2016

‘This Changes Everything’

‘Help us fulfil what lies within the circle of our lives – each day we ask no more, no less.

Untangle the knots within, so we can mend our hearts’ simple ties to others…

Free us to walk your path with joy!’

Neil Douglas-Klotz – ‘Prayers of the Cosmos’

As we march, mosey, and muddle our way through life, each of us will encounter all sorts of personal challenges on our travels. In addition, we may feel increasingly overwhelmed and powerless in the face of current world events, political currents, and environmental crises. How can we keep our heads up in hard times, without turning away from the world’s woes, and stay engaged to do our bit for the common good? This week at summer school, through daily talks and engagement groups, we will explore the ways in which we can find fulfilment, connection, hope and joy along life’s meandering path.

Engagement Groups

A: ‘A Change is as Good as a Rest’ with Michael Dadson and Jo O’Sullivan

Really? Can change be good for me - for all of us? During this week we aim to look at how we could manage change; sharing ideas and practices which might see our attitude shift from grumpy acceptance of change, to comfort with change, and maybe even to feeling, and being, proficient at doing change! Also too we will consider those aspects of our Unitarian 'mission' - both individually and together - which demand a response to Mahatma Gandhi's call to "be the change you wish to see in the world"

B: ‘All Change!’ with Elizabeth Birtles and Lindy Latham

"Somehow, in the process of trying to deny that things are always changing, we lose our sense of the sacredness of life. We tend to forget that we are part of the natural scheme of things." - Pema Chödrön.

We will explore fear, mystery, loss, dying and death at personal, congregational and global levels. Inspired by the work of Parker J. Palmer, and using poetry, individual reflection and story-telling, we are invited into a circle of trust to create our own nourishing credo for living with uncertainty.

C: ‘Taken at the Flood – Epiphany Moments’ with Margaret Kirk and Cody Coyne

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, / Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune,

Omitted, all the voyage of their life / Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea we are now afloat, / And we must take the current when it serves,

Or lose our ventures."

– from Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

Can we recognise moments in our lives which are 'taken at the flood' - epiphany moments when we have been inspired, changed direction, or perspective? How significant have these moments been for us and can they happen many times? Are we sometimes aware of them as lost opportunities? This will be an opportunity to explore how such moments have shaped religion, art, politics and science in the lives of particular men and women and within our own lives through sharing, listening and writing. We will provide space for gentle reflection and use nature and music to discover the power of epiphany.

D: ‘New Brooms?’ with Katie McKenna and Robin Hanford

"In seeking what the future holds, in letting go the past, we seek the grace to clear a way through what can go and what can stay."

– John L Bell

Like the fabled broom which lasted 50 years and in that time only needed three new heads and four new handles, we change entirely over our lifetimes, and yet remain essentially ourselves. This workshop uses writing, creativity and play to look at what we can take from each stage of life into the subsequent ones, and what we might not need to.

E: Children’s and Youth Programme with Claire Maddocks and Izzy Rosenberg

Younger group (ages 6-13): Think of a world without any colours - what a monochrome world it would be. This year, the children's group will be opening their eyes a little more and exploring different colours (and shades of colours) and the wonders colours bring to the world. Each day, we will focus on one or two different colours and will be using them to build up a picture over the week. If you have any coloured collage materials e.g. odd balls of wool, scraps of paper then please bring them with you to help us create our individual and group masterpiece!

Older group (ages 14-16): This year you are going to work in a little research project all about Hucklow Summer School. We would like you to produce some information (in whatever form you like e.g. leaflet, video, poster etc) all about the Summer School - why people come, what it means to different people and what they have got out from coming. To do this you may want to interview different people (ask a range of experiences e.g. first timer, been a couple of times before, been many times before) and ask them at different times of week (beginning of week, mid-week, end of week etc), you might want to discuss/research location (explore/investigate Hucklow village or the centre a little more), the history behind Summer School (how it started, how it has developed over the years, how many have attended etc.)… your options are endless really!