Tag Archives: Launde Abbey

Epiphany Retreat: In the Beauty of Holiness

Epiphany Retreat: In the Beauty of Holiness

The New Year nestles in two of the great Christian festivals of Christmas and Epiphany and this retreat will enjoy that experience before we are pushed on into the expectations that come with the turn of the year.

Christmas seems to be over so quickly after all the anticipation and Epiphany with its world-embracing themes can be no more than a walk-on part for the visitors from the East. In our time together we will re-visit the music, scriptures and symbolism of each season and savour their gifts of hope and inspiration for our pilgrimage of prayer and trust in God, the Word become flesh.

There is time enough to take up the call to be Christ’s people in the world. For a short time, we will seek to rest in the beauty of the holiness of the child, Saviour of the world and meet his spirit in the struggles and gifts of life today.

John Rackley

Revd John Rackley

John Rackley has been in Baptist ministry as pastor and university chaplain for 40 years and is a former President of the Baptist Union. He worked for the BBC on local and national radio. He lives in south Leicestershire and is Associate minister at Christchurch LEP Clarendon Park. At Launde he belongs to the College of Chaplains and is a tutor on the Holy Listening course. He also acts as a supervisor and director for the Leicester Diocese Spiritual Direction network. He writes for the Bible Reading Fellowship Guideline and Reflections series; most recently in the latter on the spirituality of Autumn. He is currently writing on how those who believe in God can find God most puzzling.

Retreat price: £350 (standard room) or £380 (character room)
EARLY BIRD RATE: £330 (standard room) or £360 (character room) if booked by 1st November 2024!
Price includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources. It may be possible for you to extend your stay with us by adding an extra night before or after this retreat. Please contact the Abbey directly if you would like to extend your stay.

Click here to book your place on this retreat now:

For any questions, or queries or if you’d like to know more, please call 01572 717254 or alternatively email us: [email protected]

Performance of Words and Music with Cream Tea: An Afternoon of Shakespeare with Paul Tafaro and Mark Bickerstaff

An afternoon of Shakespeare and contemporary work, written by Paul Tafaro, complemented by inspired guitar pieces composed by Mark Bickerstaff.

Iago Othello by William Shakespeare

Romeo Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

Crust by Paul Tafaro

Benedick Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

And more!

Mark Bickerstaff
A musician and instrument restorer, Mark has performed and recorded with a number of bands including Life of Reilly, The Signals, East-West and the Bicycle Thieves. He is currently working with Deep Velvet playing Hurdy Gurdy and bass, and on jazz guitar with Edie’s Echo.
When not playing music, Mark can be found in his former washhouse garden workshop, where he fabricates strange contraptions, paints and draws. As a sculptor Mark specialises in grandfather clock making, weathering his hand-etched clock faces and using old barn doors to construct the cases. Mark is currently replicating a 2000-year-old carnyx in hand-beaten copper and turned brass.

Paul Tafaro
An actor and playwright. Paul came through the National Youth Theatre and has worked with companies such as Paines Plough, Theatre Royal Stratford East and Lyric Hammersmith. Paul also has experience as a facilitator with youngsters in mainstream, SEN schools and abroad.
Paul’s film, which he wrote, is being shot next year. It is called Cyclical. It looks at a Headteacher forced to confront the dark truth underneath his picturesque family life when the key to his bicycle lock goes missing.

A little preview of Paul’s work…

This event offers you the chance to experience an hour-long live performance in the company of some of the country’s leading artists, followed by a gorgeous Launde cream tea.

A Launde Abbey Fundraising Event.

Tickets £21 (or £16 for concert only). Call 01572 717254 or email [email protected].

Soul Filled Meanderings

Take a couple of hours, put on your coat and boots, to explore and experience God’s creation. This is an opportunity to stop, look and listen. Using all your senses to know and understand more about our Everlasting Father and Creator God.

This guided walk will be led by Jo de Graaf.

Jo lives in Harby in the beautiful Vale of Belvoir with her husband, Cor. They have five children and Jo is a very proud Oma to 10 grandchildren, who bring the family such joy. A few years ago she felt God prompting and calling her to some form of ministry. Jo believes her ministry is to bring people into God’s Kingdom through love; using contemplative spirituality, hospitality and service of all kinds to help people feel a sense of wholeness within the love of God. Not only is Jo one of our volunteer chaplains, but is now the Associate Minister in the Parish of Old Dalby, and also Lay Chair of Framland Deanery.

