the golf course. It was cold, crisp and incredibly beautiful. However, we soon got into difficulties – the snow was compact where the children had sledged – and the steep slopes of the hills were ice – but we were not deterred and determined to reach the top to view the amazing sights over Kendal. After much slipping and sliding, we reach the top and look back over Kendal – the town was covered by mist and only the snow covered hills were visible – the backdrop to our walk.

The conversation picks up where we left off after the last walk together – pondering where God is taking the church – and us. We explored the theology of mission in more depth. Looking at some biblical examples – such as Paul’s ministry of moving on and leaving local people to find local leaders to develop churches as they develop. We considered the model of the inherited church – small churches with only a few members still trying to model the structures and patterns of the larger church – weekly services in large buildings, hoping for ‘their own minister’ to ‘do’ church for them – the cycle of running programmes that are outreach or social action, but not linking this to evangelism. We discussed what the role of ‘being’ is, rather than ‘doing,’ and how more laypeople might be empowered to speak more of their faith and pray with each other.

Over coffee in a house afterwards, we looked at the role of cross cultural mission, in a practical example of a local project that is developing by one person who joined us for coffee. We discussed how communities are formed, what holds them together and how there is a need for the inherited church to work with and alongside those who will not naturally find a place in the inherited church – and of course, how the resources can be made available for this missional work.
The walk again felt like it had the potential to be a church – although it does not yet have all the characteristics of a church that are mentioned in Acts 2 – we share fellowship, prayer (in the sense of informal sharing and support), and food – but not sacraments. Maybe this is not important – but the coming together at separate times for lunch, coffee etc will be our breaking of bread.

Levens Park

28 November Friday – Walk round Levens park.

The day was crisp as we met by the back entrance to the park. A baby was put in his backpack and the dog called – then we were off. We met a man who looked very interested in the trees – not sure what he was doing, but only a handful of other people came our way. We explored the park further today – the children that sometimes come being at school, and the toddlers not coming – infact only 2 adults, both Christians, but the discussion was deeper than usual.

We explored the nature of the church – a natural discussion – a topic that affected the lives of those present. Some of the conversation was very personal, and other parts more general. We spoke of the way in which the parish system of one minister in one church had worked during Christendom, but that the Anglican church is now beginning to model itself on the Methodist circuit system as they have a reduced number of ministers – yet this system is not as effective now – and the Methodists are facing the prospect of even fewer ordained ministers.

It led to the discussion focusing on what the role of church is, and what the role of a Christian is – is Christianity about social action, evangelism, is it a personal faith – where the minister ‘does’ the church stuff and the rest follow on, attending services and doing good deeds.

The discussion that occurred during this glorious walk was both ecclesiological and missiological. We were concerned with the structures of the inherited church – how these are changing and the effects on church life and the role of ministers.

It was a missiological discussion as we were concerned with how we are called to make disciples of Christ - and how this is changing with the change in culture and society. In effect, we were wondering if the structures of the inherited church can allow missiology to take place with any great effect.

Much of the discussion was of a personal nature – about where we find ourselves within the inherited church, our frustrations and expectations. It was a walk where we were able to reflect on where God was taking us. Which path we were following. It was challenging, as we didn’t agree with each other on lots of issues, but encouraging that we are not alone in our struggles.

The walk took us along a river, and we saw a herd of goats, and lots of deer - I took pictures and when I discover how to put them on the blog I will – it was an enriching time, both in being part of the nature that God has created, and in our discussions and deliberations, that energised us for our daily walk with God. We finished back at the cars with flasks of tea/coffee and biscuits.
It was perhaps the first time that I thought our walks could become part of a church life – though not in the way I originally thought – but as part of something else – meeting up for lunch, time for the children to play together, worship and fellowship as part of our daily lives.

What makes church, church?

I have been reflecting on what makes a church, church – and why we began a walking church. I think one of the reasons the church is feeling less and less like a church is due to a fine weather walker such a small group. At the beginning I thought the walking church would probably be a summer only church – and either this is the case, or we walk whatever. As a result, we have arranged to go for a longer circular walk around Levens Park.

Pooh Sticks

Fri 7th River Kent and Pooh sticks

We met together for a short walk by the river, with 3 toddlers and a baby. We played pooh sticks together which the children thought was wonderful, before walking in the local park and going to the swings. The friendships are growing now, with trust continuing to build, but I feel like the purpose of meeting is moving further away from eventually developing into a church. We support each other, provide friendship and opportunities for the children to play, but we are not a church – or even nearly a church – even if you view church without the normal structures and organisation. God is not really the reason why we are meeting – and somehow this needs addressing if the group is going to emerge into some form of church rather than a support structure based on friendship.

Don’t get me wrong – it is great to meet up and we all gain a lot from it – but was God at the centre of our time together – how do we pray together and learn about God? I need to think again.

Play time

Oct 8th
The weather is still bad – so we decided on a play time for the children rather than a walk. The two families came round to our house – and we spent time supporting each other. We discussed baptism, and whether children should be baptised – and what about baptism for children if the parents do not believe in God? Should parents baptise their children to get a greater chance of their child being offered a place at a church school? We didn’t have any answers, but it did focus our thoughts on the role of sacraments in Church.

Although we are enjoying meeting together – it still does not seem like a church – I am pushing this agenda, not the others – and I am not sure how to take this forward. Not all the group are so keen on the walks – especially in the rain that is almost daily at the moment. Meeting at home will not let us meet new people – but then the rain would probable stop that anyway. A bit disillusioned about walking church….

Swimming Church???

Wed 17th Sept
Rain, rain, go away – we are considering turning the walking church into a swimming church, there has been so much rain – we cancelled one walk earlier in September as the rain was just too heavy. Today we brave the rain, but as pre-school children are coming we stay very local with a short walk around the castle and then to the park for a play, before drinks and biscuits back at my house.

It was a good chance to catch up with each other and support each other – but it was not a theological discussion in any shape or form – I am wondering if reading a traditional story actually works for this group – and if this is what an emerging church is about. The group still don’t like to pray out-loud, and if we are praying at all, it is really talking about the things that are challenging to us, and God being a part of this discussion. What makes a church church? I had hoped that we would meet others when we were walking – and maybe invite others to join us for bacon butties – but this has not happened, and in this weather no-one wants a picnic outdoors! I am not sure if a walking church will actually emerge from this, but we wait to see….

The aim of the creating a walking church developed from the difficulties of taking children to church on a Sunday morning, and from the need to be with God in the places that we naturally find ourselves. As I enjoy walking (short walks of course) and live in such an amazing place, I decided to see if others would also like to see if church can be a reality in such a different environment. I found a few others who are in similar work and family positions to myself – and we have now had quite a few walks together – some with children aged 2 to 11 years, and sometimes only with the few adults that are taking this journey with me.

One of the challenges for me is maintaining the blog – having never ‘blogged’ before, and keeping journals only for personal use – it is a new way of being for me - and as you can tell, I have not kept the blogs upto date – so I am catching up from my personal diary of our journey so far.

We wanted to make a church that does not have the structures of the inherited church – being church by doing what we love, meeting others through our walks, spending quality time together rather than an hour or so each Sunday morning, exploring the Bible and praying together. We have a long way to go….