South Lakes Walking Church

Rydal Waters

2009-04-30T04:57:00.000-07:00

We went on the walk around Rydal waters, and to the cave - three of us. It was a beautiful day, the sun shone and the hills and lakes looked at their very best. The topic of our walk was moving on, with a good friend within the group moving a couple of days later. We reflected on Jesus moving on - his itenerent ministry.

It was a walk with an ending. The Walking Church will need to regroup now, and plans are already on their way, with new people interested. A new format will be developed with a reading/ focus at the beginning of the walk, and reflection at the end. The walking church is looking to become part of other networks of emerging churches in the area, including a church at Costa's in Bowness.

Rydal Waters

2009-03-17T03:47:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we head of for what will probably be the last walk with one person who began this journey with me, and has come to nearly all the walks. We are going to head round Rydal Water, and if the weather is as clear and warm as today, it should be fantastic.

Reflection...

2009-03-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

As the time comes nearer to writing up the walking church for the college assignment, my mind is turning to Theological Reflection - theology as a critical reflection on faithful practice. So reflecting critically on our walking church as a way of being church raises many more questions than it answers.

God has been central to our time together, and discipleship has for me been a rich experience of searching out answers to some difficult questions that do not sit comfortably in the institutional church. 'Theology emerges as a practical problem-solving and inductive discipline, which connects with practical issues in a way that illuminates and empowers...' (p 5).

The Walking Church has been an opportunity to experiement in a very small way other forms that church can take. It has highlighted many positives and also the difficulties with all forms of church life. It requires a drive from one or two people in the initial stages to become established - and a more regular pattern to the walk than we managed.

Over the last week I have been reflecting on other walks and journeys in the Bible - the Walk to Emmaus, the journey Jesus took to the garden of Gethsemane, the walk to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the walk Jesus took to his own death, the journey of the Israelites after leaving Egypt for the promised land - the examples are endless.

The time while walking or journeying to another place are rich times of personal reflection and communication with others. The process of getting to another place provides a rich time that is as valuable as is reaching the final destination. This is what is exciting about the cafe church - there is a long way to journey, but the journey is spiritually refreshing and engaging, with Christ at the centre as we move forward. The Walking Church is another form of deep spiritual refreshment.

Cafe Church

2009-03-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

One of the outcomes of the walking church is perhaps the confidence to stop talking about an emerging form of church and actually join one. The cafe church in Bowness began 5 weeks ago, meeting in Costas on a Sunday afternoon. We have been going as a family, and are excited about how this new form of church in South Lakes will emerge. We have been discussing how it will develop and move forward. Our children are enjoying going to church - and watching the dvds. Our older son was amazed that we would be able to watch films like Finding Nemo - he couldn't see how God could be seen in the film - that is, until we explored together the issues that the film raises.

My vision is now that the walking church will become a part of the cafe church - that different interest groups will form within the cafe church and we will all come together on the Sunday afternoon. Already one lady is very involved in a music group. Other groups might include football and film. I have moved from being very disillusioned about church to excited about the future.

I am longing to go out walking again - I have been away, and visitors came for a week. When work quietens down in a couple of weeks we will be out again.

Accessible.....

2009-02-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

I have been talking with a relative who was concerned that a walking church is not accessible to all - her view is that all should be able to go to church, and clearly those unable to walk distances would not find a walking church too helpful. It turned into a conversation about how accessible the inherited church is. For some people, the inherited church is their family - a place of support, encouragement and worshipping God. Yet I have met many people recently who are unable to access the inherited church for many reasons. Some because children have other committments such as sport or visiting another parent or relative, some because their partner is not a Christian and Sunday church is difficult, some because they work on a Sunday, and for others it is the only day for the family. For still others, the very model used by the inherited church makes the style, leadership and form of church inaccessible. In this pluaristic society we need differing forms of church - all ok in their own way. Differing forms of communities centred around Christ. Anthony Reddie speaks about what church is - I will go and do some reading.

