Christ Church Parish Weekend 18 - 20th October
1. What is a Parish Weekend?
It’s an opportunity for the church family to go away and to enjoy being together. It’s a chance to…
.jpg)
* Laugh
* Learn
* Play
* Eat
* Rest
There’s a mixture of free time along with input from an experienced facilitator. Special activities cater for the children during the adult sessions.
2. Where are we going?
We’re going back to Hothorpe Hall in Leicestershire. (For more information visit
Click here to go to the Hothorpe Hall website). This is where we had a very successful weekend in September 2011. At the end of that weekend, people said, 'let's go back' - so we are.
Chris Eddershaw writes about the venue...
(1).jpg)
In mid October Hothorpe Hall should provide us with a beautiful setting for our Parish Family Weekend. Its extensive grounds and comfortable interior offers us, whatever our age, with plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the weekend together, whether we wish to participate in the planned programme or not, or do a bit of both.
Hothorpe Hall itself is an interesting mixture of the original manor house and a modern wing. It has its own chapel and there is a religious bookshop in the reception area; the comfortable bedrooms all have an ensuite bathroom and a television; there is a spacious and pleasant lounge bar next to a good-sized dining room. The menu offers choice and the food is good. There are many lovely rooms, including a crèche, and a very nice double room for children's activities that opens out into the garden where there is a play area and an all-weather court.
The conference room is impressive and well equipped and should provide a very good venue for our main activities. One room in particular, and many parts of the garden, offer perfect opportunities for prayer and quiet reflection and the extensive grounds include a 'Pilgrim Walk', so there is space for you to be involved and private whenever you wish.
3. Will it be 'heavy'?
No! There won't be any pressure or expectation on anyone to attend any / all of the events. Just come with us for a refreshing break if that's what you need.
4. What’s it all about?
.jpg)
Perhaps we could all do with a reminder of ‘what it’s all about’. All this church activity...all these meetings...all these rotas...what’s it all for? Especially when Jesus came, not so much to start a church, but to announce the beautiful kingdom of God.
So for a weekend we’re going to leave it all behind [bliss!] We’ll leave behind the rotas, and the money, and the meetings, and dream together about God’s wonderful kingdom.
In this we’ve enlisted the help of Jerry Gilpin. As my work consultant, Jerry had some helpful things to say about ‘where next after ‘Reaching Out’. He has wondered whether we need something like a ‘values vision’, a statement not so much about ‘more stuff to do’ but about who we really are as a community.
So please come and ‘dream the kingdom’ with us in October. No element of the weekend will be compulsory, so please come if all you need is a weekend away and someone else doing the delicious cooking.
Meet Jerry, our facilitator...
Married to: Liz
Father of: Matthew
Favourite food: Roast lamb
Favourite film: ‘American Beauty’
Football team: Arsenal
Favourite musician: Bob Dylan
Dream holiday: A remote cottage by the coast or in the hills
5. Can I bring the children? .jpg)
Of course! The weekend is for all the family.
Karen Jameson writes about the children’s work..
The Christ Church Parish weekend is very much a time for the whole family. Age appropriate activities will take place for the children during every session we have a speaker. Parents can relax knowing that their children are also having a wonderful, fun, spiritual time. We will also aim to provide a staffed crèche for the under 3’s but parents can stay with their children if they wish. There are 12 acres of woodland to explore, an adventure trail, a pool table, table tennis and an outdoor games area, so rest assured whatever their age, there will be plenty to do whatever the weather!
6. How much will it cost?
You decide! It will be up to each person coming with us to give what they feel is appropriate – we don’t want anyone to miss out for financial reasons. How about a rough guide...
- If we were to take the expected party of 110, and if this consisted of 90 adults and 20 children paying at half the adult rate, then we would need donations averaging £138 per adult and £69 per child to break even.
- If we were to take the maximum party of 143, then that average would come down.
- We can, of course, give a clearer indication when we know how bookings are going.
7. What about the accommodation?
Hothorpe can accommodate up to 143 guests in a range of single, double, twin and family rooms, all of which are ensuite. There are ground floor rooms, and rooms with facilities for the disabled. Special diets are catered for, if known in advance.
Hothorpe has only six single rooms – the vast majority of the rooms are ‘double or twin’. It would help us enormously if were willing to share a room. You could nominate the person you’d be happy to share with – there will be opportunity to do this on the booking form.
8. How will I get there? .jpg)
Nearer the time, we can sort out detailed maps, car sharing and lifts. Hothorpe Hall is near Theddingworth, off the A4304, just to the east of junction 20 on the M1. Postcode LE17 6QX
9. How do I book?
Please simply fill in the booking form, and return it to Sarah Harrison. We'd love you to come!
Parish Weekend 2010
Due to the size and number of photos, the website was running slow, so if you click on the group picture below, you'll be taken to the Flickr page where all the photos are hosted!! Please do have a look!
Christ Church Cheltenham
