Upcoming events at the House of the Open Door Community
The Community hosts many events throughout the year, using some of the facilities in our Retreat Centre; we list those coming up in a calendar below.
Our Tithe Barn is sometimes reserved for guest groups but is at other times is an ideal event space for meetings or conferences hosted by the community such as our Friday night Fellowship meetings, or those visiting for discipleship. Smaller meetings such as craft retreats take place in our Craft Studio.
If you are visiting for one of the events it may be possible for us to cater for you in our Dining Room; during your visit you are welcome to spend any spare time in our Retreat Centre Gardens.
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Our First Friday night speaker for May is Andy Swinford. Andy will speak on the theme
“C S Lewis and Joy”
– ‘A walk through the wardrobe into Lewis’s Narnia for a new perspective on the stories and the man behind them.’
Andy writes:
We will look at how Lewis explores joy (and sorrow) in his writing, a very important theme for him, making links to his life and faith, and biblical truth.
The presentation will draw mainly on the Narnia stories, but no knowledge of these is needed to understand it.
It will include pictures and video clips, plus short readings, and reflections with music.
All welcome.
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Andy Swinford lives in Birmingham where he teaches at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls. He is an elder in his church, Pavilion Christian Community.
He has a particular interest in the writings of C S Lewis and has done presentations on the author’s work for churches in Birmingham.
He has contributed essays to the Zondervan book ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’ and has an MA in the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ.
Robert Weston is the speaker as an extra invited speaker for the fourth Friday in September, at our Friday Night Fellowship Meeting.
He will be speaking on 23 September on the theme of “God’s Mercy”
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Robert Weston
Robert Weston is a Christian author and speaker well known to our community and fellowship through the many talks he has given and retreats he has led for us.
You can discover more about his work with Ruach Breath of Life Ministries through his website Ruach ministries and his blog www.ruachmin.wordpress.com.
Russ Parker is the speaker for our Friday Night Fellowship Meeting in October.
Russ will speak on the theme “The Power of Blessing”.
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Rev Dr RUSS PARKER
Rev Dr Russ Parker was Director of the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation from 1995-2013. Russ’s contribution as Director was to teach, write, develop training materials and lead a dedicated staff of over 20 people.
Russ was Acorn’s International Ambassador in which he was responsible for developing partnerships on listening and reconciliation in 12 nations ranging from Rwanda, Burundi, Hong Kong and the United States.
Russ is now the Director of Healing Wounded Churches which exists to help churches to resolve and heal their legacies of unhealed stories and their issues and move forward in a renewed ability to flourish as God intends
Russ is the author of a number of books which include: “Healing Dreams”, “Healing Death’s Wounds”; “Free to Fail”, “Forgiveness is Healing”, “The Wild Spirit,” “Visions in the Night,” “Healing Wounded History,” Wild Spirit of the Living God an anthology of prayer poems for public and private use. His latest book, published in February 2014 is “Rediscovering the Ministry of Blessing.”
Russ travels extensively around the UK and abroad, lecturing and teaching in issues connected with Christian Healing and Healthcare, Reconciliation and Church Transformation.
Russ was a Baptist Pastor from 1972 –77, ordained in the Church of England in 1981. Assistant Curate in Bolton 1981 –1985, Incumbent of Christ Church, Coalville 1985 – 1990, joined Acorn in 1990 and was Director from 1995-2013. Russ was the Co-founder and Director of Christian Care and Counsel, a Christian Counselling ministry based in the East Midlands.
He is also a co-founder of the Community of Aidan and Hilda whose mother house is situated on the holy island of Lindisfarne.
He is a founder member of the Fellowship of Christ the Healer(UK and USA) which exists to resource leaders of residential healing and healthcare initiatives.
He is co-founder of Whole Person Healthcare Network, an initiative to support and resource Christian healthcare professionals within the NHS.
He has a post graduate degree in Phenomenology and Theology from Nottingham University in which his thesis was entitled Dreams as a Religious Phenomenon.
Russ was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from Columbia Evangelical Seminary in the United States in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Christian ministry and for his many writings and his teaching abilities. In particular it was given for the standard of scholarship in his latest book “Healing Wounded History” which is about reconciling peoples and healing places.
Russ is married to Roz and lives near Farnham, Surrey. His hobbies are photography and visiting Celtic holy places.
He supports Liverpool Football Club, whether they are winning or losing!
Rev Nick Helm is the speaker for our Friday Night Fellowship Meeting in November.
Nick will speak on the theme “Discernment”.
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Rev Nick Helm
Nick works for the Diocese of Hereford and is responsible for the in-service development of the clergy.
He was born and grew up in South Africa, leaving at the end of his schooling.
An Anglican priest since 1989 he has had ten years of parish ministry in the urban settings of east London and Sheffield. He was Advisor in Spirituality in the Sheffield Diocese for ten years before taking up his current position.
He continues to encourage prayer and spiritual growth through courses, talks, retreats and spiritual direction.
His spiritual journey has been greatly helped by Ignatian spirituality and he published a Grove book on the subject in 2014.
He enjoys the music of Van Morrison, Rock Climbing and regular visits to South Africa, particularly its wilderness areas.
Our Fourth Friday night speaker for January is Andy Swinford. Andy will speak on the theme C S Lewis: ‘Encounters with Aslan’
All welcome.
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Andy Swinford lives in Birmingham where he teaches at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls. He is an elder in his church, Pavilion Christian Community.
He has a particular interest in the writings of C S Lewis and has done presentations on the author’s work for churches in Birmingham.
He has contributed essays to the Zondervan book ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’ and has an MA in the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ.
