1.
Winter Newsletter
2020
Brochure
AvailableNow!
2019
Merry Christmas from us all
at Ammerdown
• Advent Message from the Chairman
• The Ammerdown Interfaith Project
• Ammerdown Book Club Day
In this Issue
• The Big Sukkot Party
• Dates for your Diary
• Ammerdown Recipe
Advent marks the beginning of the Christian
year. The word advent is derived from the
Latin Adventus meaning coming. Advent is
known as a time of anticipation and
expectation of the birth of Christ. The first
Advent wreath was made in 1839 when a
Lutheran minister, working at a children’s
mission, created a wreath out of the wheel of a
cart. He placed
twenty small red
candles and four
large white candles
inside the ring. The
red candles were lit
on weekdays and the
four white candles
were lit on the
Sundays. Our
wreaths today are
usually created out
of evergreens
symbolising life in the midst of winter and the
circle reminds us of God’s unending love. Five
candles are used. The first symbolising hope,
the second faith, the third joy, the fourth
peace and the fifth light.
Recently, as I struggled to find a pathway
through the thousands of people who had
gathered for the switching on of the Christmas
lights in Oxford Street (two weeks before the
start of Advent!) I was reminded of the
commercialism that surrounds us at this time.
Yet against this background and from
whatever tradition we are from, Advent
presents us with a time of reflection upon our
society and world.
I was present
recently at a
university graduation
ceremony where a
playwright and poet
of repute was
awarded an honorary
degree. He spoke to
the new graduates of
living in a chaotic
world of broken
promises, fake news,
abuse, homelessness,
displaced people and poverty. The theme of
social justice runs through the philosophy of
the major religions. Although none of us can
solve all the problems of society and our
world, we can, none the less, provide a counter
position which is rooted in our common
humanity. Coming from the Christian
tradition... Continues overleaf
Advent Message from the Chairman

2.
I see this as part of the Advent challenge and reflection. It is also a challenge for Ammerdown.
How can the centre and individuals who visit Ammerdown create a place which is a safe haven
for discussion and sharing, where truth is recognised and valued? Of course there are no easy
answers and the rise of popularism in our society is an extra challenge.
As we light the Advent candles, we can at least reflect upon our lives lived out in a somewhat
chaotic environment. Firstly, hope - which has always driven humanity to believe that things
can change for the better; secondly, faith in God - which recalls the faithfulness of God to
humankind; thirdly joy - which recalls experiences of laughter; fourthly, peace, not only on the
world stage but finding peace in ourselves; and fifthly, light - which links many of the faiths and
celebrates at this time for the Christian faith, the light which is revealed in the Christ child.
A blessed Advent and joyful Christmas to you all.
- Rev Dr Stuart Burgess, Chair of the Trustees.
The Ammerdown Interfaith Project
The Ammerdown Interfaith Project, was set up just two years
ago, specifically to address faith and race related hate crime.
Two recent events – the Book Club Day and Meet our Jewish
Neighbours encapsulate what the project is all about –
welcoming everyone: including people of all faiths and none and
people of all ethnicities; and creating a safe place where people
can share their stories and challenge us to expand and deepen
our acts of welcome and acceptance.
Ammerdown’s Book Club Day
Questions of identity, justice and prejudice arose during an all day
Book Club discussion based on two titles – Jodi Picoult’s Small Great
Things and Renni Eddo-Lodge’s Why I’m No Longer Talking to
White People About Race.
The strength of our discussion came from the extraordinary diversity
of the participants; we were asked to answer that loaded question:
“Where do you come from?” The answers included Somalia (via The
Netherlands), Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan, Ireland, Wales. England and
three of us whose identity was shaped by our Jewish parents’ forced
migration. We explored the language we use, the huge potential for
misunderstanding and our unique stories. Questions about how and
why we treat each other differently were paramount, and as the day
progressed, people’s testimonies became more and more personal and
moving. There were tensions and misunderstandings, but it was the safest of spaces to explore
them; by the end, one participant wanted us all to meet every week and change the world and
all of us felt we had learned a lot and perhaps made some new friends. An amazing day.
- Ruth Eversley, Participant on the Book Club Day
The Big Sukkot Party
The Jewish Festival of Sukkot has two aspects. It is a historical
commemoration of the time the Israelites wandered in the desert, on their
escape from slavery in Egypt, living in temporary shelters. It is also a
harvest festival, an opportunity to be appreciative for the wonderful crops
the land provides us with. In biblical times, Jews would stay in huts called
Sukkot (plural) Sukkah (singular), in their fields, to maximise the
efficiency of ingathering their crops.
In October, over 120 people, Jewish and non-Jewish, gathered at
Ammerdown to share the tradition, learn about the festival and make new friends. The Sukkah,
a pergola with a roof made from tree branches, was decorated with paper chains, fruits and
vegetables. The Lulav (Date palm branch, Myrtle, and Willow) and Etrog (a citrus fruit) were

