Feedback from the 2002 Day of Prayer and Reflection
The AOCM committee received lots of feedback after the day.
Lavender Buckland
As one of the group travelling from Scotland to be at the Conference, I would like to add my warmest thanks for all that you and your Team have given to us. It was a day of wonderful surprises, inspiration and celebration of everything we all brought to the Conference.
You must have worked incredibly hard to bring such a day to fruition, and to find such a remarkable panel of speakers. We revelled in every part of it, found the Liturgy extraordinarily effective and moving, and prayed with you that we should come to find a common language and reject the barriers that ‘differentiate’ us. [I have never before been to any Service where people worshipped both with hands in the air AND hands crossing themselves…]
Bless you in your own Ministry and may it take you constantly along this path of unity and love, to the greater glory of God.
Kathryn Fleming (WEMTC Gloucester)
Just to thank you, and everyone involved, for such a wonderful day….The speakers were fantastic, and the Eucharist left me on such a spiritual high I more or less floated back home.
It is specially valuable for those of us on regional courses to have that sort of experience once in a while, as, even meeting weekly for group tutorials, we do miss out on the sense of belonging to a large community….Hugely encouraging for the future Church, too, I thought.
Many many thanks, and every blessing
John Webster (SAOMC Rep.)
Thanks for a wonderful opportunity for all of us to be together, and congratulations on a hard task well accomplished.
From “Donald”
With regard to Saturday’s AOCM Day of Worship & Reflection, on behalf of our group of attendees from CBDTI, I offer our congratulations upon a splendid event. Whilst the weather may have contrived to dampen the day, it failed to do so as everyone appeared to have taken much from his or her experience.
If you have the opportunity, perhaps you would convey our thanks to the speakers who participated, not only for their time and wisdom, but also for their encouragement to those of us who are setting out on this journey of service in Christ’s name.
There was obviously a lot of hard work and effort expended to enable the day to run so smoothly, I hope that you feel that it was all worthwhile for that is [most certainly] our view.
If it is not too soon to say so, we look forward to a repeat performance!
Well done and best wishes,
Hugh Houghton from Mirfield writes:
“I found it very moving to be gathered in the Cathedral with three hundred or so others also following God’s call: simply assembling those people was a powerful act of witness and one which made me full of hope. The distinguished speakers also impressed me and the plenary panel managed to combine representativeness with a personal commitment and engagement which they communicated well.
Candlemas was a wonderful occasion to gather in the temple and I enjoyed the act of worship, leaving on a ‘high.’ All in all, I felt much richer for the experience and I hope that will translate itself into future support and engagement between the colleges.”
From The Revd Dr Jeremy Sheehy (Principal of St. Stephen’s House):
“This is just a short note to say how well I thought yesterday went and how many people were saying just the same thing…. My vice-principal and I were pleased to be there.”
From The Revd Christopher Irvine (College of the Resurrection):
“It was a very stimulating conference and an exciting mix and meeting of people, ideas, commitments and convictions. Congratulations to you and the planning team!”
The Revd Dr. David Way (Theological Secretary, Ministry Division):
“Thanks and congratulations on the AOCM day, which I thought was really good - just right in terms of a broad and inspirational day with a good range of views. Well done to all who organised it. ”
Louis Darrant writes of the affect the AOCM Day had on him:
The AOCM Day of Worship and Reflection unsettled and enthused me on a number of levels. How can I work alongside people who share very different perspectives from myself? When it is right to speak out and take a stand? How far does my silence collude with oppression? How can I be engaged in a prophetic struggle and yet find the joy to be experienced in Christian service? How can passion, humour, obedience be tools of our priestly formation? Just a few questions that should keep me busy for a while.