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Celebrations

FOLLOW THEIR PROGRESS WITH ROBERTA'S BLOG: 

TUESDAY 3rd JUNE - A day beginning and ending with two different but beautiful services.  It was filled with an exploration of Cambridge's links with Nicolas Ferrar and a  7-mile warm-up walk; in the near constant rain, whilst the floods and the muds came up.  However, companionship thrives, tents assembled, food and a vicar's hospitality made for a warm group...who have still not worked out the real meaning of the worde 'huggermugger.

WEDNESDAY 4th JUNE - We started the day with muesli and porridge: the minibus started with a push and jumplead.  A gorgeous straight walk with the sun and East Anglian sky, ending at the beautiful Turvey Abbey for a meal 'suitable for pilgrims'. A restful place for the weary but challenging for the tired - a secret garden and a place where prayer is made valid.  Hope for Pilsdon and dry clothes again tomorrow. Wonderful.

THURSDAY 5th JUNE - Beginning with a walk from Turvey Abbey (and ending with a march in India for land rights) it has been a good day - also have 2 blisters to share the fun with.   The use of pesticides obviously declined over the day and the butterfly numbers went up.  Hospitality at the Well at Willen is wonderfully generous.  another night in a bed - luxury

FRIDAY 6th JUNE - Perfect day for walking - a great breakfast followed by a tour of the the Peace Park, then dry but cool weather. This was the first time the p.m. walk was longer than the a.m. Lovely woods and a few more up-hills.  The countryside continues to change.  A good meal at Wendover with local United Churches people followed by lose one game of Connect4 out of many! Rested feet well to be ready again tomorrow.

SATURDAY 7th JUNE -  Very civilised breakfast followed by an Anglican/Free church morning prayer. Walked to lunch stop whilst Gill & Richard caroused with a chocolatier.  Probably best day of walking yet. Met the Tobias and Franscesca, Benny and Emma Jones at lunchtime and they walked with us pm.  Learned how to make a poppy doll and how not to fall over and 'wear your milk.'  Sad to say 'Goodbye' to Richard, Jonathan and Nicole but good to welcome others. A quiet reflective Compline ended the day."

SUNDAY 8th JUNE - Morning Prayer around the picnic table followed by the longest walk yet. St Botolph's church & Grim's Ditch made for lovely flat walking by the Thames & an ice-cream & a meeting with wayfarer George for some.  New blisters. Gorgeous view, supper and Compline. Also 2 biplanes, 4 hot air balloons, reed bunting, red kites made for some good watching. Nice hostel with crisp sheets so looking forward to an early bed.

MONDAY 9 JUNE - En route for St Mary's, Wantage -"Black socks they never get dirty.The longer you wear them the stronger they get.  Sometimes I think I might launder them.  So mething keeps telling me, 'Don't launder them yet!' "

TUESDAY 10th JUNE - As I was observing the Greater Silence and the rules of the convent, I did not upload last night - from RAF by txt: "One of Henry's famous fry-ups got us started for the day: the earliest yet and a long hot walk followed.  We walked back along the path today 'symbolically' and due to Douai's closure. Tomorrow  we continue onwards but tonight ends in silence at St Mary's Convent, Wantage - which has a similar ethos to our own.

WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE - Sad to leave sisters so early but grateful not to have to walk in the hottest part of the day. We walked above the Devil's Punchbowl and a white horse. Drove to Marlborough and met Rob and Graham at the hall. Good dinner & also rang bells. As with all groups we found people in common and there were links to Pilsdon too.  Led Compline with a meditation about changing perceptions and only viewing the good in change in order to help ourselves.   Now ready for bed and for tomorrow to begin.

DORSET: the pilgrimage walk will reach the home county of Dorset today with nightstops at Okeford Fitzpaine (Friday) & Hilfield Friary (Saturday).  Walking on Sunday is due to begin at CHARMOUTH with lunch at St Wite.
The procession will be led to a conclusion along Bat's Lane (The Mile) by a trumpeter.
Confirm details on               01308 868308       
 
 

 THURSDDAY 12th JUNE - Up at the crack of dawn to vacate the hall pre-creche, which we managed.
Walked from Marlboro' to Avebury where we saw a stained glass Jesus - with a creative salute.
Met Rob & Graham for lunch. Walked past a folly and another white horse that we couldn't see.
Tea break at a golf club with Teresa before we split; some walking & some off to set up tents.
Pasties for dinner, then prayer and showers before the rain set in.....warm in bed, hearing it on the canvas."
 