Celtic Pilgrimages

2009-02-12T14:05:00.001-08:00

I am on the isle of Man at the moment, where there is a rich tapestry of viking and celtic heritage. I have been speaking to a couple who go on Keeill walks of prayer. These go to places of Celtic worship sites as a pilgrimage. Keeills are small, and so the communities must have worshipped God while in the open air. A facinating insight that a walking church is actually nothing new - the Celtic communities prayed where they were - the were incarnational - God was known to be everywhere.

Confusion and pain

2009-02-11T13:12:00.000-08:00

I love the concept of the walking church - I love the journey it has taken me on - I am able to be with God on our walks in a way I never (or rarely) engage with God in church services - but where is it leading? Am I on a lifeboat rowing away from the Titanic in order to survive and continue my journey of faith with God - or will the ropes between the boat I am on and the Titanic remain in-tact - and even become stronger with a richness developing between the inherited church and the emerging church. There is pain in the journey - a move away from inherited church in order to continue my discipleship with Christ. It is a pain I have heard in the voices of others, only recognised after a long period of struggle where no one seems to understand....

The Prodigal Son

2009-01-30T01:49:00.001-08:00

I am reading The Prodigal Son - one of the best books I've read that tells how others have been experimenting in worship, and gives some guidance - well ideas, pitfalls, and discusses what worship is (or isn't) - wish I'd read the Chapter New Approaches to Worship a year ago. Lots of ideas and pointer - worship as art, gettng it together, making a start, making room for God - complete with not just a summary of alternative worship that has worked, but also the pain and difficulty on that journey, and worship that has failed.

Moving on....

2009-01-24T13:54:00.000-08:00

21st Jan 2009 Moving on...

My walking buddie is moving away – I am upset... we began this walking church with 3 main adults, and their families. One person quickly became a ‘fair weather walker’ – and I am sure will enjoy some walks when the weather improves (Cumbria is very wet and cold at present). Still, we set of on Wed for what was the most beautiful of walks, through the Seizergh Castle estate and into the surrounding countryside. My friend – a friendship formed largely through our walks, is moving south in April. Yet I have gained so much through our conversations, enabling much reflection – though writing it on an on-line journal is a new experience, and one that I am just beginning to use more effectively.

On one level, this walking church has not met many of its objectives. It has not attracted other people to join, we have not read Bible stories together as often as I had planned, and we only take the children if we manage to walk at a weekend. These are for many reasons. A walking church that attracts others needs to focus as much around food as around walking. The original idea was to eat a meal together during the walk. The first time we did this – but it did not fit in with small children’s schedules... though others in the group loved it. Then the weather turned – the autumn was very wet in the Lakes, and stopping for food would not really have been the best move... We have also chosen a different route each time. This has provided a lot of variety and interest to the walks, but to form relationships, we would possibly need to go on the same walk at the same time each week – to meet others who do this, such as the dog-walkers. The children who came, including those in prams, also limited where we could walk and how the conversation could develop. Originally I had thought of weekends, but due to ‘church’ commitments, children’s activities and work, this has not happened as often as we would like.

So – where now? We will continue to enjoy our walks. I have been able to reflect on my own journey with God in a very positive way, but the walks need to be part of a larger network of believers. The last walk was reflecting on a review process that is about to be undertaken in my local church. My family and I have also been discussing how we can be an authentic community of believers . We are exploring if God is asking us to meet with a few others for a meal late on a Sunday afternoon, complete with a prayer tent, discussion areas, contemporary music etc. Not to attract others to us, but to worship God in a natural and authentic way. From this monthly gathering, interest groups might meet for normal activities – such as walking or going to the park. In these small groups, members will be accountable to each other and encouraged and challenged in their discipleship.

This is a different approach to the one I took when I began the walking church – it started largely as a college project, and most of my Christian friends who would join me on this journey do not live locally – part of the challenge of living in a rural area. But this needs to be a shared vision and journey.

