Calendar of Events

‘In your presence is fulness of joy’
(Psalm 16.11)

‘In a sense the central story of my life is about nothing else’
(Surprised by Joy – C S Lewis)

Saturday 20^th April 2024

The House of the Open Door community offers a retreat on the theme “Surprised by Joy” led by Andy Swinford.

This is a retreat for the refreshment of the spirit as Andy Swinford leads us on an adventure into the world of C S Lewis. The wind of joy breathes through his writings (no prior knowledge needed!) and we will draw close to God by using insights they provide, arising out of the deep faith of the author. During the day there will be space for reflection, walking, prayer, and joy-gathering in the beautiful gardens and grounds of The House of the Open Door.

Suggested donation £20

Please bring your own lunch – refreshments provided.

Please Contact Us for more details, or to book.

Surprised by Joy Retreat Poster (PDF)

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Andy Swinford

Andy formerly taught English Literature and is the author of 14 essays in ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’. He is about to publish ‘The Practice of Joy: insights from the stories of C S Lewis’. He also delivers multimedia presentations and on-line classes about the authors C S Lewis and Tolkien.

Walking in the countryside and beekeeping are among his chief pleasures. He is a long-standing friend of The House of the Open Door, and has spoken before at our Friday Night Fellowship Meetings.

‘The trees of the field will clap their hands’

(Isaiah 55.12)

Saturday 11^th May 2024

The House of the Open Door community offers a retreat on the theme “The Trees of the Field” led by Andy Swinford.

Using the beautiful grounds of The House of the Open Door and scripture, we find inspiration in the different trees of the Bible to help us in our walk with God.

This is a retreat for the refreshment of the spirit as Andy Swinford leads us in a prayerful walk among the trees of the Bible. The oak, fig, willow, vine, olive can all inspire us as we draw close to God. During the day there will be plenty of space for reflection, walking, prayer, and enjoying God’s wonderful creation, including the majestic trees, in the gardens of The House of the Open Door.

Suggested donation £20

Please bring your own lunch – refreshments provided.

Please Contact Us for more details, or to book.

The trees of the field poster (PDF)

__________________

Andy formerly taught English Literature and is the author of 14 essays in ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’. He is about to publish ‘The Practice of Joy: insights from the stories of C S Lewis’. He also delivers multimedia presentations and on-line classes about the authors C S Lewis and Tolkien.

Andy Swinford

Walking in the countryside and beekeeping are among his chief pleasures. He is a long-standing friend of The House of the Open Door, and has spoken before at our Friday Night Fellowship Meetings.

Jamie Price from Elim Limitless will be our speaker on 24^th July 2024, as part of our Gateway Summer Youth Conference 2024.  Jamie spoke last year and we had to have him back!

• “Come let us Return unto the Lord” (Hosea 6 v 1)

A day of guided prayer and reflection in beautiful surroundings, with reflections led by community members.

In between the times together, there will be time to pray and reflect in our beautiful  Chapel and peaceful Retreat Centre Gardens.

Join us as we seek to return to the Lord this Advent.  

We suggest a donation for the day of £15, including refreshments.

Please bring your own packed lunch.

To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.

“My Kingdom is not from this world” (John 18 verse 36)

A day of reflection and prayer, considering what it means to be in the world but not of the world, living as ambassadors from a far country.

Join us as we seek the Lord together, in a day’s guided retreat led during Lent by Lynda Watson.

In between the times together, there will be time to pray and reflect in our beautiful  Chapel and peaceful Retreat Centre Gardens.

We suggest a donation for the day of £20, including refreshments.

Please bring your own packed lunch.

To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.

Lynda Watson

This is a Lent retreat day in which we’ll reflect on some of the ways in which we can be ‘alive to God’ in our daily lives.

‘Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 6.11)

said St Paul, and again 

‘God made you alive together with Christ’ (Colossians 2.13).

Led by Andy Swinford, we’ll use scripture, creation, words and music to explore some refreshing takes on this ‘aliveness’.

There will be time set aside during the day for prayer, contemplation, and wandering in the beautiful grounds of The House of the Open Door.

Join us as we seek the Lord together.

We suggest a donation for the day of £20, including refreshments.

Please bring your own packed lunch.

To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.

Andy lives in Birmingham and is a former teacher of English.

He delivers multimedia presentations and on-line classes about the two friends C S Lewis and Tolkien, and is the author of ‘The Practice of Joy: insights from the stories of C S Lewis’ (Grove Books) and a contributor to ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’ (Zondervan).

Since retiring from teaching, enjoying the countryside and beekeeping are among his chief joys. He is a long-standing friend of The House of the Open Door, and has spoken before at our Friday Night Fellowship Meetings.

Andy Swinford

This is a springtime retreat day set during the season of Easter in which we’ll reflect on themes of resurrection and new life, particularly as we enjoy them in the natural world around us.

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise.

Led by Andy Swinford, we’ll use scripture, creation, words and music to help us enjoy and celebrate the twin theme of creation and resurrection.

There will be time set aside during the day for prayer, contemplation, and wandering in the beautiful grounds of The House of the Open Door.

Join us as we seek the Lord together.

We suggest a donation for the day of £20, including refreshments.

Please bring your own packed lunch.

To book a place, please contact us by phone or email.

Andy lives Swinford in Birmingham and is a former teacher of English.

He delivers multimedia presentations and on-line classes about the two friends C S Lewis and Tolkien, and is the author of ‘The Practice of Joy: insights from the stories of C S Lewis’ (Grove Books) and a contributor to ‘The Christian Tradition in English Literature’ (Zondervan).

Since retiring from teaching, enjoying the countryside and beekeeping are among his chief joys. He is a long-standing friend of The House of the Open Door, and has spoken before at our Friday Night Fellowship Meetings.

Andy Swinford

Poster: For the Beauty of the Earth