This walk is planned to begin at 10:00 am. Meet at the front of the main house. Why not stay for lunch at Launde Abbey café after?

Suitable for all abilities. Alternative activities are available if the weather is wet.

Price: £5 per person. Places are limited to groups of 10, so please book in advance.

This price includes refreshments and a lovely homemade slice of cake from Launde Abbey.

For more information or to book your place call 01572 717254 or email [email protected]

Soul Filled Meanderings

This guided walk will be led by Jo de Graaf.

This walk is planned to begin at 10:00 am. Meet at the front of the main house. Why not stay for lunch at Launde Abbey café after?

Suitable for all abilities. Alternative activities are available if the weather is wet.

Price: £5 per person. Places are limited to groups of 10, so please book in advance.

This price includes refreshments and a lovely homemade slice of cake from Launde Abbey.

For more information or to book your place call 01572 717254 or email [email protected]

Into the Silent Land: Five Day Meditation Retreat FULLY BOOKED

Into The Silent Land: A Five-Day Meditation Retreat – Monday 28th October – Friday 1st November 2024.

“We are built for contemplation… Communion with God in the silence of the heart is a God-given capacity, like the rhododendron’s capacity to flower, the fledglings for flight, and the child’s for self-forgetful abandon and joy.”

With these words, Martin Laird begins his classic book Into the Silent Land: The Practice of Contemplation – widely recognised as one of the best introductions to meditation in the Christian tradition written in generations. He brings together an engaging introduction to the Christian contemplative tradition for people inside or on the margins of the churches who feel drawn to the world of silent prayer.

Martin Laird shows how silence and meditation can offer a remedy to many contemporary dilemmas and emotional struggles. Writing with great clarity, poetic depth and authority, Laird examines central meditative methods and traditions found within contemplative prayer. Exploring the role of breath in the spiritual life and the nature of awareness – so often associated in the minds of many with other spiritual traditions – he shows that this is also an ancient concern of Christian thinkers.

Into the Silent Land offers profound insights for the student of silent prayer but is especially intended for the non-specialist who feels drawn to discover the deep wisdom of the Christian contemplative tradition.

Retreat focus

How do we enter the “Silent Land” of Divine presence?

“By the silence of surrender,” says Laird: “The contemplative discipline of meditation…is not a technique but a surrendering of deeply held resistances that allows the sacred within to gradually reveal itself as a simple, fundamental fact.”

“The more we realise we are one with God the more we become ourselves, just as we are, just as we were created to be. The Creator is outpouring love, the creation, the love outpoured.”

In this unique experiential retreat, we will explore the essential skills and wisdom of the art of meditation as set out in ‘Into the Silent Land’, including:

cultivating gentle concentration (attentiveness) and the opening of awareness
the subtle challenges of stilling the mind and the interior skills to meet them
how our deepening silence reveals “the overflowing vastness” of our deepest identity in God
becoming windows of light and places of peace for the world

The retreat has been carefully crafted to be relevant and accessible to anyone searching for truth and peace, regardless of their faith, beliefs or previous experience of meditation.

Words of support from Martin Laird

“The School of Contemplative Life will surely rate among the most significant responses to the spiritual longings of the people of this nation and abroad [and] directly nourish and cultivate the depth-dimension of life through its well thought out programme of retreats, guidance and other opportunities, to the wellspring of silence and compassion flowing within.”

Schedule

A detailed timetable for the retreat will be sent to everyone attending. The retreat will start at 14:00 on the Monday and finish and 15:00 on the Friday and involve extended periods of meditation practice and silence. Each full day of the retreat will include:

06:30 Sitting meditation & walking meditation
08:00 Holy Communion (for those who wish to attend)
09:00 Talk and sitting meditation
10:30 Private practice time and opportunity for one-to-one spiritual counsel meeting
12:30 Sitting meditation
14:00 Private practice time and opportunity for one-to-one spiritual counsel meeting
17:00 Talk and sitting meditation
19:30 Sitting meditation
20:00 Group conversation

Early morning practice is a wonderful way to greet the day together. While we very much encourage everyone to attend the 6:30am practice session, if this is difficult for you for any reason please don’t worry. It is always enough to do what we can – or what our life allows.

