On Tuesday (11th July) Matt & Jim from Home in Oxford came to share their experiences with Moot about how they developed their rhythm of life. I summarise the discussion and the differences with Moot so far.

1. their rhythm reflects values as a reinterpretation of the Benedictine rule of poverty chastity and obedience. I will post up exactly what these are later - as Matt is going to email me them.

2. On top of this, they also have some vows - which eight out of the community have vowed in a service to the Bishop to keep. They now have a once a year service for this with the Bishop on Holy Saturday in Easter week. These vows are very practical that include prayer and scripture reading amongst them. Not all the community have taken the step to take these vows.

3. outside of their rhythm and vows they also have values - that say something about what is distinctive about Home in Oxford.

4. They described the vows service - which includes renewal of baptism vows so that it could include the wider community. They use Lent as a preparation time in a lead up time to the vows service for spiritual development and preparation.

There was further stuff on how they organise those who have taken vows, but for me this was less important than the content and reason for why they were doing what thet were doing - and raised issues of governance and the church for me.

Gareth, who chaired the meeting rightly has called those Mooters who attended to go away and reflect on what they had heard and consider the implications for Moot at our next rhythm evening. I therefore will not add my reflections here and save them for later. Carey and Phillipa took notes, so have lists of the actual vows and actual rhythm. The only thing I would say, is that I think the rhythm has to be quite contextual and Home's reflects that people do not live that far from each other and therefore less dispersed thsn Moot. So there are therefore good and less good things for Moot to learn from Home.

I will post Matt's notes on their rhythm and vows once I receive them.