Community

Hi everyone and we hope you are managing to keep warm and cosy now the weather has turned. This is the time of year when everyone wants to stay in (very sensible – I slipped while walking the dogs this morning and landed heavily in a puddle).

Even if some of us have taken a tumble, our social lives don’t need to take a nose-dive. Why not gather a bunch of neighbours for a warming mulled wine or winter punch and get the fireside stories going. Try making an advent wreath and telling the story as you light the first candle when it’s your turn to talk.

You can also make plans for Christmas while you’ve got them together. Anyone for Carol Singing???

A very big Thanks to all those who came away with us to Coventry – for the warmth and the love shown to the team and to each other.

We’ve been reading the feedback forms for the Activate weekend away and they are overwhelmingly positive. So many of you made reference to next year that we are planning an ‘Action Replay’. So get 13-15 November 2009 in your diaries and start saving up for a fun filled, action packed weekend.

Try looking at the National Special Days in the Calendar to help you think of unusual ideas.

We don’t need much help in December do we – and this is such a busy time but do try and include others who are alone this Christmas.

We’ll let you have a break but we’ll be back in January with a raft of ideas starting with 6th January – watch this space!

One of my friends, David Mattches, recently found himself being quoted on an American website and a Canadian website. They were talking about a brief story he spoke aloud on a music cd about 20 years ago and it stunned him that people were passing it on as a source of Inspiration.

Most of us would like to inspire others and encourage the people around us. When I read something that moves me deeply I always wish I’d written it – especially if it whizzes around the world and affirms people like David’s words have.

I was reminded about another powerful quote recently and thought it was worth sharing. Some people mistakenly attribute it to Nelson Mandela but it was actually written by Marianne Williamson in her book ‘A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles’

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”