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Brigid’s flowers are in bloom in a mass under the weeping ash, and it feels as if Greenacres is putting out its first fragile blossoms too.
January has been a busy and very enjoyable month. There were a lot of visitors during the holiday period, including a group from Camphill Devon.
The Christian Community have started to use the house regularly. There is a Gospel Study Group meeting once a month, and anyone wishing to talk personally with Reglind Kühlke can arrange to do so before the meeting. Last Saturday there was a combined North and South Christian Community seminar on Epiphany, and I think everyone there agreed it was a wonderful experience.
Another very welcome group has been Paula Lindenberg with the Southern Irish Seminar. They will be here for 6 weekends over the year.
There was a United Churches Gathering in the Paris last Sunday, and Fr O’Doherty had asked if Camphill would agree to be a guest speaker, to tell the story of Camphill, with something of the hopes for Greenacres. The theme was Treasure in Clay Jars, picked up very beautifully by Patrick Lydon in his talk. Tea and biscuits afterwards in the hall below the church gave us a good opportunity to meet many of our immediate neighbours and supporters.
We had a huge turn out for the Families’ meeting at Airfield a fortnight ago. There were some very valid concerns expressed, but the overall extent of the support expressed, and the obvious need for the presence of Camphill in Dublin was overwhelming.
Prior to that meeting, a small group had met with Sr Rosemary to discuss the situation, and to request an extension of the rent-free caretaker period, and clarification as to whether there could be any flexibility about the level of rent, and what their long-term plans for the house are. We continue to experience enormous good-will from the nuns, and the request for an extension of the rent-free period until May has been granted.
Last night was the second meeting called to bring together all those interested in the future of Greenacres. There was a good turn out, and a very interesting group of people talked about how they could see it being used. It was heartening how so many people from such different backgrounds could come together in this way and talk the same language around a common interest. It was agreed that there would definitely be a Camphill core to Greenacres, including a small residential capacity, but that it was very valuable to remain open to the diverse strands wanting to use the premises.
Vera Klute has already moved in, which will make a great difference, and a second student moves in tomorrow.
Coming up next week is a day of silence for anyone interested in taking a break from his or her daily routine.
The following week, an intensive training takes place for facilitators of the Transformation Process.
And coming up in March is a weekend with Peter and Uta Rebbe. Your chance to learn to play the lyre, enhanced by eurythmy!
A few dates for the future:
March 14-16 Lyre and Eurythmy
March 22 Circle Dance
March 29 Sexuality workshop
April 4 Goethean Observation – Spring Experience
May 10 Steiner and Wholeness
(Child Development with Pearse O’Shiel, and
Crafts with Solvej Naldi)
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