FRIDAY13th JUNE - Once again the rain stopped when we needed it to. Visited Caen Locks before beginning the walk.
We tried to buy ice-creams off the army on Salisbury Plain but they didn't seem to have any.
We are developing new yoga positions and a whole new vocabulary.
Tents easily pitched and tasty dinner from Teresa.
Hot showers - lovely.
 

 

ANNUAL  ROUND OF SPECIAL EVENTS:

Shrove Tuesday

   

 

 

 

Shrove Tuesday was celebrated 'Pilsdon Style' with the traditional pancake-tossing and wheelbarrow-racing, twice around the courtyard, complete with obstacles. 

The day was topped off magnificently with pancakes for supper.  

Holy Week  

 

They don't do things by halves at Pilsdon once the creative juices begin to flow.  An enthusiastic team built a representation of Christ's tomb at the altar and it became the centre of our worship over the Easter Season. On Maundy Thursday we celebrated the Passover Supper and this was followed by a foot-washing ceremony.  A moving interactive service 'Stations of the Cross' was centre of our Good Friday worship.  On Saturday evening we had a gentle and reflective vigil service and on Sunday morning at dawn we greeted the risen Christ with a bonfire and fireworks.

Rogation Sunday 

 

 On Rogation Sunday the congregation enjoyed
a service led by Bishop Tilewa of Gambia and Adam. We toured the flower and vegetable gardens and all the animals, all if  which were sprinkled with water blessed for the occasion. 

Ascension Day

 

 

 

Where better to hold our Ascension Day service that on top of Pilsdon Penn - one of the highest points in Dorset?

 

 

Anniversary  

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They say we produce a pretty good tea at Pilsdon, and the Anniversary is certainly an occasion when we pull out the culinary stops with summer puddings as an essential centre piece. Our Anniversary - which attracts in excess of 200 people - is held mid-October and celebrates the founding of our Community by Percy and Gaynor Smith in 1958.  The day is capped by a service in the church in the garden with a "special" visiting speaker.  Memorable amongst these have been Roger Royle of television and radio fame, and Paul Oestreicher, who was a canon at Coventry Cathedral and renowned for his work in international peace and justice.

2008 will bring a very special celebration - PILSDON'S 50th ANNIVERSARY.  This will be celebrated on 19th OCTOBER with the usual gathering of friends and we anticipate many of the founder and early members, volunteers and guests.

Harvest

We harvest our vegetables and fruit crops throughout the year; we rear cattle, pigs and lambs for our tables.  Our cows provide us with milk and cream and we make butter and cream cheese.  Flowers and shrubs  grown in the garden (some dried for the winter months) provide us with decorations for the church, chapel and the house all the year round. Helped by neighbouring farmers we make hay that contributes to the animals’ diets during the winter months.

In autumn we celebrate God’s gifts in traditional fashion with a Harvest Festival service.  About this time we look forward to visits from children of schools in the vicinity and we are grateful for the generosity of their gifts to our community.  We particularly like when they are able to stay for an hour or so and enjoy a wander round the farm, the garden and to learn something of the history of the manor house and the church.

Bonfire Night  

We do not miss out on remembering the doings and mis-doings of Guy Fawkes and our neighbours join us each year.

This year we enjoyed the enormous bonfire, splendid fireworks followed by traditional food and then entertainment in the Common Room from a 'Rock and Roll' band.

Christmas

It goes without saying that Christmas is a very special time for all of us at Pilsdon. 

Our crib scene was highly original this year.  The stable was re-created within the church by lining the walls to ceiling height with hay bales.

The Midnight Mass was a reflective service by candlelight shared by many. Our Barn Service, on Christmas morning,  always well attended by friends and neighbours and several of our animals was wonderfully led by Jonathan who, in fine and original story-telling mode took us through the stable birth. A very moving service.

                                                         

Christmas fare from the kitchen was, as usual, spectacular throughout the Christmas period and our evening dinner was a 'five-star' occasion.

Boxing Day evening provided an of unforgettable entertainment that combined the reflective and the ridiculous - mainly the ridiculous. 

We sincerely thank all those joined us for our services, who sent us cards and donations.  This supports make this celebration of Christ's birth special for everyone staying here.

Jacki who has been associated with the community for  decades continues to make and decorate cakes for all our special occasions.

       

And then we let in the New Year ....

....with very fine meal, with games, music, chat and fireworks. On Monday afternoon the energetic took a bracing walk  and returned in time for 'high tea'.

Christian Community Brighter Future Working Community Creative Community
Guests Brief History Celebrations Events
Members Volunteers Newsletter Home