Come together - Reform Magazine
Simon Peters reflects on the value of a large get together
Every few years, the United Reformed Church enjoys a Big Day Out. These special days allow people of all generations, backgrounds and abilities to come together with friends from across the UK, meet each other, seek inspiration and catch a small glimpse of the great community of God’s people. They have taken place at such places as West Midlands Safari Park, Legoland and Cadbury World.
The URC congregation in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, has shown over the years just how much these opportunities to gather for fun and fellowship can help all sorts of people in exploring their faith, developing their sense of worth and overcoming challenges along the way.
Keith, from that church, had never been involved with an event run by a children’s and youth work organisation and didn’t really know what to expect, but when asked to be a volunteer for the Big Day Out at Longleat Safari Park, he agreed. Keith is now a regular volunteer, and pleased to contribute to events which unite so many from across the generations, showing that we’re all part of something much bigger than our local church or Pilots Company.
An elderly widower, Michael, from the same congregation, wasn’t going to come to one of the Big Days Out as he couldn’t walk too far and felt he would be a burden. The congregation wouldn’t relent and he eventually boarded the coach with his wheelchair. Members of the church took it in turns to accompany him around the site. He was thrilled to see so many people having fun and worshipping together. He couldn’t believe that he was able to be part of such a day and was able to leave knowing he was loved and valued by people from across the UK…
Simon Peters is Children’s and Youth Work Programme Officer for the United Reformed Church. All URC secretaries have been sent information and booking forms for the Big Day Out. For more information, call 020 7916 8637 or send an email to feastsandfestivals@urc.org.uk
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This is an extract from the February 2017 edition of Reform.
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