3.
Winter Vegetable and Lentil Soup
Method
Tip the dried red lentils, carrots, celery sticks and leeks
into a large pan with the tomato purée, fresh thyme leaves,
chopped garlic cloves, vegetable bouillon powder and
ground coriander.
Pour in 1½ litres boiling water straight from the kettle, then
stir well.
Cover and leave to simmer for 30 mins until both the
vegetables and lentils are soft and tender.
Ladle into bowls and eat straight away, or if you like a thick
texture, blend a third of the soup with a hand blender or
food processor.
Enjoy!
Ingredients
85g dried red lentils
2 carrots, diced
3-4 celery sticks
2 small leeks, sliced
2 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 tbsp vegetable bouillon powder
1 heaped tsp ground coriander
Dates for your diary...
7th January - Taizé Chant and Prayer
16th January - Tender Loving Care Day
11th February - Refreshing Day for Carers
As we mentioned in the last Ammerdown newsletter, Christine Clinch
is going to Kigali, Rwanda, to support the Rwanda Sisterhood
Association in February 2020. Thank you for the donations received so
far. Please can you help us collect: NEW baby clothes (0-12 months), new or used childrens
clothes (12 months - 10 years), new and used books and toys. If you are a knitter, we are
collecting 10cm2
squares to make into beautiful blankets! Thank you so much to those who have
already donated! For more information visit www.rwandasisterhood.org.
Need time for reflection?
Quiet Day
18th January £50
Includes Coffee, Lunch and Afternoon Tea
Begin the year in quiet contemplation, looking back, being in the
present, and looking forward. We gather together in the quiet
space of Ammerdown to reflect on our lives and our spiritual
journey, through readings, prayer, music and meditation. There
will be plenty of time to walk the labyrinth and the grounds, as
well as the opportunity to be creative through art and writing.
shaken and blessed. There was a study session reflecting on the transitory aspect of life, a fun
quiz for the children, Israeli dancing for all, and a feast of food to sample.
It was an honour and a pleasure to meet so many new people and share our traditions.
- Iris Segall, co-organiser of The Big Sukkot Party

4.
And A Happy New Year!!!
The Ammerdown
Christmas Carol Service
Led by Rev Dr Stuart Burgess CBE
Wednesday 11th December
7.00pm
Come and celebrate with us at our candlelit
Christmas Carol Service in our beautiful Chapel.
Collection for the Rwandan Sisterhood
Followed by mulled wine and mince pies.
All are welcome!
Contact us...
TheAmmerdown Centre ammerdowncentre theammerdowncentre
TheAmmerdown Centre,
Ammerdown Park, Radstock,
Somerset, BA3 5SW
01761 433709
centre@ammerdown.org
www.ammerdown.org
With many years of experience in
writing, publishing and teaching behind
them, Bob Hartman and Ali Hull offer
an introduction to the world of the
written word. Whether you want to
write for children or to get your first
book published, to learn how to harness
your writing talent or to tell a story
well, this course is for you. You don’t
need any previous experience. We will
look at stories, memoirs, how the
publishing industry works, and whether
or not to consider self-publishing.
Friday 14 - Sunday 16 February
Please arrive for 6:00pm
Residential: £260
Non-Residential: £175
Deposit: £85
Religion &Genocide:
Using faith for good or evil
Led by Dr Jayme Reaves
In our world today and throughout history, we are
keenly aware that religion can be used for both good
and evil. In most cases of genocide and ethnic
cleansing, religion has played a significant role that
requires exploration, if we wish to learn from our
history and not repeat it. This course will look at the
Holocaust, the Rwandan & Bosnian conflicts, and our
current events to draw out lessons. Under what
conditions does religion become evil such that
exclusion and dehumanisation lead to genocide? How
can it be prevented? What are the markers of
communities who faithfully resist evil?
Saturday 8 February
9:30am for 10:00am - 4:00pm
£50
Includes Coffee, Lunch and Afternoon Tea
Winners
Finding Fulfilment:
Three Centred Living
6 - 8 March
Please arrive for 6:00pm
Residential: £260 Non - Residential: £175
Deposit £85
Led by Jill and Antonio Benet & Jaqueline Evans
September-MrO’Sullivan
October-Ms.Roberts
November-MrHall
100Club
The 100 club is a monthly draw where you pay a minimum donation of £12
for the year,to be assigned a number.Each month a number is drawn and
the winner receives £50.The rest is donated to the Ammerdown charity.
Please contact the centre for information on joining the club.
Call us for more information about our
programme and venue hire.