Article for the Parish Magazine March 2011

Dear Friends,

Life has moved on at such a pace that I have not had the opportunity to tell you about my visit to Sweden in November..

I know many of us have felt rather down with winter so long this year. But spare a thought for our Swedish friends who have had an even longer winter than normal. We were expecting continual rain during our visit but the snow had already arrived and so we were well prepared for our return home.

Thirty two curates, including me, went from Gloucestershire to spend time in our Partnership Diocese of Västerås in Sweden. “The title of the trip was ‘Same, Same but Different’, so with notebooks at the ready we had lots of questions to ask our Sweden hosts.

John Witcombe, Diocesan Director of Discipleship and Ministry led the trip. The group spent the first few days together in the city of Västerås, visiting the cathedral and churches as well as enjoying the great hospitality of Bishop Thomas and his staff.

The parish facilities are amazing in Sweden. We went to one church where they had a community centre with coffee shop and a woodwork and music room fully resourced. There were also lots of facilities for young children and parents too. The meeting room was just like stepping into someone’s front room; tastefully decorated, fire place, pictures on the wall and a grandfather clock and piano in the corner. There was a huge ministry to the community and the parish facilities were well used during the week.

We also visited the new church at Önsta Gryta. From the outside it looked architecturally like a boat, a symbol of journey and pilgrimage. It stood on a busy main room with lots of people passing by on their way to work each day. Made with lots of glass people could look inside and see the church in action, showing that the church of today is not dead but very much alive. This church has become famous for its lego sculpture of Jesus.

One of the highlights of the visit was being treated to a meal and match at the Ice Hockey Stadium in Vasteras. The game was between two places in the diocese: Västerås and Leksand. Bishop Thomas diplomatically supporting both sides wore one team’s shirt and one team’s scarf!

After three days in the city the curates then dispersed to parishes near and far to see life in other communities. I went with two friends to our link parish, Skinnskatteberg, where a number of us are hoping to go in the summer when the days will be warm, sunny and long with not a snowflake in sight! I stayed with Gunilla and Harald and it was a joy to see them and other friends again as well as make new ones too. We had a wonderful time touring the local area, seeing the parish churches, visiting an old museum and enjoying a feast of a cream tea in an old mansion house.

There was much to see and discuss as we enjoyed the hospitality of our Swedish hosts and much to share and discuss when we returned to Västerås. Why do people go to church? What does the structure of the church symbolise in a community? Is the church something we go to or something we are? How do we awaken and feed a sense of discipleship? What is the aim of the church as it ministers to a community? These were just some of the questions that were raised as we reflected on the Swedish Church that is “Same, Same but Different.”

The trip was a great success, with lots of good memories . Now are thoughts can turn to the summer and our visit to Skinnskatteberg. I know that everyone who has signed up for the trip will make lots of new friends and have a memorable holiday. But such a visit is also an opportunity to learn and grow in our knowledge and understanding of one another as we live out our lives in different contexts and communities as God’s children in the world.

Blessings and love,

Leonora