Our family forest Church has continued to have a wonderful time in the woods. In November, as the clocks went back and the nights drew in, we held a ‘celebration of the Light’ thinking both about Jesus as the light of the world and how we are called to shine with His love too. We made beautiful autumn leaf lanterns and melted wax over the fire to create jar candles. In this month of remembrance, we ended the session with a chance to remember together those whose light of love and joy has shone brightly in our lives.
Our December session fell on the very first Sunday of advent, so we considered the ‘journey to the stable’ with a wondering walk through the woods to our shelter where Brenda led us in thinking about the nativity story as we gathered round the fire. Then we hollowed out oranges in which we made chocolate orange brownies in the embers. Whilst we were waiting for them to cook we wove advent wreaths from ivy and other evergreen trees that we found in the woods, thinking about their ancient symbolism and connecting this with the advent themes of hope, peace, love and joy. One of the children ended the session by lighting an advent candle nestled in a wreath, as we prayed for God to encircle us and the world with love. We will be ‘Following the star’ with the wise men on January 5th (the day before Epiphany) and then continuing to meet on the first Sunday of every month at Thomas Hall School, Cowley Bridge Road from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. If you have children of primary age or younger and would like to join us we’d love to see you there or for more information do get in touch with me: abigailhardiman@protonmail.com