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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 11 April 2017. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
by Alastair Baine, Kevin Beer, Margaret Dixon, Cassa Messervy and La Stacey
A GROUP of curates have described their recent experiences to our partner diocese of Vaxjo in Sweden.
The lake at St Sigfrid's. Who wouldn't want to swim in there? St Sigrid's is a 'folkhogskola' - an educational establishment which has no parallel in UK. It provides education for adults to help them change their lives.
We met a girl who had twice failed in mainstream schools and was now enjoying her classes; and an immigrant from Afghanistan who had arrived in the country and was now starting sixth-form education having completed his missing secondary education in one year.
The Christian influence in the school was palpable, not just through daily Morning Prayer and the presence of a remarkable school chaplain, but in the ethos of the school.
One pupil commented that since coming there they felt like a human being again. One of the most memorable pieces of work were year long confirmation classes for people aged about 14 at the cathedral.
They had the opportunity to use the building in an inspirational way, learning about faith, trust, and listening to Bible stories.
In Vaxjo about 80 per cent of young people attend these classes and are confirmed. Deacons in Sweden have a permanent and distinct role completely separate from priests.
Before they begin their year-long theological training they have to be qualified social workers or nurses.
They fulfil a pastoral role, working with various groups and individuals.
Vaxjo Diocese is creating a Diakonicentrum (Deacon Centre) to work with people with drug problems, the homeless, immigrants and others. At diocesan level, Vaxjo has adopted our 'Living Faith' strategy as 'Til Tro' (Towards Faith), with a minor but perhaps significant change: 'Making Disciples' has been adapted to 'Discipleship Today'.
An exploration of this change revealed a significant difference in our understanding of mission: the Swedish Church reflected the established state church model whereby everyone was presumed to be a signed up member, despite the continuing decline of around one per cent per annum from today's membership of 67. 5 per cent of the population. The Swedish church also operates as an institution for developing musical skills.
Each church we visited had at least one full time musician who would lead a variety of choirs, teach instruments and compose music. On the Thursday evening our group was invited to join with members of St.
Sigrid's School for their regular communion service.
A 'scratch' choir was made up of students in the community and able singers from our group who sang a hastily practised piece beautifully.
People from each group, wrote and led the intercessions, address and blessing. Our chance to experience something of Swedish spirituality came on Friday afternoon with canoeing on the incredibly beautiful still lakes near St Sigfrid's school.
It was truly an opportunity to say thank you to God for the beauty of the creation in Sweden!