One-to-one spiritual counsel meetings are not counselling or coaching, but provide a dedicated opportunity for someone to explore a question or two about their meditation practice, or how practice relates to what they have heard during a talk or to daily life. Lasting approximately 15 minutes, meetings are deliberately short to provide focus.

Attending a silent retreat

Being on retreat is a precious opportunity to be still, to be silent, to practice living simply and peacefully and cultivate the gift of loving-awareness as we devote ourselves to the depth-dimension of faith and life.

The focus of the retreat is silent meditation practice and we will practice bringing loving-awareness to all our daily activities – while sitting, while walking or eating, when we are simply enjoying a glass of water. We will practice living each moment deeply.

The practice of silence will commence when the retreat begins at 14:00 on the Monday and continue until lunchtime on the Friday. Although the practice of silence may be new to some, most people find this a powerful and wonderful experience. Maintaining a quiet and peaceful environment – walking, moving, and doing things quietly – is important for our practice and a gift we can offer to each other.

The retreat timetable includes periods of private practice time for sitting and walking meditation. Some people find it helpful to bring a craft activity to accompany times of private sitting meditation. If you decide to do this, the craft should be very simple and not likely to stimulate thoughts. The Desert Fathers and Mothers were famous for weaving baskets!

You may wish to bring warm, comfy clothes and a waterproof jacket/umbrella for walking meditation in the event of inclement weather. A notepad and pen will also be useful.

Opportunities for light work in the grounds of Launde Abbey during the private practice periods will also be available to practice weaving the attentiveness and awareness you will cultivate into the fabric of daily life.

Retreat Leader

Chris Whittington is the Founder of The School of Contemplative Life. He was introduced to contemplative practice during several years of formation when he lived at the Benedictine monastery of Prinknash Abbey. Chris’ monastic teachers, including Sylvester Houedard OSB, taught meditation as a universal wisdom found within all the great spiritual traditions, a pathway to peace and solidarity with people of all faiths and none. Following an introduction by the Abbot of the Prinknash community, Chris subsequently studied at the Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamshala, India. Chris regularly delivers talks, workshops and retreats and has introduced the practice of meditation in the Christian tradition to thousands of people in the UK and abroad.

For information about the School of Contemplative Life, please visit: www.schoolofcontemplativelife.com OR https://www.youtube.com/@schoolofcontemplativelife

Retreat price: £600 (standard room) or £660 (character room)
EARLY BIRD RATE: £560 (standard room) or £620 (character room) if booked by 19th August 2024!
Price includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
It may be possible for you to extend your stay with us by adding an extra night before or after this retreat. Please contact the Abbey directly if you would like to extend your stay.

Click here to book your place on this retreat now:

For any questions, or queries or if you’d like to know more, please call 01572 717254 or alternatively email us: [email protected]

Advent Retreat: Waiting Hopefully

Join us for this year’s Advent Retreat: ‘Waiting Hopefully’, led by Chris and Rhona Knight.

Advent hope:

I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope

For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love,

For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith

But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.

T.S. Eliot penned these words in East Coker, the second of his poems in the Four Quartets. But what does it mean wait hopefully. In this retreat we will be prayerfully and creatively considering the nature of hope and hopeful waiting in the context of advent as, with all of creation, we wait upon God and cry Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.

Rhona Knight was a GP and medical educator for 25 years. She was ordained in 2015 and led on teaching pastoral care at Lincoln School of Theology. Although now retired she continues to research, write and teach particularly in the area of boundaries and trauma in ministry. Rhona is a theological educator, pastoral supervisor, spiritual director and is a regular retreat leader at Launde Abbey. She is the author of a number of books on discipleship and spirituality and also enjoys reading, theatre, art, creativity and the outdoors.

Chris Knight was a research scientist for many years until he changed direction after completing a PhD in Apologetics. He worked in the area of apologetics for a number of years, before leading on the teaching of doctrine at Lincoln School of Theology. He is married to Rhona and they have three grown sons. He enjoys bird watching and photography.

