We are all part of different communities and those communities in some way shape and form us into who we are.

We started by remembering communities that we had or currently are part of and then shared them with each other, thinking about the ways that they had shaped us, what was good and not so good about those places, what were the things that we carried from them. We wrote them on cards and then began to share what we’d written with each other. The range of communities we connected with was vast – families, friends, villages, halls of residence, housemates, colleges, churches, union societies, sports teams and more. Some were communities that we had deliberately chosen to be part of, some we had become part of by chance,  others we had no choice about we just had to be part of them. Theyhad all shaped us in someways. Sometimes very gently, other times quite forcefully.

 After sharing for a while we wandered into the chapel space and looked at the different stations that had been  set up. Making models seems to be a theme this term but today it was with play dough rather than clay.We  were invited to make a shape as we reflected upon the different communities that had shaped us, recognising  that this wasn’t always an easy experience.

 

 

Often we use labels to try to help us identify what different communities (and especially churches) are like. The labels sometimes start to get in the way and we get hung up on what our communities are known as rather than on what happens within them . At times we even use labels so we know that we’re not like others. The words become boundaries that keep us safe from other influences. A table spread with labels encouraged us to reflect on what happens at the points where the labels we might use to describe ourselves collide with others.

 

For some of us the collection of photos from Cafe Church over previous years was really powerful. This has been such an important community for people over the last 6 years and seeing photos reminded us of time spent with each other, and also led to thoughts of those who have moved on to other places (especially Joe who left last week for a new job).

We were invited to place the cards we had been carrying into the mugs on the table as the thought about how we were shaping and being shaped by this community of faith.

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