New Wine and water, water everywhere

I haven’t thought about War of the Worlds for years (let’s draw a veil over that Tom Cruise version) but I was reminded of the text about envious eyes and plans being slowly and surely drawn during our week at New Wine. I know what you’re thinking, that wasn’t quite what you were expecting to hear seeing as we were at a Christian conference and envy not quite being the order of the day and all that. However at the time it was raining Old Testament style* and for us huddled under a micron of nylon, well the caravaners were looking a bit too dry and smug for my liking. I could have been mistaken, I may have been hallucinating as it had been raining for 16 solid hours but I could have sworn the laughing and joking and hot chocolate drinking were coming only from those with the foresight to bring a house on wheels. The rest of us seemed to be reliving the best of Tiswas.**

So, New Wine. It was a first for the three intrepid families from St. Matthew’s that pitched up (did you see what I did there, pitched up) at the Shepton Mallett site. It’s not actually a camp site but the grounds for the Royal Bath and West Show. As a result amenities are extremely basic: approx sixty loos between 12,000 (you do the maths) and half a dozen showers are available. But there is something liberating about living in such spartan conditions, it’s one of the things I love about holidays. I’ve left all my clutter behind, as a result even my thoughts seem more streamlined or at least that’s what I tell myself when my only decision is a Feast or a Cornetto.

Of the St. Matthew’s families that went, we were the ones unfamiliar with the way of the tent but with help and what came to be the obligatory downpour, the tent was erected and the kettle was on.

We quickly got into a routine, the cooking was shared. It’s amazing what you can produce for ten people on two gas rings: having said that, we won’t be eating rice again for about a year!

We all met for worship in the mornings then a choice of sessions and workshops held mid morning and after lunch, then we congregated for the evening meetings. It sounds terribly busy but it was all optional. There’s also a day off for going out and about in nearby Wells or further afield for the adventurous.

I did get to some of the sessions and they were thought provoking and funny and sometimes incredibly moving. Ironically I got rejected from the Rejecting Rejection session (oversubscribed) and felt like steaming straight into Managing Anger only I bumped into Mike and we went to the market place for coffee and our damp clothes to gently steam in the heat. It beats tumble drying.

What we enjoyed was the novelty of sitting together in the evenings, eating, talking and laughing and sharing the day; fellowship at its best.

I think I can speak on behalf of the others when I say I think we enjoyed singing our worship most of all. I can’t really do justice trying to describe what it feels like to sing with thousands of other Christians expressing our passion for Jesus and giving God the glory: well maybe I can, I think it felt like a tiny piece of heaven.

* A lot.

** You’ll either get this or you won’t.

For information about New Wine visit the website, bookings start in September 2009 for the 2010 summer conference.

For the lowdown on What you Mustn’t Forget at any Cost Whilst Camping email Rector’s Wife

For soggy New Wine photo experience visit Emily Humphrey’s Face Book page!