Growing Community

When do you feel most alive?

What things leave you with a sense of well-being that lasts?

Seeing a beautiful sunset? Enjoying a drink whilst watching cricket on a beautiful summer’s evening (don’t mention the Ashes test match)? A quiet time with a good book? Spending time with friends over a meal? Or being with a crowd at a community event like a village fete or the Kineton Music Festival (pictured above).

For some of us, a large event is a great time to connect with friends, laugh together, party together and make some great memories. Others prefer their social interactions to be small and shorter. We have different personalities and make connections differently, but whether in large or small groups, in a party atmosphere or at a quiet dinner, we all need social connection.

Psychologists say that social connection is essential to our physical and emotional health. Lack of social connection is a risk factor for a host of stress-related illnesses, anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular disease.

In today’s culture, social connection is increasingly difficult. Remote working, longer working hours, and electronic gadgets have reduced contact with community both at work and at home. On top of that, the isolation we all experienced in COVID is still having an impact on how many people socialise.

Events like fetes and festivals are crucial for the well-being of our communities and for our personal health. They are a great excuse to get together with old friends and make new ones, but they also provide a wonderful vehicle for social connection, psychological healing, personal well-being and strengthening our communities.

The writer of Hebrews says;

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.

Hebrews 10:24-25a

I’m looking forward to more community events in the coming months. I hope you can join us.

Rev Barry Jackson