Newsletter June
2019
Dear Friends,
We
will continue to send information from Bristol Cursillo unless you request that
you no longer wish to receive newsletters as we are very keen to keep in touch
with all 4th day community. Those of us who have continued to attend
Group Reunions continue to find them very helpful and we would encourage you to
think of trying to attend. If you currently do not participate in a group
reunion and would like to do so please let Angela know so that we can arrange
to make contact with others for you.
This newsletter includes:
• Planned
Ultreyas
• Report from our
Spiritual Director
• Report from
our Lay Director
• Details of
upcoming events
Ultreyas
•
Saturday 29th
June in Stanton St Quintin Parish Hall SN14 6DE
10.30am – 2.30pm South West Area meeting and Ultreya (more information below)
• Wednesday 25th September
7.15 for 7.30pm in St Giles, Stanton St Quintin
• AGM Saturday 26th October, venue and time of
day to be decided.
Spiritual Director’s Report
God of reconciliation and grace
you promise us a world where all
is new,
where love is born when hope is gone
where broken relationships are
restored to wholeness.
May we live as people who know
your story of love
and we have the vision to imagine
what could be possible
if we dared to live this story.
God of abundant life,
may we be witnesses of love, hope
and peace
and co-creators of your life in
the world.
Amen
I came across this Collect
recently, during Christian Aid week. I
immediately thought of our “Fourth Day”, in which we are called to live out the
New Life of Christ in our daily lives. I am enormously encouraged when I meet
with other Cursillistas in Group
Reunions and Ultreyas, to hear
stories of lives lived out through Prayer, Study and Action. We are made
accountable to each other and the Holy Spirit.
In other words, we dare to live out the story of God’s reconciliation
and grace, his promise of wholeness in the face of brokenness. When Lay Director Angela and I met recently
with Bishop Viv, we were received with great warmth and kindness, as we
explored how the Cursillo movement might enrich the spiritual life of the
Diocese. Bishop Viv is already familiar
with Cursillo from her experience in Gloucester, Leicester and York
Dioceses. Because of significant changes
currently being made in the Senior Staff of the Diocese, she asked us to make
early contact with the new Director of Ministry Development, Dr Simon Taylor,
to see how Cursillo might dovetail with the Mission Strategy for our
churches. This month we are privileged
to welcome our new National Spiritual Director to our South West Ultreya and to hear Stephen’s vision for
Cursillo.
Until that time we are called to
discipleship; to live out that vision of God’s new creation, as witnesses of
love, hope and peace, as co-creators of God’s New Life, in the world.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in
us the fire of your love. Amen
Rev Alastair Davies
Spiritual Director
From our Lay Director
We seem to be coming up
to a busy time for Cursillo both locally and nationally. Upcoming
events are listed below. My prayer for Cursillistas within the Bristol
Diocese is for support and growth. Support for
each other, growth in faith for all. For myself, I
am greatly encouraged in my faith by attending group reunions and the local
Church bible study group. By grouping together we encourage each other
and support each other in faith. If you are
currently not part of a group reunion and are would
like to regularly meet with other local Cursillistas please contact me msg4ang@hotmail.co.uk or tel 01666
837478. We have a new group which has started and some
Christians in the local area are attending groups pre- Cursillo. I hope that
the courage it takes to make that first step will be of benefit and
encouragement both to people returning to or starting to attend group reunions
as well as those who have been grouping for some time. If you know
someone from your local church who you think would benefit from the Cursillo
Method please encourage them to attend a group reunion to see how Cursillo can
support them in their faith.
BACC AGM 18th May 2019
There was a lot of change at
the meeting in May. The National Constitution was updated; Steven
took over from Cynthia as National Spiritual Director, Cheryl took over from
Jane as National Treasurer, Steven took over from Billy as Webmaster. Beth
Roberts will spend the next year shadowing Trevor King, his final year as
National President, and will take up this role from the AGM next May.
Cynthia, our outgoing National
Spiritual Director, gave an encouraging talk on the Servant Community and how
Cursillistas grow in faith and commitment through being more closely involved. I
can certainly relate to that! Being on team for a CLW last year took me out
of my comfort zone but I think that I gained as much, if not more than the
delegates who attended. I have now agreed to be part of the team for
the CLW in March 2020. I have
now also completed two of my three years as Area Rep for the South West. That
is something else that daunted me when I agreed to take on the role but I have
personally benefited from being part of the National movement and I think that
this has also encouraged us within the Bristol Diocese. Next
May someone new will be taking over this role.
Pray for our planet!
The following article was
included in the Spring issue of BACC Pages. A couple of
us from Bristol Diocese have responded to Di in support of her initiative. It is good to
remember that God did not just create man – he first created the earth and gave
man custody over it. I encourage you to include prayer for our
planet individually and within your group reunions and within your church and
other prayer groups.
