Event Description
A self-guided walk around the parish boundary starting and finishing at the church. The whole boundary is about 12 miles, which is rather too far for some people, so we have a Long Route and a Short Route which together cover the whole 12 mile boundary. It’s not intended as an endurance test or race, but for enjoyment and spiritual refreshment. Maybe one day we’ll organise a race, or maybe some keen souls will arrange to walk all the way round, but not today.
People can set off on their chosen walk in their own time, with the aim to arrive at Great Kingshill Common for a communal picnic between 12:30pm and 2pm. Everyone then walks together back down to the church to finish at 3pm to build a cairn and for a short reflection.
Pray: You are encouraged to pray as you walk the boundary: for all who live within the parish on your one side, and for the whole wide world on your other side. You can talk as you walk, but do walk in silence for a while and see what God shows you.
Nature's Treasure Hunt: Don’t bother looking for the four-leafed clover or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but keep eyes and ears open and camera/mobile at the ready: beautiful flowers (garden and wild), enthusiastic birdsong, largest creepy-crawly, crops sprouting, an unusual cloud, the deepest puddle, deer grazing, kites circling. Talk with each other, but more importantly listen; smile at passers-by, or show them your treasures, and at the picnic share your treasures with walkers whom you hardly know.
Cairn: A cairn is a man-made pile or stack of stones raised for a purpose, usually as a trail marker or a point of significance. For us, our cairn represents the end of our walk, and the focal point of our parish.
Find a 'pilgrim’s stone' along your walk. Maybe choose two stones; one for another person who has not been able to walk the footpaths like you. Bring your stones to the Church where we will build a cairn to mark the end of the walk and take a few moments in reflection.
