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Round Here – life in the urban village. Stories and reflections to celebrate ten years of the Round Chapel Community Projects. A six week resource book and study guide. Cost £2.00
‘Community’, sometimes seems a worn out word in common usage. I once heard, in an argument over road safety, cyclists being called ‘the cycling community’ – which seemed a strange collective word for those who travel very individually. We easily use the ‘C’ word as a way of collecting and categorising people who have some one feature in common .... which ironically speaks more of the fragmentation of society than its cohesion.
Which makes, ‘Round Here- life in the urban village’, this six session, reflective story telling book, a refreshing and inspiring change.
Born out of the remarkable adventure of a small URC congregation, a large historic building, the population of Hackney with its ingrained issues of fragmentation, violence, poverty and neglect, and the ten year Church Related Community Work ministry of Chris Lawrence, this book reflects the rediscovery and celebration of diverse and rich local community.
The six sessions, whose authors reflect personally and Biblically, are linked by the idea of ‘transformation’. The Biblical material can be used in group discussion or individually as daily food for thought. The six sessions are used, they are enriched by the personal journeys, stories of life and transformation, told on the pages between them. The people, telling their own stories, invite us into, what Chris Lawrence calls, “the ‘common wealth’ of our life together.”
There are lots of evocative ideas and questions in this book, like, ‘re-neighbouring our neighbourhood’, ‘venturing out’, and, ‘What does the embodiment of grace and truth look like?’
A rich picture of ‘community’ emerges. It is great to read of people who love where they live, have a genuine passion for welcoming diversity, an ambition to meet the challenges around them and share real life transformation.
Round Here, celebrates the creative community adventure in Hackney, in which we should rejoice. But more, it offers an enriching, warm and thought-provoking resource for Christian reflection. If you long to engage with faith in transforming community where you live, this book will give you valuable tools. TL
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