This year marked the O’Neils’ fifth year at New Wine, and it has become a real highlight for our family. We currently camp with a group of friends from our previous church, but we’re hoping that our New Wine family will grow, as a number of families from St John’s have already shown interest in coming along in the future
One of the things we love most about New Wine is how welcoming it is for families. The children’s work is fantastic, with groups starting from just age two. The Stepping Stones venue, for ages 0–5, is open from 5:30am, with plenty of toys and activities — and, perhaps most importantly for parents, free coffee! There is much more to New Wine than the main Big Top. There are a variety of smaller venues offering quieter worship, reflection, prayer and talks. And if you need a little more time in your tent, you can still listen to the main talks on New Wine Radio. There is entertainment and activities throughout the day and well into the evening, from arts and crafts and a small fair to bookshops, board games and late-night worship. Evening highlights this year included Primary School Bangers, Bill Ding and the Skyscrapers, and a silent disco!
But for us, the heart of New Wine is the opportunity to stop, reset and reconnect with God. Life can get busy, demanding and sometimes tough, and having a week away from the usual routines gives us space to reflect, learn, be challenged and be inspired. The talks and worship were once again amazing, and we came home feeling refreshed and re-engaged with our faith.
Five years in, New Wine has become something we truly look forward to — and we hope more families from our church join us next time. It’s a chance to laugh, learn, worship, grow and have fun. If you are interested have a chat with Chris or Louise! – Chris O’Neil
This article originally appeared in the St John’s Messenger. If you would like to discuss contributing a future article please contact news@valebenefice.org.uk.
