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    Space May 2009

Learning Together Edition 3 Exploring and sharing new ideas across the East Midlands

As I travel across the East Midlands and meet people from many different circuits and churches, all sorts of requests and ideas come my way. Most recently the thinking and discussions have been around retreats and quiet days. Where people might go to get that spiritual refreshment both locally or further afield.

  So here is our third edition of “Learning Together”. Hopefully you will find something of interest here to “tickle your taste buds” and tempt you to explore further.

  Much of the material available is now obtained through the internet but if you do struggle with this please contact me and I'll try to help.

  Jane Measures East Midlands Training Officer

methto@measures0811.fsnet.co.uk

Tel 07812 003525

Retreat and Quiet Day ideas

Often people are looking for the chance to get away, think, reflect and spend some very specific time with God. The ideas below are just a selection of what is out there and if you know of more make sure you share them with others so they can benefit too.

There are some central listings of retreat providers that you might find useful

The Methodist Retreat Group

http://www.methodistretreatgroup.co.uk/

Or the Retreats Association

http://www.retreats.org.uk/index.htm

Or even The Good Retreat Guide (although you should note here that these retreat centres are not exclusively Christian – you will have to look more carefully)

http://www.thegoodretreatguide.com/help/helpfuladdress.html

Specialist Retreat Centres

Many of retreat centres mentioned here run programmes of events and guided retreats as well as offer some quiet space in the form of quiet days.

Launde Abbey in Leicestershire

http://www.launde.org.uk/

Loyola Hall Jesuit Spiritual Centre near Preston

http://www.loyolahall.f2s.com/

Ampleforth Abbey

http://www.hpo.ampleforth.org.uk/pastoral-programme/the-years-programme/

All Hallows Convent in Norfolk

http://www.all-hallows.org/content/retreats/programme

Or the Sozein Trust (near Ilkeston) which focuses on a healing ministry

http://www.sozein.org.uk/index.htm

Something for the creative folk amongst us

There are some specific groups who are looking at the opportunity to explore creativity and spirituality together.

ARM is a specialist Christian movement for those who love to explore their faith through amongst other things embroidery, painting, photography and poetry. You can find more info about them at

http://www.carmretreats.org/

http://www.all-hallows.org/content/retreats/programme

Offer a chance to look at using dance as part of their programme.

Painting is also a feature at Ampleforth Abbey

http://www.hpo.ampleforth.org.uk/pastoral-programme/the-years-programme/

The Northumbria community have storytelling as part of their retreat programme

http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/index.php/whats-on-at-nether-springs

Family Retreats

The Northumbria community offer some weeks for families at their house in Northumberland

http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/index.php/whats-on-at-nether-springs

Retreats for this group are few and far between although the odd family day is offered at Loyola Hall near preston.

Retreats for those who love gardens and nature

You may want to take a look at the Quiet Gardens Trust – an organisation that specialises in Quiet Days in gardens belonging to its members

http://www.quietgarden.co.uk

There is also the Reflections Garden at Rugely

http://www.reflectiongardens.org.uk/

Or if you have an interest in ecology and conservation why not try

http://www.arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID=265

The Lindisfarne Community offer some focus on birds and nature as part of their work

http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/general/retreats.htm

Retreats for those who want to focus on music

Douai Abbey near reading offers a varied programme including one weekend focussing on Music

http://www.douaiabbey.org.uk/retreats2.htm

All the Anglican Diocese in our area have retreats and quiet days as part of their regular programmes of events. Why not take a look.

http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/page.php?n_@ABA_84

http://www.derby.anglican.org/learning/conferences_and_courses.php

http://www.southwell.anglican.org/news_courses.html

Home grown ideas

Of course there is nothing to stop you running a retreat or quiet day where you are.

You could even approach some of our Ministers who have an interest in this type of worship to see if they can help you find the right ideas and resources.

Rev Christine Perry – Grantham

Rev Terry Nowell - Nottingham

Rev Christine King – Lincoln South

Jane Measures – East Midlands Training Officer

lso the team at Epworth Old Rectory can be involve in preparing a retreat day for you

http://www.epwortholdrectory.org.uk/events.php

You might also find inspiration in these books

The Retreat Leader's Manual: A Complete Guide to Organizing Meaningful Christian Retreats (Perfect Paperback)

by Nancy Ferguson (Author), Kevin Witt (Author)

ISBN-10: 0881774286

Be Still: Designing and Leading Contemplative Retreats (Paperback)

by Jane E. Vennard

ISBN-10: 156699229X

Creative Ideas for Quiet Days: Resources and Liturgies for Retreats and days of reflection (Paperback)

By Sue Pickering (Author)

ISBN-10: 1853119660

The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats (Paperback)

by Rachel Gilmore (Author)

ISBN-10: 0817015469

I do hope you have been given some inspiration by this newsletter. Many of the suppliers and sites have lots of other resources to look at too

The next edition of this newsletter will focus on Worship.

God Bless

Jane

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