Small Group - By Susie and Phill Hopkins

Our small group has been meeting weekly on Tuesday nights (term time) for the past eight years. Some people have naturally moved on and others have joined us along the way. 

We enjoy journeying together to explore how faith is real and relevant for us, through engaging with a variety of issues and themes that are part of our contemporary tradition, in our shared Anglican faith. Our group has a cross-section of age, background and experience. Some of our members belong to other churches and this adds to the richness of our group. Some of us see ourselves as being on the edge of church and the group offers stability and a place to belong. 

We begin each session with a ‘how are you?’ catch-up. We then explore and use a range of different practices; including prayer, meditation, contemplation, mindfulness and compline's. We regularly listen to podcasts and watch videos, as tools to encourage and stimulate discussion. We also have a multi sensory approach, using creativity and the visual arts, music and poetry. We enjoy the breadth that visiting speakers bring. We occasionally share meals and have socials together. We have a weekly group email and stay in touch with a WhatsApp group. 

We have used a variety of study guides, including those published by York Notes, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC), Progressive Christianity Network, Inclusive Church Network resources and other Lent and Advent books. We are aware and join in with the seasons, rhythms and symbolism of the Anglican liturgical calendar, sometimes including feast and saints days.

We are sensitively responsive and flexible within our programme and adapt when personal or world events arise, encouraging things to be real, current and relevant. 

We are all given the opportunity to contribute to and to develop our programme. We also take turns in leading sessions, including sharing our particular individual passions and interests, in relation to our spiritual lives. We have regular reviews so we can check-in with how things are going and how we want to move forward. 

We recognise that we all have a responsibility to join in wholeheartedly to make the group valuable and function well. The principles of ‘Vulnerability and Availability’ as promoted by the Northumbrian Community, resonate greatly with and for us. 

We endeavour to be a safe place where community, connection and honesty is encouraged. We try to sit comfortably together with difference and diversity. Where questions, doubt, mystery and not-knowing (apophatic theology) are all made welcome and actively encouraged. 

Susie and Phill Hopkins, Leaders.