October 2023

8 Buckden Roundabout October 2023 Church News Weekly Prayer Roster Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the village, those who work in the parish and village organisations. Those to be remembered this month are: 1st October Longhall Road, Viking Way, Mercia Close, Angles Drive 8th October Mayfield, Springfield Close, The Osiers, Stirtloe 15th October Vineyard Way, Burberry Road, Swan End, Lark End, The Library and its librarians 22nd October The churches of the village: St Hugh ’ s, St Mary ’ s, Buckden Methodist Church, also Perry Baptist Church, members of home groups from these and other local churches, ministers and all who make our churches welcoming and worshipful places 29th October Church Street, Mill Road, The Barns, The Old Flour Mills Thought for the Month Many of you will have heard of the Camino de Santiago (the way of St James). It ’ s a series of pilgrim routes starting in different places all over Europe, all leading to the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, where the body of Jesus ’ s disciple, James, the bearer of the Gospel through Europe to Spain, was purportedly returned after his death. People have been travelling these routes since at least the 9 th century. Most well known today, due to the film ‘ The Way ’ and recent TV coverage, is the French route across the north of Spain, a journey of nearly 500 miles. I ’ ve just returned from doing the Portuguese route via Finisterre – a trip of just 230 miles or so. Walking in all sorts of conditions, getting up before dawn on some days to avoid the blistering heat, tramping through UK like rain on others; sleeping in hostels along the way. So, what ’ s different about walking a pilgrim route com- pared to a long hike? Well, it's something to do with being on the road with others; all ages, nationalities and walks of life, all head- ing in the same direction. It ’ s something to do with being outside your comfort zone and dealing with it; staying open to what this reveals to you, about you. But most of all it ’ s something about intentionality; going with inten- tion, even if you are not quite sure exactly what your in- tention is. Putting yourself in the way of encounter and letting whatever happens, happen. We all have a calling of one sort or another. You don ’ t have to walk hundreds of miles to find your purpose, your core, your centre! But you do need to be intention- al, to deliberately give yourself space to discover your own path. Most often this happens through journeying alongside others and creating space just to be, letting Camino do its magic of delivering just what ’ s needed. So, if anyone wants to ‘ talk Camino ’, do get in touch. It would be a privilege to share part of your journey. Revd. Sue To contact Revd. Sue email: sue.bakermaher@methodist.org.uk