Day Five: May it be to me as you have said

Welcome to the fifth and final day of our Still before Christmas retreat with David Newman, Warden of Launde Abbey.

Take a few moments in silence as you begin your time of retreat today. Remind yourself that you spend today in the presence of God who loves you and seeks to draw you closer. Allow yourself to settle into stillness and silence within so that God’s voice can be heard.

You may want to begin the day with Morning Prayer

Watch David’s reflection on the theme May it be to me as you have said

Or, if you prefer, you can listen to an audio version of the reflection:

Or download the mp3 file so you can listen at another time

During today, David invites us to reflect on two questions:

1. There are many pictures of the annunciation, and you might like to sit with one as you reflect on this story – one like Fra Angelico’s fresco painted on the wall of the dormitory corridor at St Marco’s priory in Florence, or these images by Henry Ossawa Tanner, Helen Elwes, He Qi, or Frederick James Shields.

2. Is there anything I have to understand better to say yes to God, or is there any fear I have to step through to allow the Holy Spirit to enable new possibilities?

You may want to draw the day to a close by reading the Church of England service of Compline or by listening to this audio version of Compline:

Or download the mp3 file so you can listen at another time

We’d greatly value your feedback on this Retreat experience: click here to take our four question, two minute survey.