EVENTS
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A SILENT REVOLUTION
Our Lent Course this year is about contemplative prayer.
Who is it for?
Everyone interested in building their prayer life who wants an introduction to some helpful ways of praying, including contemplative prayer, an important and often forgotten part of our Christian tradition.
Where?
St Andrews Church, Short Street, which is a 5 minutes’ walk from Waterloo Station (take the Waterloo Road exit). Short Street is a turning off The Cut, opposite The Young Vic
When?
Each session starts at 6.45 and finishes at 8.15. You are also very welcome at a Eucharist at 6pm, followed by a cup of tea/coffee.
Wednesday February 24
Introduction to Christian Meditation or ‘Will the real Jesus please stand up?’
Wednesday March 3
Centering Prayer Jill Benet, from Contemplative Outreach, London
on Wednesday March 10
Christian Meditation Liz Watson, from World Community for Christian Meditation
on Wednesday March 17
Lectio Divina or ‘How to read the Bible and other texts meditatively’.
on Wednesday March 24
Pray Without Ceasing ‘Really? How?’
on Wednesday March 31
Contemplative Eucharist
To find out more about the course, contact Richard Craig 0207 928 0495 richardhcraig@ btopenworld.com or simply turn up.
AIMS OF THE COURSE
Expectations/Aims o Already got an established meditation practice? There’s always something new to learn or old to be reminded of.
o Encouragement/practical help and support to get started and get established in a regular practice of meditation.
o Fresh, new, deepened understanding of repentance, confession, forgiveness, trust and much else of what Jesus is reported to have said and taught.
o Body awareness in prayer – “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?” (St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 6 verse 19).
o Developing ‘spiritual muscles’ – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete ....so run that you may obtain the prize. Every athlete exercises self control ... They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” (St. Paul again in the same letter chapter 9, verses 24 & 25)
o Although the focus will be on practice not theory or ‘beliefs’ you may find that your understanding of God is changed. You might find that a little scary!
o You may find that your understanding of yourself and who you really are is changed (again a little scary perhaps).
o You might find help with things like depression and addiction - at no financial cost - by contrast with MBSR therapy (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) for which you would have to pay!
o You may well find yourself on an exciting adventure in which you are a pioneering explorer.
o The discovery that the only really serious thing is the loss of love.