Weekend 33

LONDON #33 - REFLECTIONS BY THE LAY RECTOR

Over the years, we have often felt “under attack” when dealing with all the unexpected problems that always seem to beset us as we plan a weekend, but London #33 really takes the prize. The expected pilgrim numbers had not materialised, but we had our minimum – 6 and so we entered the home strait feeling reasonably under control.  We had checked that the lift was functioning at Felden Lodge and we were prepared for every contingency……..

48 hours before the start, one Table Leader and one Pilgrim had to pull out! 

Frantic phone calls later we had shuffled the remaining staff and, breathing sighs of relief, we carried on packing.  The Thursday morning dawned with the news that another Table leader and Pilgrim had to withdraw and now we really knew what attack was like.  It initially seemed to me that I had two options:- Panic, or hide in a corner and suck my thumb!  Luckily these feelings were rapidly replaced by several others; anger that we were being attacked so strongly, determination that  our remaining pilgrims should have a comparable experience with those who had been on previous weekends and faith that God would be right there with us while we worked for him.

So Thursday morning became a hive of activity and phone calls.  A group of Cursillistas were asked to pray; we reshuffled the staff yet again and decided on one table with three Table leaders, and our reserve staff, Dee, didn’t get her weekend off after all!

I think it went reasonably well, although we missed the noisy buzz of 3 tables of pilgrims all excitedly discussing ideas or arguing over artwork. We reverted to the original version of Stations of the Cross that we used at the first weekends at St. Katharine’s and it worked extremely well despite the much smaller space. We also reinstated the “Values Clarification” but that was less successful due to the smaller numbers and intense cold outside.

There was, however, one addition to the weekend that we cannot replicate, and I like to feel it was a God-given sign that He had seen our efforts and thought that it was good.  We were presented with a truly magnificent sunset on Saturday night.

We just stopped proceedings and gazed in wonder. Whatever the problems we may encounter, God is always in charge.

Ultreya!

Chris Hoppett