Retreat, retreat!!

When I was in ministerial formation in Gloucester a local Anglian church, in a little village called Rudford just outside the city, set up a new monthly retreat and it became a regular part of my spiritual practice. Once a month I'd head off to the tiny church and meet with other folk to explore various themes. We'd meet for coffee and an introduction to the day by whoever was leading before entering into a period of silence. We'd then gather again for a time of reflection in the chapel before sharing lunch together. We then had a second session of quiet before a final opportunity of getting together to reflect on how God has spoken to us during the day.  

These opportunities to pause amid the busyness of church/study/college/family life were very special times - ones that I eagerly looked forward to each month. And as I look forward to returning I am realising just how much I have really missed having this practice as a part of my walk with God. I definitely will be exploring what options there might be locally for something similar.

I was also privileged to be invited to lead one of the retreats at Rudford before I moved on to Stevenage, and used the model for the running of the day (with permission) when I went on to lead retreats in my new pastorate.

Attending the retreats at Rudford inspired the following reflection: 

Encountering-space

Arrival:

Coming apart from life

With all its incessant demands

I pass beneath cathedral-esque

God-crafted

High arching beams of green

My spirit sighs

And breathes release

As I come to this place of peace

And encounter

Where I can rest

My soul restored

By heavy quietness

Weighted by Your presence

That is so evident here

I come to dwell

In quiet contemplation

Awaiting Your heavenly caress

To touch my heart

My mind

My soul

Here:

I sit

Beneath man-crafted

High-arching beams of deepest oak

Stark dark ribs overhead

This building's skeleton exposed

Held aloft by grey pock-marked columns

And walls the colour of thick and clotted cream

A coolness hangs suspended in the air

An age-old buildings sigh

And a hazy aqua-tinted light bathes this ancient place

Criss-crossed with tempered lead

My hands caress the weathered seat

Worn smooth by touch through centuries long

And I am connected in this moment

To a worship through the years

That echoes back and forth in time

For I am simply one of many

To bring my adoration of the Holy One

To this set-apart place

I have come

To encounter God afresh

And I have met Him here

In these moments,

In this sacred space

Hallowed by the timeless worship of Him

Historical holiness

Yet as new as it is old

Pervades this place

The wood

The stone

The light

The air

The very elements that surround me

Are also Him

And I know that I am blessed

In holy encounter

My soul is once again refreshed

Leaving:

And so I return

Down tree-lined chancel

Back to the world beyond

The echo of this encounter

With the God of all time and space

Resonating 

In my heart

My mind

My soul.

Because this place was so formative in my spiritual journeying I'm excited to be returning there in a couple of weeks for their next retreat day. The theme will be based around Ascension and Pentecost and I'm really looking forward to having the opportunity to revisit this precious place that has been a place where I encountered God in many different ways whilst I attended over the years.

But this is not the only retreat I'll be going on. In a few weeks time as my sabbatical comes towards a conclusion I'll be heading to Worcestershire to Glasshampton Monastery for a few days of silent retreat.

(C) WikiCommons: Philip Halling

This is a place that was recommended to me by a friend, but as I investigated the possibility of staying there I discovered it was set up by Father William Sirr who served at The Society of the Divine Compassion in Plaistow - so this feels like a beautiful God-incidence! 

My plan is to spend my couple of days there reflecting on all that God has brought my attention to during this time of sabbatical.