| | The Serious Business of Play
by the Revd Naomi Gardom
This month saw the death of Jerome Berryman, the founder of Godly Play, which is the method of catechesis we use with our children’s group at St Mary’s. Godly Play has close links with the Montessori method of early years education, and is founded on the expectation that children have an innate spirituality and sense of God, and just lack the vocabulary to express it. In a Godly Play session, open-ended questions beginning ‘I wonder’ are used to explore stories from the Bible. Figures and pictures are used to illustrate the story, but children are encouraged and allowed to use their imagination to respond to the story in the way that makes sense to them.
On Tuesday, we were engaged in another type of playing: this time, with Lego. In our Lego Church event, we used the bricks to conquer challenges (‘make a model of how you got here today, make a self-portrait in under 5 minutes’) and to explore the Bible. We read the story of the Tower of Babel, then discovered how difficult it is to build anything together if we don’t cooperate. At the end, we deconstructed our creations and tidied up together.
In both Godly Play and Lego Church, children’s innate desire to play is at the heart of getting them to engage with the Gospel message. But what has struck me recently in my contemplation of these activities is not how ‘effective’ they are in producing a certain outcome. Rather, it’s the realisation that, for the adults in the room, we are witnessing something incredibly rare in our adult lives: activities enjoyed purely for their own sake, with no external end or goal. It’s sometimes said that ‘Play is children’s work’, which can be a useful way of protecting its importance in children’s natural development. However, this imposes an adult perspective which still valorises productivity, and makes play an instrument of development.
If, instead, we learn to appreciate the pointlessness of play, I think it also teaches us something about God’s joy in his creation. We begin to think of the act of creation as something God chooses to sustain, not through a sense of obligation but through sheer delight in the pleasure of making. We begin to think of ourselves and the world around us as cherished, quirky and fiercely loved, like toys brought to life by the love of children. | | This Sunday
8.30am Holy Eucharist - Chancel
Preacher: The Revd Canon Dr William Lamb
10.30am Sung Eucharist - Nave Preacher: The Revd Canon Dr William Lamb 3.30pm Choral Evensong
| | This Week
Monday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Tuesday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Wednesday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Thursday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel 13.00 Lunchtime Recital - Nave
Friday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
| | | | | Current Exhibition
Faith
1 July - 15 September Adam de Brome Chapel
Faith is the complete trust and confidence in someone, something, or a concept,’ says Rob Judges, reflecting on the essence of his latest photographic exhibition. Titled ‘Faith,’ this exhibition explores the profound expressions of religious devotion across the boundaries of denomination and religious affiliation. Emerging themes such as the importance of food, light, and water— basic elements that nourish life—are beautifully grouped together in this collection. Inspired by a survey revealing that less than 50% of people in the UK identify as religious, Rob felt it was timely to document this aspect of society. ‘Many people of faith, initially wary, soon became warm, calm, confident, and welcoming,’ says Judges. ‘Some were very reticent, but in the end, I have captured a view of Faith that resonates deeply.’ Rob hopes these images will resonate with both people of faith and secular viewers, appreciating the strength and serenity that Faith imparts. The exhibition also continues to grow, and he invites anyone with ideas or from unrepresented faiths to contact him at rob@robjudges.com. | | Special Events
PILGRIMAGE - 21 SEPTEMBER Pilgrimages of many different types have long been part of Christian spirituality and practice. On September 21st you are invited to participate in a pilgrimage walk from Abingdon Abbey to St Mary the Virgin University Church. It is traditional for pilgrimages to begin and end at holy sites (such as churches with a pilgrimage connection), where they say a prayer together or participate in a short Office. The full walk is about 11 miles, but those who would prefer a shorter route can meet at Sandford Church (St Andrews) and walk down to the lock to meet those coming from Abingdon, with approximately 5 miles to walk from there. Others may prefer to start at St Mary the Virgin or Christchurch Cathedral, walk the route in reverse along the Thames path and wait at a point of their choosing to meet the main group and walk back. The pilgrimage will end at St Mary the Virgin University Church where we will reflect together on our experience and say Evening Prayer. Precise timings for the full day are yet to be confirmed, but we will meet in the market square in Abingdon at 10am. Children under 18 are welcome to participate, but must be accompanied by an adult. More details will be given subsequent Epistles, but please put the date in your diaries if you’d like to join us, and sign up on Eventbrite.
CONFERENCE – NEWMAN AS PREACHER In September, we will be marking the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the public preaching ministry of St John Henry Newman, who was Vicar of St Mary’s from 1828-1843. There will be a lecture at St Mary’s on Monday 16 September at 2.15pm given by Professor Eamon Duffy, ‘Newman in the University Pulpit – the management of hearts’. On Tuesday 17 September at 2.30pm, Professor Ben King will deliver a lecture at Littlemore entitled “Preaching the Church Fathers for Good or Ill’, and on Wednesday 18 September at 2.30pm, Professor Ken Parker will give a lecture at St Clement’s, ‘An Earnest Evangelical: The Beginnings of John Henry Newman’s preaching ministry’
OXTRAIL – 6 JULY - 29 AUGUST This summer, we are proud to be working with Sobell House, our local hospice, and hosting one of the Oxen, which will form part of the Oxtrail initiative. This sculpture trail in Oxford’s city centre is made up of 31 bold and beautiful life-sized sculptures intricately designed by local and international artists. For more information visit: www.oxtrail2024.co.uk and please make a donation to support Sobell House. | | | Care for Creation - August
Assist local wildlife during very hot weather. Provide hedgehogs with hedgehog biscuits (available at many pet stores and online) or dog biscuits (small/ crumbed) as their prey of slugs, snails and worms diminishes, and ensure a safe exit for them and other small mammals if you have a garden pond. Help garden birds by maintaining a filled bird bath and supplying supplementary food including black sunflower seeds, pinhead oatmeal, soaked sultanas, raisins, currants, mealworms, waxworms, and a nutritious seed mixture, when natural supplies become scarce. More tips can be found at arocha.org.uk/looking-after-wildlifeinthe-heat/ From: https://arocha.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ARUK-Eco-Tips-Calendar-2024.pdf | |
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