Workshops

There are many ways that groups can explore their faith and deepen their relationship with God and each other:

Kinds of Workshop

• Parish Quiet Days
• Structured prayer
• Bible study
• Contemplative prayer
• Guest speaker

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Prayer Workshops

Prayer is a conversation with God. Often, however, it seems to be reduced to a monologue as we ask for things from God without finding time to listen to God’s response. Listening takes time and effort, but can be carried out in a number of ways.

“It is best to learn to silence the faculties and to cause them to be
still so that God may speak.”

John of the Cross

I offer workshops of different ways of conversing with God – some well-known such as ‘lectio divina’ (the Benedictine way of ‘divine reading of the Word of God’), or ‘Ignatian imaginative contemplation’ (in which we place ourselves in Gospel scenes); others working through creativity and imagination as well as scripture.

Courses on ‘Exploring Prayer’ can be tailored to the needs of a parish or prayer group, or I can offer a starter course covering a selection of topics and approaches that has been tried and tested.

I recently led a five-part course on ‘Exploring Prayer’ at Bognor Regis Methodist Church, High Street, Bognor Regis. Topics covered were:

• Praying with Scripture – Lectio Divina
• Finding God in All Things – Using the Imagination in Prayer
• Pain and suffering – Praying with the Psalms
• The Gift of Life – Fantasy Prayer
• Ignatian Imaginative Contemplation

Parish Quiet Days

Tailored days for parish groups might be focussed on a seasonal celebration or on a type of prayer. There is great flexibility of topic and methods, and each ‘quiet day’ is created through discussion with the parish representatives or the group requesting the day. They can be held in your church premises, at the Sussex Heritage Centre, or some other suitable place.

These times of prayer and contemplation can be a whole day or half a day, and can be led as a group or offered with minimal input but the opportunity for individuals to meet with me one-to-one to discuss what is going on with their prayer and in their relationship with God.

For details of upcoming day retreats and days of reflection open to all, keep an eye on the Home page.