Sligo19: Board Games Evening

Miryam Lightbody is writing with VOX Magazine at the New Wine Ireland summer conference in Sligo this week. She’ll be sharing insights from the collection of community events and gatherings taking place outside of the regular talks and teachings so that you can catch the rhythm of Sligo19 ‘outside the box.’ 

Wednesday 17 July

The OM Ireland team are running the community tent in the Yeats village at Sligo19 this year. Here is Miryam’s experience of their board games night:

The community tent in the Yeats village is a lovely space; cosy and friendly with lots of planets and maps planted around to remind us of the OM culture of bringing faith to our world. 

They also have a table covered in vibrant books on wearing our faith with courage that you can take away for free or leave a donation. To be honest, that’s the general feeling in the tent: lots of vibrant conversations and smiles and activities and all for free, almost as if the team would be pleasantly surprised if you gave them a donation but that’s not what they’re here for. 

Gary from the OM team bounds over. He has spent years on the Logos Hope ship, and tells me that he saw faith in 26 countries in one year and he can certainly say that “God is alive!”

Tonight, the team have set up board games on all the tables, and families and groups are getting stuck in and making up their own rules. Its lovely to see people at rest and hear the hum of chatter. 

“This is a place for community. It’s been a really great experience because we’re finding that naturally people are coming for prayers.” Gary sums up the atmosphere in the tent “there’s a real feeling of family here.”

I’d encourage everyone at New Wine, if you’re here with your family, friends, or by yourself, pop in and enjoy some peace in the tent. And don’t miss the chance to ask the OM guys about where they have seen faith – we all need a little faith inspiration sometimes. 

OM will be keeping the chats going in the Marquee in the Yeats Village from 2 - 4pm and 9.30 - 11pm this tomorrow (Friday) here at Sligo19.