The weekend ran from Friday afternoon 18th July through to Sunday lunchtime and as with the two previous such events, we were enjoying the hospitality of the peaceful and comfortable Rydal Hall, set in possibly the most beautiful spot in the South Lake District. There were 41 of us, most from St Mary’s, but this year we were joined by 6 people from other local churches, who by the end of the weekend felt very much like old friends.
Our leader was Dr Stephen Cherry who began the weekend making us take seriously St Paul’s challenge to die to sin and live to God. We found ourselves, unexpectedly perhaps, relishing the challenge. In our worship sessions we concentrated on finding God in the ordinary things of life.
Happily our combat with sin was interspersed with delicious meals and a guided walk to Tarn Howe on Saturday afternoon, a most enjoyable quiz, whilst the evening finished with the ever popular barn dance.
The weekend culminated with a Eucharist in the converted Barn at Rydal at which Stephen gave us a pithy sermon drawing together all we had learned about sin but also about the generous love which comes to us when we take off our shoes and walk humbly with God and with other people.
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