<div>One night some time ago, in a Small Group, <U>every</U> suggestion and request I made was met by a leader's resounding "No." I was frustrated, sad and angry a long time afterwards. The same leader has proved to be a loving and generous person for whom I thank God in spite of the continuing tendency. I must try to be less threatening but no less myself, perhaps?</div> <div> Pax et Bonum (definitely!)</div> <div> Sister Avril, t.s.s.f. <BR><BR><B><I>Penelope Fletcher <ian.fletcher1@tesco.net></I></B> wrote:</div> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Have just read yours and Brenda's reflections on small groups and found my <BR>thoughts running thus:<BR><BR>Small groups is another name for the 'cell system' of support for likeminded <BR>people i.e. all ordained together, or all contemplative etc. there is <BR>however a danger in
that in very small groups there can be a hijacking from <BR>a strong and needy personality which then destroys the group......<BR><BR>there is also a danger of 'club mentality'........<BR><BR>As 'Living Stones' our main task is surely to build up the church and <BR>therefore our most important 'group' must be the congregation wherein we <BR>worship........<BR><BR>We do find support and refreshment in small and Area group meetings and <BR>being a rural tertiary, meeting fellow franciscans from further afield often <BR>brings fresh insights and ideas which we can take back to our <BR>congregations.......<BR><BR>I am very lucky I have a super small group and they put up with me -which <BR>testifies to their love and forbearance<BR><BR>Penelope Fletcher<BR>West Berks<BR><BR>Hi Brenda -I always appreciated your care at Freeland<BR><BR>--- Original Message ----- <BR>From: <DNSWAIN77@AOL.COM><BR>To: <TSSF-STUDIES@JUSTUS.ANGLICAN.ORG><BR>Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 3:53 PM<BR>Subject:
[TSSF-studies] Re: From the Chaplain<BR><BR><BR>> Hi everyone,<BR>> And welcome to those who have recently joined.<BR>><BR>> My name is David Swain,<BR>> I am the Chaplain to this venture. It is still in its very early days and <BR>> we are all learning, so we are really interested in your ideas!<BR>><BR>> There is a Steering Group. It is chaired by Adrian Noble the Provincial <BR>> Formation Guardian for the European Province.<BR>><BR>> This site is managed as you know, by Andrew Dochin, who is also the editor <BR>> of the Third Order Chronicle for the European Province. He is also a <BR>> member of the Provincial Communications Team. All technical questions <BR>> regarding this site and how it works or might work , should go to Andrew <BR>> direct, (as he sets out in the introduction to the digest, as it is <BR>> circulated each time).<BR>><BR>> Other members of the Steering Group are Nancy Adams who is very interested <BR>>
in issues of Justice Peace and the Integrity of Creation.Very shortly on <BR>> this site we will be posting up a paper by Nancy entitled 'In Community .. <BR>> In Communication..' I am sure we will all find it very helpful.<BR>><BR>> Hugh Beach has introduced himself and many of you will know him. He has, <BR>> as a General in the British Army, grappled with the complex issues of <BR>> peace for a life time. With Hugh some of us hope to post up something on <BR>> the TSSFStudies Website in the coming months - as to why Francis <BR>> recommended the Song of Roland to his folowers.<BR>><BR>> Nell Slocock is the Secretary to the Steering Group and brings to it her <BR>> experience as Area Minister of Sussex.<BR>><BR>> As a Consultant, we have too, John Morrison who is also our Provincial <BR>> Chapter Secretary and on the Governing Body of the International Francican <BR>> Study Centre in Canterbury. This is particularly helpful to those
members <BR>> who are undertaking, or who would like to undertake, study at the <BR>> Franciscan Centre in Canterbury. We hope to have more information to share <BR>> with you about the Centre shortly.<BR>><BR>> Brother Austin SSF is also a consultant, to keep us linked with the first <BR>> Order Brothers and sisters.<BR>><BR>> Discussion Subject:<BR>><BR>> For those of you who have recently joined; the subject for discussion at <BR>> the moment is 'Local Groups'. You will find in the Third Order European <BR>> Province Website, a section headed TSSFStudies, and there are already a <BR>> number of papers on various subjects.<BR>><BR>> Two papers in particular<BR>><BR>> 1. Towards a theology of meeting and belonging to a Local Group in the <BR>> Third Order by David Swain and Brenda Stephenson.<BR>><BR>> and<BR>><BR>> 2.The Theology and nature of Local TSSF groups, by John Wiltshire, are the <BR>> starter papers for
thought and response.<BR>><BR>> John Wiltshire is also a member of the steering Group and together, we <BR>> shall after we have collected various responses and thoughts from members, <BR>> come back to you all with further thought for discussion.<BR>><BR>> We are with Brenda Stephenson, particularly interested to know if anyone <BR>> has read John English SJ, 'Spiritual intimacy and community' and the <BR>> thought of Hanri Nouwen on community life?<BR>><BR>> It may be too that some of you are aware of other books on the subject of <BR>> Christians in Community. If you do know of some helpful titles, please do <BR>> share them with us.<BR>><BR>> Books for York General Chapter:<BR>><BR>> I have also been asked by Dick Bird our Minster Provincial to collect <BR>> titles for a bookstall to be provided and set up by SPCK at our York <BR>> General Chapter this year.<BR>><BR>> If you could share with us the titles of books you
have found helpful, or <BR>> that your local group has found helpful and studied, I should be very <BR>> pleased to learn about them.<BR>><BR>> In this way, we can really begin to help each other and particularly <BR>> isolated Tertiaries for whom this means of communication by email, may be <BR>> increasingly helpful in time.<BR>><BR>> Pax et Bonum<BR>><BR>> David<BR>> Chaplain<BR>><BR>> -- <BR>> The Revd David Swain TSSF<BR>> 77 Trent Boulevard<BR>> West Bridgford<BR>> Nottinham<BR>> NG2 5BE<BR>><BR>> Tel 01159 821222<BR>><BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> TSSF-studies mailing list<BR>> TSSF-studies@justus.anglican.org<BR>> http://justus.anglican.org/mailman/listinfo/tssf-studies.justus <BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>TSSF-studies mailing list<BR>To repley to this email send a message to TSSF-studies@justus.anglican.org<BR>To find details about your
subscriptions and unsubscription options go to http://justus.anglican.org/mailman/listinfo/tssf-studies.justus<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><p>
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