Here are three examples of vocational life which we can see working particularly well while living in community:
- Internship in a local Church, organisation or charity
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Study at a local University or College
Internship
We are encouraging potential partner churches to view this as an opportunity to develop work ecumenically, together with other denominations in the area. Arranging the internship is something you would need to take an active role in yourself, in particular the financial side.
As an intern, you would be assigned a supervisor or mentor within the partner organisation in which you are placed, who would help you to set your own objectives for learning and development. Working together with them would ensure that you are developing the skills which will benefit you in the future.
Setting this experience in the context of community living would support you with the spiritual formation necessary for this sort of work. Taking regular time for silence and prayer will help you to keep going with a guiding focus on discerning God’s will.
Social Entrepreneurship
When seeking a career, many of us want to do some tangible good, rather than simply earning money for its own sake. Business and social good do not have to be strangers to each other.
This would be an opportunity to bring your own ideas – either something you have started working on already, or something entirely new – and to develop them. This may involve starting a business, possibly on your own, or perhaps you will stay on to develop it as a community business.
Coming to the Lunesdale Community to pursue this means that you can work on your ideas within a supportive community environment, within the structure of regular prayer and shared meals, and with the moral support of others. We have a shared office space, meeting room, and excellent IT and telephony infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing start-up. Maybe you will even find a collaborator locally!
Within the village of Halton there is also a small business centre at Halton Mill, housing a variety of enterprises together with a co-working space. They also run a programme of courses and events which may be of interest.
Study
Perhaps your next step involves beginning or continuing formal higher or further education. Lancaster benefits from two excellent universities – Lancaster University and the University of Cumbria – offering a complimentary selection of undergraduate and postgraduate courses between them, in addition to various colleges.
Living in the Lunesdale Community offers a radically different student experience compared to living in student accommodation on or off campus. It is possible to participate fully in the pattern of life of a Christian community, while spending the daytime in lectures and on-campus activities.
Next page: Opportunity and Challenge
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