‘I am convinced that no one can do this stuff alone. ... because I believe that the sharing of dreams, the overlaying of visions, the interweaving of relationships, and the struggles through difference and diversity are at the very heart of these ventures.’ – in The Prodigal Project, p49.

This book that I am reading is resounding very much to my journey – a sense of hurt, anger, frustration that the institutional church that I was very much a part of was not a place where I could live out my life in Christ - to come to understand over the last 5 years that this is not because I have a problem (as some within the institutional church would like to say) was a great release and relief – yet if an emerging church is to succeed, then others with the same outlook need to be found, and a joint vision emerge – that is where perhaps the walking church has failed the most – I have been going it alone.

2009-01-20T15:54:00.000-08:00

We are going for a walk tomorrow - round Seizergh. I am ready to get out and clear my head... so many things to think about, so many issues that the Church doesn't seem to get.... so many ideas for how a Christian community can be together in a post Christendom era, so many thoughts coming together about faith for us as a family.... maybe I will have space to think tomorrow.

Stories

2009-01-03T02:25:00.000-08:00

My son was watching as I posted my last blog - and he asked why we hadn't had a story (Bible) on our last walk - I asked if liked hearing stories on our walks, and he does. It was an insight into the way children think - God is with us all the time, not confined to inherited church. I don't think children think of inherited church as being the only place to meet with God - Church as a place to learn about God, worship God and meet with other Christians - this is learnt, with all the pressures to attend inherited church rather than being with God in our natural environments with others. Children have a natural ablility to have God as their friend in all places, they don't need to 'find' God.

A frosty walk

2008-12-30T13:18:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-12-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-11T08:51:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-12-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

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???

2008-12-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

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….

2008-12-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

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….

Levens Park

2008-08-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

We had arranged to go to Levens Park, 5 August 2008, but on the morning of the walk one family couldn’t make it due to illness. The walk was beautiful – the best of the three and very easy and safe for the children. The wildlife was amazing, loads of deer, goats, ducks and sheep – all within a couple of metres of where we were walking. We walked towards Levens Bridge and headed down to the river. The older children paddled and swam in the river, and threw stones.

We read Psalm? - thanking God for the gift of children (a new born baby was part of the group). We threw stones into the river to pray for the missing family and to thank God for different things. The children shouted out their thanks and prayers.

Kendal Castle

2008-08-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

Our walk took us up Kendal Castle on 21st June 2008. It was a rainy Saturday morning. One of the original group members could not join us, but another family did. Some of the children played hide and seek in the long grass as we walked up to the castle. We explored the castle and had good conversations as we walked. However, the rain made it impossible to sit and talk.

We went back to our house for lunch – bacon butties – and read the story of the Wise and Foolish men building their houses. Some of the children/young people read the story to everyone and asked some questions about its meaning.

This was a very local walk and we enjoyed the time together. The children especially liked reading the story over lunch.

Serpentine Woods

2008-08-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

Our first walk took us into Serpentine Woods in Kendal on 24 May 2008. The woods have an ‘alphabet trail’, that the children followed, looking for any objects (mostly carved out of wood), that began with the different letters of the alphabet. We took a theme of music, as there are various instruments in the woods. When we stopped for our bacon butties we read the story of Joshua marching round the walls of Jericho, then the trumpets being sounded and the walls of the city collapsing.

The group found it difficult to ‘pray’ – but when we talked about the personal things that we were either worried about or concerned about – it was easy to offer these thoughts to God in prayer.

Everyone enjoyed the walk, though the path was at times a little tricky for the pram. The children enjoyed being together for a walk and most of the group enjoyed the bacon. Not all of the group members would say they believed in God. The morning provided for deepening of friendships and enjoying the outdoors.

2008-05-07T10:47:00.001-07:00

Journeying with God

2008-05-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

This is the first blog relating to a vision for a walking/ramblers church. If you live in south Cumbria and would like to be part of a church on the move - add your comments below....