In February of this year a soul friendship group for youth and adults was formed in the Sale Meeting Place of the Anam Cara Community for those living with special needs. This was the initiative of Anne Turner founding soul carer of the Community.

It grew out of Anne’s own experience of living with a limiting physical condition and growing friendship with several parishioners of St. Paul’s Cathedral with varying “different” abilities. Anne approached Julie Mielke, a Cathedral parishioner and artist, whose son & daughter in law live with limiting disabilities, for her help and ideas for such a group. Julie, along with husband Peter, agreed, not sure how such a group might work, having had their son’s lifetime to experience many and varied “groups” with varying success! However they were very enthusiastic to try this approach because it offered a faith perspective.

It seemed to Anne that although St. Paul’s is a very inclusive church and integrates those with disabilities into worship as they are able, those same people do not have a safe “place” to discuss, share their spiritual and faith journeys, and inner lives. The group has a Christian focus but is open to those who may be searching “spiritually”.

Following Brian Turner’s retirement as Dean at the cathedral, the group began in Anne & Brian’s home in Sale, as a ministry of the Anam Cara Community. Adults were invited who were known to Anne & Brian from the Cathedral and so began the CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.

The name derived naturally from a resource, “Great Gifts” to encourage Christian growth, from “Willow Connection”. This resource offers studies, activities, bible stories, prayer, based on different gifts God gives us and is accompanied by a CD of songs for each study.

God’s Gift of Friendship was a natural starting point. The following words of the accompanying song sum up this “Circle of Friends”.
“Will you join the Circle?
Come and take my hand.
Will you join the circle?
Come and be my friend.
Gather round and see what the world can be.
Come and join the circle.
Come and share God’s Word with me.”

This has become the theme song of the group and is sung and danced at times to begin each meeting time.

The group itself set the tone of the whole ethos of the group in its first discussion about the importance of friendship; the importance of a circle; quotes from members included. “NO BOSS!”
“ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE”—“ALL ARE EQUAL AND IMPORTANT IN THE EYES OF GOD,” SOUL FRIENDSHIP MEANS GOD IS AT THE CENTRE OF THE GROUP AND OUR LIVES.”

Other Great Gifts of God we have adapted for our time together have been “The gift of Joy; the Gift of Forgiveness; The Gift of Jesus; The Gift of creation; The Gift of Myself; The Gift of Peace. The Gift of God’s Word.”

There is a beginning, of sharing our week & theme song around a pottery “circle of friends” with a lighted candle at its centre; an activity, often artistic in many and varied ways, and /or creative movement, a bible story told simply and often dramatically with dress ups, a simple meal together and finishing with a meditation and prayer.

After one term it became clear we needed to move to a bigger venue. By then the group had grown from the initial 10 to 15 including two Cathedral parishioners who help with food, meditation and activities when Anne, Brian or Julie are away. We now meet in Delbridge Hall and Community Room at the Cathedral; 5-7pm every Friday during term time.

Extra “events” have happened as the group has grown in their ideas and needs. The group entered an art work into the Cathedral Easter Art Show winning a prize for “peoples’ choice.”

The group is now working on a shadow puppet presentation of the nativity in time for Christmas. This is an exciting project as we have discovered in our circle of friends the great gifts each member has. ALL can contribute to this presentation.

Every week another great gift will be revealed from a particular member and we marvel together at God’s grace as we witness the growing confidence, ability to share deep issues, untapped talents and spiritual gifts, in each member and always each week the sheer joy and fun we have with each other.

We know how to celebrate and “party” especially at birthdays and end of term break up. There is a real sense of learning to value each others’ differences and a growing knowledge that God loves us “just as we are.”

One of the members showed a video she had taken on her and her husband’s holiday to Tasmania. We have a film producer in our midst!

Ages range from 15 -68 and everything in between! However it is as if we are all ageless as we meet in this special soul friendship group.

Perhaps this Group can act as a model for other places in the Diocese? For more information please contact Anne Turner on 51441914.