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Current Reports (2011)

ORTHODOX FAMILY CAMP - 5th to 8th August 2011

Koliva Making

ONLINE PHOTOALBUM

The Orthodox Family Camp was held slightly earlier than usual this year, at the beginning of August. Changing the date did not, however, in any way change the mostly fine weather that shone on the beautiful setting of Cefn Lea Park, near Newtown, Powys.

As in previous years, families came together from several Orthodox jurisdictions and included some who had been to previous camps and those for whom this was a first visit. Children ranged in age from 8 years down to 9 months, giving the weekend a truly pan-Orthodox, family atmosphere.

Fr Michael Harry was the Chaplain for the weekend, and, as has been the custom for several years, he began on Friday evening by involving the children in blessing the chalet which accommodated the six families. The Saturday fell on the Feast of the Transfiguration, so the Divine Liturgy was celebrated early in the morning with the blessing of grapes at the end. During the day the children helped to make prosphora for Sunday's Divine Liturgy and koliva for a memorial service on the Saturday evening. A list was put up so parents and children could put the names of those to be remembered.

In between, the children could play with toys indoors or go outside and ride their scooters, play badminton in the Centre, and make new friends. The camp is surrounded by beautiful hills, giving opportunities for kite flying with Hugh Maxfield one day, and on the next, more hill climbing followed by a lovely craft session using an apparently inexhaustible bag of craft materials. To everyone's delight, the weather was good enough for the now traditional Family Camp water slide, created on the grassy slopes of the camp. Only the combination of mud and shivers eventually drove the children back indoors for warm showers.

Parents joined together to prepare all the meals, planned most imaginatively by Imogen Maxfield and everyone took their turn with the washing up and cleaning. In the evenings, once all the children were in bed, there was a chance for the parents to talk together with Fr Michael, to make plans for the next year's camp and just share time together.

On the Monday morning Fr Michael led everyone in a blessing service for journeys, and everyone went their separate ways, strengthened by having spent time together with other Orthodox families. As one of the fathers said at the end 'This weekend was just what I needed'.

Next year's camp has been booked at Cefn Lea Park from Friday August 24th to Monday 27th, 2012: families with young children are warmly invited to come.