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The Season of Advent: prayerful preparation or assault course?

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The Diocese introduced a new mediation service from early 2021, with a team of trained volunteers acting as informal mediators in church-based disagreements. Mediation Team Leader, Milee Brambleby writes:

Our calendars are stuffed with Advent courses, carol services, school visits, fetes, and coffee mornings as well as our usual Services and pastoral commitments. This would be hard enough without the emotional freight that the season carries. To be cheerful, loving, gentle, festive, and hospitable to everyone, all the way through is a daunting challenge. And in 2021 the weight of expectation may be heavier than ever.

At this time of year, it is common for relationship tensions to increase, for old disagreements to be recycled and for new frictions to emerge. Conflict is a normal part of human life and church families are no exception to this rule.

If you can feel tensions rising in your team, parish, or congregation, then we may be able to help. Whether you just want a phone chat to discuss options for managing a situation or whether you think mediation or a facilitated conversation might be of help, please get in touch.

You can find out more here or contact Milee Brambleby.