About 5 years ago I undertook a three day walking trip in Derbyshire.

The ‘Peak Park Pilgrimage’ covers almost 40 miles of countryside; meandering from village to village and from church to church. The terrain covers everything from concrete to sheep tracks to rocky and uneven stones, and there were one or two occasions where my friend and I found ourselves in the middle of nowhere and wondered whether we were still on the path at all!

Every village reached represented a completed stage of the journey and the achievement that, even if we had been a bit lost at times, we had somehow managed to end up in the right place. The local shops were a haven for essential supplies (mainly chocolate!) but it was the churches that will always stand out in my memory.

Tiny village chapels – very often without such luxuries as toilets, kitchens and cushions – but each containing, somewhere in full view of the door, a green box. Opening the box revealed an ink stamp (to be applied to the guide books as proof you’d been there) and a quote from Scripture as a reminder of the pilgrimage that we all walk together. As we journeyed the once empty pages became filled with Scripture, and also reminders of the many communities that are continuing to show the love of God to those they serve.

That particular pilgrimage, unfortunately, remains incomplete. Not long after returning home from what we hoped would be the first of many trips, COVID hit. Each of us had our own experience, but for me life shrank drastically. Every inch of land within three miles of my manse – I lived in a rural area – was explored and re-explored. Ministry became a hybrid of digital (social media, recorded services) and analogue (letter writing). The community came together to create face-mask ‘extenders’ for the local hospital. A few of us began a lighthearted competition to see who could make the best sourdough bread – I did not win!

I’d forgotten that until a couple of weeks ago when Philippa suggested making sourdough starter as a community activity over Lent to involve the groups who use the church, as well as the Sunday congregation.

So, this Lent we will be trying something different. At the service on Sunday 9^th March (the first Sunday in Lent) we will be mixing up a sourdough starter which will be ‘fed’ by user groups throughout the following week. By Sunday 16^th March it should have ‘grown’ enough for those of us in church to take some home to feed and use (simple instructions and recipes will be available!) and/or give to friends or family. It will also be distributed among the user groups. Let’s see how far it can travel and how many people can get involved!

While not a ‘pilgrimage’ in the traditional sense, the process of making sourdough – watching and waiting without hurry, learning its rhythm, trusting in the end result – lends itself to the season of Lent.

Watch out for flyers with more information!

Love and blessings,

Laura