Tag Archives: peace and quiet

Quiet Day: A Time of Gathering

John Rackley

For the beauty and bounty of creation, we give you thanks.

A day to focus on the beauty of creation and immerse ourselves in it.  A time to express our gratitude to God for the environment and its harvest.

An opportunity to take time to listen deeply, tread lightly and immerse ourselves in the wonderful colours, tastes, textures, smells and sounds of autumn at Launde Abbey. There will be invitations to wonder at the beauty, creativity, sustenance and abundance of Creation.

Weather permitting, some of this day will take place outside, so please bring suitable footwear.  There will also be indoor options.

This Quite Day will be led by John Rackley, a Baptist who works with Christchurch LEP, Leicester. He writes for the Bible Reading Fellowship and Wild Goose. He is exploring currently the relationship between our spirituality and the natural environment.

 

Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day!  (Please complete this form to request a place.) 

    July Quiet Day: Keeping the Fire Ablaze

    After six months of an intense exposure to Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection’ we start a further period of six months that the church labels as ‘Ordinary Time’!  Labelled as such because it includes no major feasts or festivals but this is a time which is anything but ordinary!

    This quiet day, offered barely a month after Pentecost when the tongues of the fire of the Holy Spirit lapped around Jesus’ followers, invites participants to prepare for living in the power of the Spirit and to prepare for God’s challenges but to do so in the intimate personal presence of God.

    With another five months of ‘Ordinary Time’ in which to respond to God’s will for us all, let us not allow those Pentecost embers die by wasting time counting down to the next Advent.  God has filled us with the same fire that he used on that first Pentecost, so we will use this day of quiet to prepare ourselves to keep that fire ablaze.

    Alan and Lesley Humphrey

    Alan Humphrey is an Anglican priest and resident Chaplain at Launde.  He comes to Launde from parish ministry before working alongside Lesley at a new monastic community where they were warden and house manager respectively.  Their enthusiasm for sharing their love of God stems from experiences throughout their varied careers coupled with many years of serving on team at New Wine.

     

    Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day!  (Please complete this form to request a place.) 

      Beginners’ Retreat (September)

      Are you someone who has been away on a parish weekend, perhaps been to a quiet day or two, but never experienced a residential retreat? Are you unsure how you might cope with a retreat, what you might do with your time, or whether you can cope with the silence? Then this is the retreat for you!

      The aim of this semi-silent retreat weekend is to help you enter the world of silent retreats gently and with plenty of support. There will be guidance on how to use the time; periods on your own and with the other retreatants, and the opportunity to share your experience with others if you wish to do so. During you stay at Launde you can join in with the community’s rhythm of prayer and worship; walk, paint, potter or simply rest, as the spirit takes you.

      Revd Alison Myers

      Alison Myers is the new warden of Launde Abbey. Most recently 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. She loves praying outdoors, a good cup of coffee, noticing the cycle of the seasons and encouraging a wondering faith. She lives with her family onsite at Launde Abbey.

      Revd Chris Webb

      Chris Webb, Deputy Warden of Launde Abbey and Diocesan Spirituality Adviser, is an Anglican priest who has ministered as president of a spiritual formation ministry in the USA, as a parish priest in Wales and in a church for the homeless. He is the author of two books: The Fire of the Word (2011) and God-Soaked Life (2017).

      Early bird price: £280 if booked before 16th July 2022. Full price £300.

      Please complete this form to request a place on the retreat.

        Quiet Day: A Holy Crazy Grace

        John Rackley

        A Holy Crazy Grace

        Using the title of a book by Frederick Buechner, John develops his thoughts on the extraordinary grace of God and how this can shape our own sense of purpose and identity. The day will close with a Holy Communion service suited to the early days of Lent.

        This Quiet Day will be led by John Rackley, a Baptist who works with Christchurch LEP, Leicester. He writes for the Bible Reading Fellowship and Wild Goose. He is exploring currently the relationship between our spirituality and the natural environment.

         

        Quiet Day price: £44 includes lunch and coffee and tea throughout the day.
        Why not think about extending your time at Launde by staying overnight after the event.  Check for availability and a quote when you contact us.

         

        Yes – I’d like to take part in this Quiet Day!

          Holy Week Retreat

          Jesus’ journey to towards the cross drew together a complex of threads into a single, striking tapestry: a challenge to the Roman authorities, a provocation of the religious leaders, a self-denying call to his followers, and a cosmic struggle with the powers of evil and darkness. During this retreat we’ll be walking the road to Calvary as we trace the story in the gospels through reflections, prayer, meditation and silent contemplation. And we’ll consider how we can walk in the footsteps of Christ in our own troubled times.

          Revd Alison Myers

          This retreat will be led by the Warden of Launde Abbey, 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 onsite at Launde Abbey.

          Retreat price: £425 includes en-suite accommodation, all meals, and all retreat resources.
          We offer an ‘Early Bird’ price of £405 if you pay in full before 3rd February 2023.
          It may be possible for you to extend your stay by leaving later.  Why not check on availability and ask for a quote when you contact us.

           

          Please complete this form to request a place on the retreat.