Ask any group of people, Christian or otherwise, where they feel most spiritually at peace or closest to God and you will usually get an answer that equates to somewhere outside. It was this realisation that led a small group at a conference in 2012 to discover that they had the same vision for meeting this need, and so Forest Church was born. From that small group has grown a network of diverse gatherings under different names but all with the same vision: to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit present in all things.
This CMD day will begin with an exploration of what Forest Church is, looking at scripture, theology and science. The second half of the morning will be a practical, contemplative introduction to one type of Forest Church practice. After lunch we will experience a different, more active practice as we explore Wild Church and look at ways to create inclusive outdoor worship that aims to build community with God at the centre. We will end with a plenary discussion.
Leaders: Paul Cudby and Sue Morton
Paul Cudby is one of the original vision bearers for Forest Church in 2012. He is currently the vicar of Wooburn and runs Wooburn Forest Church. He is the author of ‘The Shaken Path’ and the soon to be released ‘The Spirit and the Land – an Ecotheology’.
Sue Morton is Associate Priest in the Hambleden Valley Group of Churches, a rural benefice of six churches. Building on outdoor worship initiated in lockdown, Sue began a monthly Wild Church which moves around different locations in the parishes including: farmers’ fields; the banks of River Thames for bulb planting; a site where a WW2 aircraft came down on Remembrance Sunday.
Where?
The Mill House
Turville
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 6QU
When?
Tue 26 April 2022
10:00 – 15:00 BST
How do I book?
Book now on Eventbrite. Tickets cost £15.