Tuesday 31st May 2005
Bishop Richard's greeting at the closing Eucharist celebrating the first weekend of Oxford Cursillo 'Alleluia, Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed, Alleluia, Alleluia' echoed the thoughts of so many who had dreamed of and worked so hard for this occasion. There were people from as far apart as Scotland to the West Country, all joining together to share the joy of this first Oxford Diocesan Cursillo and to wish Cursillo well in this place. It was time to say 'thanks be to God'.
Readers of the DOOR will by now be familiar with the concept of Cursillo. It is not a new belief system. It is an aid, a loving and sometimes challenging discipline to help nurture our relationship with God and to support, affirm and encourage our Christian journey. It is about kindness, respect, hospitality and gaining strength, all of which is so evident in a Cursillo weekend.
Each Cursillo weekend is special for both the teams leading and the guests participating. However Oxford Cursillo Weekend 1 was particularly special, it was making history, the 34th diocese in the UK to embrace Cursillo. None of this could have happened without the enthusiasm, support and encouragement of our Bishops and the generosity of time, energy and prayer of Cursillo in the Diocese of Coventry as the 'gifting' diocese.
In part the weekend is made up with talks leading to discussion and creative work. There was a great openness to listen, to share and to learn which led to much animated conversation and some very creative discussions. The weekend also had its quieter times, worship, meditations and group prayer 'the being rather than the doing'.
‘The final service was very much an ordination service: being ordained into the ministry of the people of God, the laity’, said Dr Nick Trainor, from Ascot.
As the guests on this three day Cursillo weekend headed for home their 'fourth day' was just beginning. That is the rest of their life when they are able to put into practice all they have learnt. In Cursillo terms, 'to blossom where they are planted' to take the good news of God's love to the churches and communities in which they live and work.
The next Oxford Cursillo weekend is at the Cold Ash centre, near Newbury, October 27 - 30 this year. Further information on the Cursillo web site. or from Andrew Garrett.
Elizabeth Dowding is curate at Goring with South Stoke in Oxfordshire