We are all on journey. This is about part of my journey. A journey that is shared with a number of fellow travellers who are all exploring what it means to live together 'all things in common' as the early Christians did (see Acts 4:32, The Bible). to find out more see http://www.newcreation.org.uk/
I have been on this journey for 18 years. Like the journey of a river there have been many twists and turns; sometimes meadering along at other times more like a rushing torrent! However, last weekend we (me & my fellow house mates) decided to do something a bit different. We invited any of our friends who we call them non- resident members of the community, to join us for a community weekend. There was one immediate problem which was that there was no room for any of them in our current community home! Undeterred we persuaded a near by large community house, with plenty of spare room to let us lodge with them. There were 14 of us in the end. 6 of them community members, 2 aspirants and associated friends.
The location was significant as it was the first community house bought by the Community back in the mid 70's. It felt like we were joining with the early pioneers (one of our company had lived there as a child) to embark on a journey to re-discover the pioneering spirit that caught the vision for Acts 4 'common purse community' and is still going strong.
The weekend involved communal meal times. Food is an important component to community and our together meal times are vitally important in keeping the heart of community house family life health and in touch with each other. We forget that in this media saturated, fast- food culture communal family meal times are becoming a thing of the past. The was communal gardening and communal times of worship, sharing and reflection. Those who'd been 'doing' comunity along time shared there hopes, fears and dreams for the next phase. Those who were aspiring shared their vision and fears and our friends all gave their support. Everyone had personal prayer and words of encouragement or direction given to them.
At the end of it everyone shared how excited or encouraged they felt. Some of our non- resident members had enjoyed and been amused by seeing some of their community friends first thing in the morning. All of them had enjoyed the experience of being together all the time and we had all gotten to know each other more.
So what next? Well this Saturday we're all together at our local Jesus Centre (www.jesuscentre.org.uk/northampton) working together and after that who knows... after 18 years in community it is good to get excited about it all over again.
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