In the glow of spring sunshine, twenty people from across the Taunton Archdeaconry and beyond assembled in the churchyard of St. James Church, Taunton. Guided by the Go Team and facilitated by Net Zero Enabler Dan Wills, the gathering was dedicated to delving into the spiritual potential of our outdoor spaces for mission, worship, and the stewardship of creation.
The day began with fresh popcorn cooked over the firepit and was followed by activities such crafting bird feeders from orange peel. Sue and Richard Carpenter, who are passionate about enhancing biodiversity and accessibility in the churchyard, led everyone on a guided tour.
And there was the opportunity to try out Welly Boot Church, a new resource created by Ruth Levett designed to help people of all ages connect with God in the great outdoors.
Revd Jane Durham, Vicar in the Wheathill Benefice said of the experience, “We went to the Outdoor Church morning in Taunton, hoping for some ideas for our fledgling Outdoor Church Fresh Expression, and our Eco Church development.
“It was really useful; networking and hearing other’s stories, having glimpses into resources that are available, discovering a campfire popcorn pan, and enjoying a couple of hours out in the sun with others concerned for new ways to reach beyond the church walls. Excellent all round, thank you to the Go Team & others.”
The morning was blessed with sunshine, birdsong and the sound of a county cricket match wafting over the wall from the ground next door. Everyone who took part and the team who organised the event said they’d learned so much from the morning and from each other.
Holly Stevens, Children and Families Worker in the Seven Sowers Benefice said she’d been inspired by the event, “During the session we looked at seeds; and it’s given me a new perspective. Seeds hold so much potential inside them, a whole tree can grow from a small seed. We each have so much potential inside of us just waiting to grow.”
thoughts were echoed by Ruth Slade from the Go Team “It was great to see people of all ages getting involved with the activities and sharing their own experiences of church outdoors. There’s so much potential for using outdoor spaces, we hope people left inspired and encouraged to try something new.”
The group finished the morning with prayer and a reflection based on Jesus’ Parable of the Mustard Seed.
If you are interested in exploring outdoors with your church and community, do get in touch with your archdeaconry Go Team Adviser. A list of links to ideas and resources shared at the event can be found online.