The Duchy of Lancaster

Before Christmas we found out that the Duchy of Lancaster had very kindly donated money towards the cost of our tracking and hoist for the downstairs bedroom. We had specifically chosen a system that would operate in the most intuitive and discreet way possible. We definitely didn't want clunky and that costs more money! So this gift was very gratefully received.

It took a little bit of organising but Paul Griffiths very kindly came over and presented us with the cheque.

He was really impressed to see with what we've done with the house. It's always lovely to show it off.

 

Looking through the photos it always amazes me how much we've achieved on the house.

From this:

To this:

And now to this:

As a visitor commented, "Who wouldn't want to live here?!"

Celebrations

It was Eleanor’s birthday Wednesday and she was turning the grand old age of 25. Owing to such an occasion Eleanor had managed to arranged about 6 parties, one of which was at St Paul's. Invitations had been written and sent and apparently around 16 people would be attending; some people I know and some I didn’t. 

The guests started arriving from about 6pm. Fred and Pauline were the first. They had had a bit of a stressful time as the driver had said that he couldn’t fit two wheelchairs in the car, but somehow Pauline had persuaded him. Eleanor helped both Pauline and Fred into the house and then they came into the kitchen to chat while we got into the food ready. As the guests appeared Eleanor welcomed them in and go them a drink. The room soon filled up and people were chatting and mingling. There were people Eleanor knew from the youth group she used to attend, from her church, from the Catholic Fellowship she attends on a Saturday and from L’ Arche. Food was served at 7pm and we crammed round the table to sit and eat together. After the meal, tea and coffee were served alongside a huge chocolate cake and the obligatory ‘Happy Birthday’ was sung. In L’ Arche we pass around a candle at someone’s birthday meal and it gives us the opportunity to say thank you for that person, to say a prayer for them or to share stories about them. As the candle was passed round what was echoed by each person was the sense of joy and fun that Eleanor brings and the depth of friendship she cultivates.

We cleared plates, made some space and had a bit of a dance. There were plenty of balloons around so we played the age old game of ‘Keep the balloon of the floor’ which appeals to all of us whatever age. Once we ran out of energy we sat around and chatted. The evening had a really relaxed feel to it and it seemed as if everyone was enjoying each others company.

By about 9.45 pm people were starting to leave.  It was a fantastic evening full of lots of fun. Eleanor had orchestrated a great party and it was lovely to meet her other friends.

As we observe the time of Advent, a time of waiting in anticipation for Christmas, L'Arche Manchester observes an advent period of its own as we wait in anticipation to welcome our first core members into the house. We're really looking forward to getting started. This is probably the wrong phrase to use after what I've just said, but we can't wait to crack on!

We have been keeping ourselves very busy in the meantime. On Wednesday 5th December, we had our prayer evening at Chorlton Central Church: a lovely evening, a little less raucous than last year's improvised nativity play fiasco. A slightly more cerebral Advent preparation! Here are the pictures we collated depicting our hopes and aspirations for the future:

Also, a few weeks ago, a couple of us had a fantastic opportunity to visit the founding L'Arche community in Trosly, France. Here are some photos from that:

Heather and Richard share a joke with L'Arche founder Jean Vanier.

Tracy, Eleanor and Jean Vanier.

Welcome to the mothership.

Jean and Richard.

A great time was had by all with plenty of new memories made. It was also a fantastic opportunity to become more familiar with what's going on in other communities across the globe, and to also share our experiences with Jean, in the place where L'Arche began back in 1964.

Furnishing the house

It's been a busy week for l'Arche Manchester, as we continue to wait for our first core members to come in and call our now-furnished home their own.

 Yes, this week has been a tremendous time of team-building for our budding assistants as they have masterly assembled some of the toughest furniture known to man. Some say it's harder than solving a rubik's cube blindfolded. Yes, it's Ikea. Drawers, cupboards and seating, our assistants knuckled down, got their screwdrivers in hand, and for the most part scratched their heads in perplexion while reading the instruction manuals, but in the end the dedicated men and women at Heathside were left with a real sense of fulfillment.

Fitting curtains.

Some of the assistants were okay at assembling furniture.

Self-satisfaction.

After bigging up the teamwork of making furniture to sound like a Hollywood epic - granted, a very dull one - we move onto our community gathering that took place at Heathside on the evening of Tuesday 20th November. We focused particularly on what we can do as a community in the upcoming time of Advent. It was a great time of fellowship and a chance for some of the long-established members of the community to meet some of the new assistants. It was also a great opportunity for us all to hear about (and see the photographs!) of different stages of the development of the house.
From this:

To this:

On Sunday night I was promoting the work of L'Arche Manchester at the evening student's mass at Holy Name Church - a church widely known by avid fans of the Smiths as it is immortalised in song (in "Vicar in a Tutu" Morrissey quips "I was minding my business lifting some lead off the roof of The Holy Name church"), followed by a meal and fellowship at the Catholic chaplaincy, Avila House.  I am returning there on Wednesday 28th November - at 7pm to talk in more depth about L'Arche and our hopes for our new community here in Manchester.  Drop in if you're free!

That's all for this week.

On the weekend of the 5/6/7th of October we opened the doors of Heathside for our open house. Visitors flocked to see the house with plenty of new faces as well as those who have travelled the long journey to this weekend. We had over 200 people through the door and people were stunned by how great the place was looking. It certainly has the 'wow' factor.

Ministers from the Methodist, United Reform Church, Catholic and Anglican churches joined us in blessing the new house. What else could a house want; bread, water, a Bible, a candle and party poppers. You figure it out.

We asked our guests to have their picture taken and to leave us a message. The walls were soon covered with happy, excited faces.

And the weather was so good we even managed to have impromptu bacon sarnies in the garden. What a weekend.

The house opens this month and we can't wait to get started.

We're getting busy in the next few weeks

On Tuesday 17^th July we have our Community Support Group meeting.  This is an important meeting.  In only a few weeks’ time we will have opened the doors on Heathside.  There will be loads of new faces arriving:  new assistants, new people with learning disabilities and new family and friends.  From October our community meetings will start to look very different.  We need to get ready to welcome these new people. 

Come along and join in the discussion on plans for the coming weeks and months.  Where should we hold meetings from now on?  When should we hold them?  Should we start to have two separate meetings:  one for “Friends of L’Arche Manchester” and another for people linked to the Heathside house?  Should we start a separate Fundraising Group?

There are lots of things to consider and getting it right could make a huge difference to the success of the first few months of Heathside’s existence. 

Also we have a Boogie Night on Friday 20^th July.  I know many of you will be leaving for Summer holidays soon so this is our last chance to all get together before we head off.  Come along and boogie and meet some new people.  Pass this on to friends and let’s get a really good turn out!

On Wednesday 1^st August we have our regular Prayer Evening.  I know lots of us are away that week but we decided to leave the date in as it is important to be faithful to our regular attenders so if you are free on that evening why not come along and find out why our prayer evenings have been so well received.

If we don't see you at one of these events, have a great summer anyway.