Prayer
is our secret weapon against global warming! Dear Fellow Cursillistas, I am
writing to share with you something that has been increasingly on my heart and
mind for some weeks now - our response as Christians to the threat of global
warming, which many now say is a ticking clock. It is time to put it on our
prayer agenda big time. We know that God loves and cares for our whole world -
his creation. He is never taken by surprise and he has a plan! Agreeing with
him in consistent, faithful prayer for his good purposes WILL make the
difference - he has promised it! The question is - how to factor this prayer
into our busy lives which may already be on overload? The last thing we need is
more meetings, commitments, time away from family and friends. This is my
suggestion - for prayer alliances, where individuals covenant with God to pray
specifically about global warming and environmental issues - maybe for one hour
a month, maybe one hour a week. They can choose when and where to pray and how
to divide the time. People can meet together or agree to pray at the same time
if they wish. If you think this is a good idea, maybe you could discuss it in
your Reunion Group, which is pretty much perfectly designed for such an
initiative as this! Think back to your Cursillo weekend - Cursillo runs on
prayer - it’s our secret weapon! I may add that I have emailed as many clergy
in the Durham Diocese with this idea as I could find - about a hundred - with a
sample prayer points sheet attachment in case they found it helpful. (I may
have emailed your vicar!) About 10 responded and I will be emailing a prayer
points letter to them on a monthly basis. If you think you’d like one, let me
know on dimurp@aol.com and I’ll send you one too. Go with God, fellow
Cursillistas. Ultreya! Di Murphy, Durham #6
Angela Smith
Lay Director
Upcoming
events
South West Area meeting and Ultreya
This is being held on Saturday 29th
June in Stanton St Quintin Parish Hall SN14 6DE
10.30am – 2.30pm
Guest speaker: Revd.
Stephen Bowring - National Spiritual Director. Stephen was commissioned as
National Spiritual Director at the Eucharist following the AGM on 18th May and
will be sharing and developing his ideas for the future. Do
attend to encourage and be encouraged by Stephen.
All Cursillistas and
pre-Cursillistas from the South West are welcome to this event. Please
notify Angela Smith, South West Area Rep email west@anglicancursillo.co.uk
by 21st June, if you are able to attend. Lunch will be provided – a
small donation towards the cost of food would be appreciated.
Garden Party 13th
July 2019 2.30 – 4.30 pm
The garden at Appletrees, 6,
High Street, Sutton Benger, SN15 4RD will be open.
Teas, plant sales and other
stalls in aid of the Bristol Diocese Cursillo
Come with friends and enjoy the
delights of Tony’s garden and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with cake and chat.
National
Ultreya Chester 31 August 2019
National Ultreyas are really uplifting events, meeting other
Cursillistas from around the country, worshipping and participating in the Eucharist together, sharing
fellowship and undertaking a walk of witness with all banners held high through
whatever city the event is being held. This year the event is being
held in Chester on 31st August and bookings can be made via the
following link: https://www.chestercursillo.org.uk/ultreya-2019. To
help with the planning those wishing to attend are encouraged to book as soon
as possible. No lunchtime food is being
provided but can be purchased nearby. Cursillistas
who need overnight accommodation should book their own.
There are no central arrangements for this.
I would like to encourage as many as possible from Bristol Diocese
to attend. Let us support and encourage the
National Cursillo movement and be uplifted in our faith.
Please contact Angela to discuss co-ordination of transport.
Canterbury Pilgrimage
A reminder that Canterbury is hosting a
Pilgrimage from 13th - 16th August: "The Path to Pilgrimage - Becket and
Beyond"
The deadline for booking is 30th June
Organised by Canterbury Cursillo it will run from
Tuesday 13th August to Friday 16th August and be based in Dover, Kent. The
focus will be on the subject of pilgrimage following the death of Archbishop
Thomas Becket in 1170 AD. In those times, pilgrims came to Canterbury from all
parts of the British Isles and also from Europe in considerable numbers. Highly
respected historian, Canon Dr Christopher Dent, will be leading the pilgrimage
and we will visit historic and spiritual sites in East Kent including
Canterbury Cathedral.
We will be staying at Dover College, a place not only of great learning
but also of significant historical interest. We will use the College’s
comfortable minibuses for our transport and the provisional itinerary blends
interesting history with significant spiritual experiences and worship. A
memorable experience is guaranteed and the cost per person is £250.00.
Please share with all Cursillistas and
any others who may be interested
BACC Pages
Contact
details:–
Hilary
Greene, Secretary and Communications Officer
3
Rectory Close
Stanton
St Quintin
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN14
6DT
01666
837850
Angela
Smith, Lay Director
2
Stantone
Malmesbury
Road,
Lower
Stanton St Quintin
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN14
6BS
01666
837478
