A Harvest round-up
Churches across the diocese have been marking Harvest with services, and community activities, giving thanks to God for the fruit of the land and for the farmers who work to provide the food we eat.
Inspiring people to listen and to hear each other and God
Holy Trinity in Street witnessed a transformation following their engagement in an active listening course. Jane Tompsett, a Reader in the Benefice of Street, Walton, and Compton Dundon, helped organise…
Holy Trinity in Street witnessed a transformation following their engagement in an active listening course. Jane Tompsett, a Reader in the Benefice of Street, Walton, and Compton Dundon, helped organise the course. Reflecting on her experience, Jane shared how she had been encouraged to take part through her work with Lee Abbey, which led her to recognise the potential of active listening in inspiring people not only to listen but to genuinely hear others and God.
“In the Autumn of 2023 the Benefice of Street, Walton, and Compton Dundon ran a listening course attended by 20 participants which was well received. James ch1 tells us in v19 that Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, it reminded us of the saying, “you have one mouth and two ears, you need to listen twice as much as you speak!!”
So, is listening the key to authentic Christian living? A vital building block in our Christian lives? Listening is part of being in relationship and enables growth within a relationship, and especially with God. Therefore, to be seen as authentic Christians in our dealings with others, do we need to reflect the love God has lavished upon us? Especially as getting the balance right between listening and doing is always hard. The story of Martha & Mary reflects this – both want the best, but one was overcome by the doing whilst the other quietly listened – can we find the balance needed and be a Mary in a Martha world?”
Jane a reader, who also volunteers as a pastoral helper at Lee Abbey in Lynton, completed the ACORN listening course, which encourages people to listen to others and at the end 3 questions were posed:
- Out of all you have been sharing what is the most important?
- Is there anything you would like to do about it?
- Now we are finishing, can you say how you are feeling?
Source: Acorn listening training info@acornchristian.org
Listening can seem a simple task, something everyone can do, whereas in reality it can be a challenge.
