[TSSF-studies] Re: From the Chaplain

[Penelope Fletcher]

Have just read yours and Brenda's reflections on small groups and found my 
thoughts running thus:

Small groups is another name for the 'cell system' of support for likeminded 
people i.e. all ordained together, or all contemplative etc. there is 
however a danger in that in very small groups there can be a hijacking from 
a strong and needy personality which then destroys the group......

there is also a danger of 'club mentality'........

As 'Living Stones' our main task is surely to build up the church and 
therefore our most important 'group' must be the congregation wherein we 
worship........

We do find support and refreshment in small and Area group meetings and 
being a rural tertiary, meeting fellow franciscans from further afield often 
brings fresh insights and ideas which we can take back to our 
congregations.......

I am very lucky I have a super small group  and they put up with me -which 
testifies to their love and forbearance

Penelope Fletcher
West Berks

Hi Brenda -I always appreciated your care at Freeland

--- Original Message ----- 
From: <Dnswain77 at aol.com>
To: <TSSF-studies at justus.anglican.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 3:53 PM
Subject: [TSSF-studies] Re: From the Chaplain


> Hi everyone,
> And welcome to those who have recently joined.
>
> My name is David Swain,
> I am the Chaplain to this venture. It is still in its very early days and 
> we are all learning, so we are really interested in your ideas!
>
> There is  a Steering Group.  It is chaired by Adrian Noble the Provincial 
> Formation Guardian for the European Province.
>
> This site is managed as you know, by Andrew Dochin, who is also the editor 
> of the Third Order Chronicle for the European Province. He is also a 
> member of the Provincial Communications Team. All technical questions 
> regarding this site and how it works or might work , should go to Andrew 
> direct, (as he sets out in the introduction to the digest, as it is 
> circulated each time).
>
> Other members of the Steering Group are Nancy Adams who is very interested 
> in issues of Justice Peace and the Integrity of Creation.Very shortly on 
> this site we will be posting up a paper by Nancy entitled 'In Community .. 
> In Communication..' I am sure we will all find it very helpful.
>
> Hugh Beach has introduced himself and many of you will know him. He has, 
> as a General in the British Army, grappled with the complex issues of 
> peace for a life time. With Hugh some of us hope to post up something on 
> the TSSFStudies Website in the coming months - as to why Francis 
> recommended the Song of Roland to his folowers.
>
> Nell Slocock is the Secretary to the Steering Group and brings to it her 
> experience as Area Minister of Sussex.
>
> As a Consultant, we have too, John Morrison who is also our Provincial 
> Chapter Secretary and on the Governing Body of the International Francican 
> Study Centre in Canterbury. This is particularly helpful to those members 
> who are undertaking, or who would like to undertake, study at the 
> Franciscan Centre in Canterbury. We hope to have more information to share 
> with you about the Centre shortly.
>
> Brother Austin SSF is also a consultant, to keep us linked with the first 
> Order Brothers and sisters.
>
> Discussion Subject:
>
> For those of you who have recently joined; the subject for discussion at 
> the moment is 'Local Groups'. You will find in the Third Order European 
> Province Website, a section headed TSSFStudies, and there are already a 
> number of papers on various subjects.
>
> Two papers in particular
>
> 1. Towards a theology of meeting and belonging to a Local Group in the 
> Third Order by David Swain and Brenda Stephenson.
>
> and
>
> 2.The Theology and nature of Local TSSF groups, by John Wiltshire, are the 
> starter papers for thought and response.
>
> John Wiltshire is also a member of the steering Group and together, we 
> shall after we have collected various responses and thoughts from members, 
> come back to you all with further thought for discussion.
>
> We are with Brenda Stephenson, particularly interested to know if anyone 
> has read John English SJ,  'Spiritual intimacy and community' and the 
> thought of Hanri Nouwen on community life?
>
> It may be too that some of you are aware of other books on the subject of 
> Christians in Community. If you do know of some helpful titles, please do 
> share them with us.
>
> Books for York General Chapter:
>
> I have also been asked by Dick Bird our Minster Provincial to collect 
> titles for a bookstall  to be provided and set up by SPCK at our York 
> General Chapter this year.
>
> If you could share with us the titles of books you have found helpful, or 
> that your local group has found helpful and studied, I should be very 
> pleased to learn about them.
>
> In this way, we can really begin to help each other and particularly 
> isolated Tertiaries for whom this means of communication by email, may be 
> increasingly helpful in time.
>
> Pax et Bonum
>
> David
> Chaplain
>
> -- 
> The Revd David Swain TSSF
> 77 Trent Boulevard
> West Bridgford
> Nottinham
> NG2 5BE
>
> Tel 01159 821222
>
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