Retreat price: £340 (standard room) or £370 (character room)
EARLY BIRD RATE: £320 (standard room) or £350 (character room) if booked by 6th September 2023!
Price includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources. It may be possible for you to extend your stay with us by adding an extra night before or after this retreat. Please contact the Abbey directly if you would like to extend your stay.

Click here to book your place on this retreat now:

For any questions, or queries or if you’d like to know more, please call 01572 717254 or alternatively email us: [email protected]

Labyrinth Retreat

Labyrinth Retreat: Ask for the Ancient Paths, and find rest for your Soul.

For centuries, followers of ‘The Way’ have used floor and finger labyrinths as a symbol of pilgrimage and embodied prayer. Labyrinths are found in parks, gardens, hospitals, hospices, retreat centres, health facilities, churches, cathedrals, universities, and schools. We will look at the fascinating history of labyrinths as sacred spaces, their shapes, symbolism, stories, spirituality and significance in our personal journeys as a way to ‘slow down to catch up with your soul’.

We will explore how to create and use temporary pop-up labyrinths, make and draw finger labyrinths, discover their mental and physical health benefits and help others incorporate them into their prayer and spiritual practices. There will be indoor and outdoor labyrinths, including Launde Abbey’s labyrinth in the garden and a candle-lit labyrinth walk, as well as time to enjoy a great selection of different finger labyrinths.

Throughout history, labyrinths have thrived during times of change and growth. In our world today, where there is so much uncertainty and confusion, we, too, can find clarity and direction by practising meditative prayer and contemplation. This is a time for quietness and reflection. Come experience the surprise, synchronicity, and sacredness in a breathing space that invites you to take much-needed time to rest and explore.

This retreat will also act as a Veriditas qualifying workshop for those who want to go on to seek training in labyrinth facilitation.

Jim Bailey

Jim Bailey was in ordained ministry for 30 years and is an experienced Labyrinth and SoulCollage therapeutic art facilitator, spiritual director, songwriter and member of the Northumbria Community.

“Although God is right with us
and in us and out of us and all
through us, we have to embark on
Journeys that lead us to the unexpected wonders of the
the divine… Go gently on the pilgrim paths.”

👣🌀

Retreat price: £480 (standard room) or £525 (character room)
EARLY BIRD RATE: £450 (standard room) or £495 (character room) if booked by 15th July 2024!
Price includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
It may be possible for you to extend your stay with us by adding an extra night before or after this retreat. Please contact the Abbey directly if you would like to extend your stay.

Click here to book your place on this retreat now:

For any questions, or queries or if you’d like to know more, please call 01572 717254 or alternatively email us: [email protected]

Rooted and Grounded: Going Deeper Into Spiritual Practice MORE SPACES AVAILABLE

Due to high demand, we are delighted to announce that this retreat will be running again in 2025. More information coming soon…

Rooted and Grounded: Going Deeper Into Spiritual Practice.

A retreat hosted jointly by Renovaré Britain & Ireland (renovare.org.uk) and the Launde Abbey community (laundeabbey.org.uk)

Paul shared with the Ephesians his yearning “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith as you are being rooted and grounded in love“ (Ephesians 3.17). Do you want to develop those same deeper spiritual roots? Would you like to be able to cultivate a listening heart? Do you long to be transformed to become more like Christ?

Rooted and Grounded is a retreat for those who want to tap into the rich wisdom and experience of the various Christian spiritual traditions: contemplative and charismatic, catholic and evangelical, political and personal. We’ll take time to find rest and refreshment in prayer, worship, silence and rest. And we’ll explore a wide range of spiritual practices you can take away with you to deepen your life of faith. You might want to be more resilient in the face of exhausting demands. You might be looking for a deeper foundation for your ministry. You might be wrestling with the question: how do I live a flourishing life? If so, this retreat is for you.

And for those who want to go further still, we hope to follow this retreat with regular gatherings (at the Abbey or on Zoom) to support one another as we develop our spiritual practice. This is a pilot project for us, so we don’t know exactly what shape this will take … come and pioneer it with us!

The team for this retreat is the Revd Roy Searle, Bishop Alan Abernathy, the Revd Alison Myers, and the Revd Chris Webb.

