Each student to read 1 letter
A to Z of Bossey 2012
A is for Arrival, thinking back to when we first got here, when all that is now so familiar to us was new and unknown
B is for Bossey, our chateau, with its classrooms, it's library, it's chapel and its wonderful views.
C is for Cultural differences, where do we begin... I think it is safe to say that living and working together has made the world seem a much smaller place, but at the same time highlights those differences that makes us unique
D is for Dialogue, whether its been in the classroom, over coffee, with each other, with visitors, with staff or with friends we have made outside of Bossey, we keep on listening and understanding.
E is for Ecumenism, well what can we say, our whole purpose for being here.
F is for Filioque, one of the first ecumenical issues we came across here, our way of understanding our faith isn't the same for everyone
G is for Geography, no longer having to look at google earth to check where a country is, because the chances are we know someone who lives there now!
H is for Hospitality, for everyone who fed us, looked after us and answered our queries, we thank you.
I is for Ignorance, what we may have started our journey with. Now we have gained knowledge, it's hard to go backwards. In the council for Interfaith dialogue discussion in Rome, they suggested we should enter in to dialogue with other faiths by listening so we could recognise their values and find common ground for cooperation. Fear and lack of knowledge often assist in fuelling prejudice.
J is for John and the organic garden, for the fresh air, the hard work and the passion he developed in many of us
K is for Koinonia, for fellowship and togetherness in Christ, wherever we may be in the world
L is for Lund principle - The Lund Principle is important in ecumenical relations between Christian churches. It affirms that churches should act together in all matters except those in which deep differences of conviction compel them to act separately.
M is for Myanmar and all the other countries represented here today
N is for Normality, what we are going back to, will life ever be the same after our time here? Should it ever be the same, if we are going to grow as Christians, all part of the journey
O is for Orthodox and other denominations, what we have learnt and how it will affect our ministry, lay or ordained in the future
P is for Petit Bossey, our home for 5 months.
Q is for Questions, how would we learn without them, as Bob Marley would say, emancipate yourself from mental slavery.
R is for Rome experience, still fresh in our minds, a week of worship and sightseeing, history and fellowship, a week never to be forgotten.
S is for Students, father Ioan speech at the being of this course, if you put a group of Bishops together and tell them they are students, they will behave like students.
T is for Taize experience, sharing in the spirituality of the place, coming together in prayer and silence
U is for Umbrellas, not just umbrellas, but the weather in general, from the warm weather in September to the snow in January, it was the first time some of the students had experienced it!
V is for Visible Unity, what we should continue to seek. it is a gift from God, it is our responsibility as humans to make it happen for all.
W is for the World Council of Churches, this provisional organisation which has and continues to do so much towards working for visible unity between us
X Is for the love shown to one another during our time together, forming friendships that will out live out time here.
Y is for Yahweh, Father, God, whatever name we use, God is at the centre of all our lives.
Zzzz is for sleep! The temptation maybe to leave here, return home and go back to sleep. But the reality is that this has been a life changing experience, and one we now need to go and live in the real world
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