Based at Emmanuel Church, Bicester, a Forest Church group seeks to encounter more of God through creation.
A core group of about 12 adults gather one Saturday afternoon a month at the church to explore God's creation with a time of outdoor reflection. Debbie Winson and Licensed Lay Minister, Philip Wilson, facilitate the group. Debbie shares more about its focus:
“Forest Church groups are all different. We aim to enjoy creation and enlarge our understanding of God. The individual reflection time is a key part of the group, it’s a time for people to connect with God after exploring scripture together and enables a deeper understanding of the fullness of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
This winter, the group is exploring themes around the parables of Jesus, where he used elements from the natural world to illustrate the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven: treasure, yeast, light from a lamp, sowing and harvesting, and lost sheep. In the summer, Creation Walks explore the countryside, nature, the landscape, and farming practices.
Emmanuel Church, Bicester has achieved the Bronze Eco Church Award as part of the A Rocha Eco Church scheme. Bicester Forest Church arose from conversations around the Eco Church targets incorporating creation care into the life of the church, and the “green” ideals of Elmsbrook, the Eco-Town development in the benefice.
Emmanuel Church leads the Bicester and Islip Deanery Greenhouse initiative and the Forest Church group forms part of this journey and growing new congregations in the diocese.
Care for creation
Responding to the environmental crises is a key common vision area of the diocese. The climate emergency is one of the most pressing issues of our age. Read more about the diocese’s aim to reach 'net zero' and environmental action.