It's been too long but finally a weekend gathering has been planned for the tautoko network in July 2009 at the Coalbrookdale Youth Hostel in Shropshire. We really hope you will join us. It will be a relaxed weekend to chill out, catch up, share and cook some choice food and drink, reflect, worship and pray together, with plenty of space for conversation.

The tautoko network was originally formed out of friends connected with alternative worship, emerging church, or missional communities (funny old thing language eh?!). Why? Well mainly because we love hanging out together. The network was made a bit more intentional/formal recognising that there were plenty of others involved in the same kind of stuff who didn't necessarily have the history of friendships but could gain a ton from being part of it. These were the words we put together to describe why it exists and they still seem a pretty fair reflection...

• To share the journey with others who face similar mission challenges.
• For mutual friendship, encouragement, solidarity, support, gift giving, discernment, resource sharing, ideas and learning
• To see what emerges as creative people connect.

And the ethos/values we try and shape the friendships around are...

Open set | Spin free | Generous | Vulnerable | Questioning

Everyone pretty much agreed that they wanted to go for the cheapest option available for a weekend so as not to exclude anyone. It works out at £60 a head and £25 for children. We'll need to get around 50 adults and say 10 children to break even so we're taking the risk on good faith that you guys will come! The venue holds 70. For your £60 you get accomodation and food. This time round it won't cover drink though if we reach capacity we will put it towards that. So it will be a bring your own drinks gig. Judging by last time that won't be a problem. We will do the cooking between us. Please don't leave your booking to the night before - early booking apprciated just so we can get organised. If you are broke and want to come we don't have a bursory but e-mail us anyway and we'll see if anyone has any bright ideas!

If you live locally or want to just come for a day we are charging £15 for a day or £30 to come for the weekend as a day visitor which will include meals. I have added a day visitor ticket above. Buy two if you want to come for the weekend as a day visitor.

It is pretty typical I guess that in the network there are a couple of people from any one community but have a think who else from your community you think would enjoy and benefit from the weekend and invite them along. And it may be that you know other people who might like to join the network - the weekend is a good way for them to find out about it and meet people.

We can discuss content of the weekend in the tautoko forum with the small group who volunteered to co-ordinate plans. If there is a conversation you want to have on the weekend I'm sure it can be had. There are no 'gurus' or celebrity speakers. The network is us and what we make of it. Looking forward to it.