This edition focuses on reflections and reports from our Community Weekend at Whaley Hall in September.
by Jeremy Timm, Companion & Trustee
On 13/14/15 September, the Community gathered from all parts of the country, some near and some far, for our annual Community Weekend. We met at Whaley Hall, a small retreat centre in Derbyshire, founded originally to explore ecumenism and spirituality. As ever when we gather it is a time full of depth and energy; the theme of the weekend was The Trellis and The Rose, the title coming from our resource document for Companions. Sister Rosemary, of the Sisters of the Love of God, was a visitor and offered some deep and rich thoughts to challenge us. There was the usual AGM business to transact, and a rich open forum as companions shared their thoughts with the community. This of course was interspersed with lovely meals, prayer and silence, a walk in the sunshine, and a session on Body Prayer led by Diane Rutter, a companion. Before we went our separate ways we met in a misty morning to break bread and share wine together……
A report from Contemplative Fire’s Outreach at the Greenbelt Festival. Also reflections from the Community Retreat at Parcevall Hall.
A team of Contemplative Fire volunteers will be at Greenbelt this year! Visit us at our stand in the Takeaway area.
We are leading an hour of worship involving body prayer in The Grove at 6pm on Saturday 24th August, and will be leading one morning prayer session also in The Grove.
Pilgrimage to Now/here – Without Winter there’d be no Spring
In the middle of January, we had a Pilgrimage to Now/here day based at Longshaw in the Peak District. Our theme was, “Without winter there’d be no spring”, a paraphrase of a quote by the Puritan poet Anne Bradstreet (1612-72)
This edition includes reflections on the Wisdom on the Way held in November – Embodying Hope for the Climate.
Rachael Hand, a member of St Marks and an artist/climate change activist, led our two morning sessions, expressing her huge concern for our beautiful world and the damage climate change is causing.
There are also reports on the work of the Board and Hub.