Revd Roy Searle

Roy is a Companion and one of the founders of the Northumbria Community. He has served as a past President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and is a founding member of Renovare Britain and Ireland. A popular conference speaker, writer, retreat leader, pioneer mentor and spiritual director, Roy is passionate about encouraging people to love God, listen well, think deeply, and live authentically and generously. He is an associate with the Northumbrian collective and The Commons Cooperative. He is married to Shirley and lives in their beloved Northumberland. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

Revd Alison Myers

Alison came to Launde Abbey having been a Team Rector in rural ministry in Cambridgeshire. She has crafted and led many reflective services and gatherings using spoken word, music, silence and creative prayer stations. She is also an experienced workshop leader and mentor, combining spirituality and theology with the practical challenges of leadership, team-working and managing change, informed by her working life before she was ordained as well as theological study and lifelong faith. Alison loves praying outdoors, a good cup of coffee, noticing the cycle of the seasons and encouraging a wondering faith. She lives with her family on-site at Launde Abbey.

Revd Chris Webb

Chris Webb is an Anglican priest, author, speaker and teacher dedicated to helping people experience a richer walk with God by growing in prayer and the spiritual life. He has ministered in a wide variety of contexts: as president of Renovaré, a spiritual formation ministry in the USA; as parish priest in Welsh farming communities and steelworking towns; and even in a church for the homeless. Chris is the author of two books: The Fire of the Word (2011) and God-Soaked Life (2017).

Retreat price: £480 (standard room) or £525 (character room)
EARLY BIRD RATE: £450 (standard room) or £495 (character room) if booked by 23rd September 2024!
Price includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
It may be possible for you to extend your stay with us by adding an extra night before or after this retreat. Please contact the Abbey directly if you would like to extend your stay.

For any questions, or queries or if you’d like to know more, please call 01572 717254 or alternatively email us: [email protected]

Textiles Retreat FULLY BOOKED

We have another textiles retreat running in 2025. Click the link to find out more…

Discover the perfect blend of relaxation and artistic inspiration at Launde Abbey, where the Revd Claire Goode invites you into the world of textiles.

This retreat’s theme is “Mary and Martha: homemakers and theologians”. An opportunity to consider how to value our roles within the domestic arena and the way stitched textiles enhance our environment. This week will focus on 3 stories in the Bible from the gospels of Luke and John. There will be ideas on small household items to make as well as more abstract wall hangings.

Revd Claire Goode, a seasoned retreat leader, will accompany you through from the first draft to the final stitch, inspiring your artistic journey. You’ll be able to unleash your creativity and explore the therapeutic qualities of quilting and textiles. This retreat is not just about crafting; it’s about self-discovery and personal growth. You’ll also have the chance to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for textiles. Forge new friendships while learning and creating together!

From beginners to seasoned quilters, everyone is welcome! Claire will tailor her guidance to suit your skill level, ensuring you leave with a masterpiece you’re proud of. You are also welcome to bring your own sewing project. We recommend that any sewing machines used should have been PAT tested within the last three years.

Claire is an experienced parish priest and retreat leader who has been leading retreats at Launde Abbey for many years. Claire was also one of the team offering Spiritual Direction (Spiritual Accompaniment) and Mentoring in Southwell & Nottingham Diocese. She has been sewing ever since she can remember – she had her first sewing machine age 9 years and has recently studied for a City and Guilds Patchwork and Quilting Certificate.

Retreat price: £600 (standard room) or £660 (character room)
EARLY BIRD RATE: £560 (standard room) or £620 (character room) if booked by 11th November 2024!
Price includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
It may be possible for you to extend your stay with us by adding an extra night before or after this retreat. Please contact the Abbey directly if you would like to extend your stay.

Click here to book your place on this retreat now:

For any questions, or queries or if you’d like to know more, please call 01572 717254 or alternatively email us: [email protected]

Soul Filled Meanderings

This guided walk will be led by Jo de Graaf.

This walk is planned to begin at 10:00 am. Meet at the front of the main house. Why not enjoy a hot drink, a sweet treat or a spot of lunch in the Launde Abbey café after?

Suitable for all abilities. Alternative activities are available if the weather is wet.

Places are limited to groups of 10, please book in advance.

Free of charge, donations are welcome.

For more information or to book your place call 01572 717254 or email [email protected]