Spiritual Direction - Special Feature (March 2010)

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Spirituality and Spiritual Direction
Walking alongside on our journey
Adviser for Spirituality and Spiritual Direction, Diocese of Newcastle
How do I find a ‘Spiritual Guide’?
Faith Accompaniment/Spiritual Direction initiatives...

Spirituality and Spiritual Direction

There's lots of support on offer to individuals, groups and parishes to help us dig deeper and express our faith. For example, how do we pray in helpful ways?

What are characteristic Christian (and Anglican) ways of praying? These are live questions for many, and the Spirituality and Spiritual Direction network in the diocese has a huge amount to offer here.

Others - maybe secretly - wonder: What could I do to flourish in my faith a little more? A Cursillo weekend will be just the thing for some of them. Others again are asking themselves: How can I know more about my faith? How can I relate it to everyday dilemmas? How can I study the whole thing more carefully? (without necessarily having to write essays!) All these areas are about our learning and growing as Christians.

Lindisfarne Developing Discipleship was specially set up by Newcastle Diocese (with Durham and other denominations) as part of the Regional Training Partnerships, to work, with Spirituality, Local Ministry, Cursillo, indeed with all partners who wish to see faith applied in everyday life. Lindisfarne offers the Faith and Life course- longer than some others, but just the thing for those who wish to get to grips more deeply with their faith, but in a gentle, reflective way.'

These are just some of the rich possibilities on offer. Please feel free to talk to any of us Gill Henwood (Spirituality) , Alastair Macnaughton (Discipleship), George Proud (Cursillo) to see which process might be best for you.

Walking alongside on our journey

Do you remember the story of the two friends who were walking home together from Jerusalem to Emmaus? It was a fateful day when they had lost their leader and mentor. Disaster had befallen their close-knit group of friends. They were shocked and numb with grief after the betrayal, arrest, fixed trial, beating and crucifixion of their beloved Lord. Jesus of Nazareth was dead. Their hopes were dashed. Life had come to a standstill. Where was God now? Where could God be in all this mess? How had such hope been dashed for so many, many people?

As the two friends walked along, searching their hearts and pouring out their souls in sorrow, they discovered someone else had joined them. They invited him in, to share what little they had, at the end of a long journey home. As he broke the bread, they realized with absolute conviction and clarity that the risen Christ had been present with them. The solidarity of the two friends was the context for that amazing recognition: Christ had risen! Their joy was so powerful that they retraced their steps - all the way back to Jerusalem - to share with the other followers. Several had also discovered the same amazing truth of God’s transcendence, through Jesus’ death into the new life of resurrection.

The story of the road to Emmaus helps us reflect on how we can walk alongside one another today – two people, listening to one another, desiring God to be with them and between them, revealing the presence of the risen Christ within our lives. In the space between the two in prayer, God is there. In listening and reflecting with a trusted companion, our hearts become open to God’s revelation. We discover moments of recognition and may sense together the presence of God, in the risen Christ, in the Holy Spirit, with us, today.

Over the 2000 years since then, countless companions have journeyed together in different ways. Praying together in twos, threes, small groups and more, there are many ways God speaks to us as we learn to hear that ‘still, small voice’. A particular way of ‘walking alongside’ is known as ‘faith accompaniment’ or ‘spiritual direction.’ In this way of sharing our journey with another person, the ‘spiritual guide’ has been trained to listen in the context of inner prayer. Attentive firstly to God in the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit, the guide is committed to listening attentively to the person who comes for accompaniment and offering some reflection. Through such attuned listening, the guide seeks to provide a sacred space where the speaker may hear God, glimpse new connections and recognize where God is in the speaker’s own life.

Every spiritual guide also has their own guide to accompany them in turn. The model of meeting up with one other person in complete confidence enables each one of us to grow in faith, whatever life brings – challenge or disaster, growth or setback, joy or seeming darkness.

There are particular times when faith accompaniment is almost essential: when we sense God ‘calling’ us to a new ministry or new role; in times of transition; in times of turbulence or uncertainty. But there are also times when we desire faith accompaniment because we long to grow closer to God and, in so doing, to find deeper relationships with one another, as God builds a new community of the risen Christ.

In the Diocese of Newcastle, there is an Adviser for Spirituality and Spiritual Direction who will help you find someone to whom you relate with confidence and trust, to be your spiritual guide along your own journey. Remember the story of the road to Emmaus – the two companions encountered no less a person than the risen Christ, God present with them. Their recognition of God with them and between them changed their lives for ever - and we have heard their story echoing down the years ever since. The opportunity is there for you too. Do get in touch.

Adviser for Spirituality and Spiritual Direction, Diocese of Newcastle

The Revd Gill Henwood
The Vicarage, Riding Mill, Northumberland NE44 6AT
Telephone: 01434 682 120
Email: ne44vicarage@live.co.uk

Gill served in parish and diocesan roles in Blackburn, London and York dioceses before moving in 2009 to the Tyne Valley to take up the Adviser’s post. Her experience covers rural, city-centre and suburban parishes; college and rural chaplaincies; liturgy for all ages; fostering a vibrant youth ministry; preparing many children for Admission to Holy Communion; preparation for Weddings and Christenings in a large parish; liaising with schools; time on General Synod engaging with current issues… as well as everyday life.

How do I find a ‘Spiritual Guide’?

Faith Accompaniment (Spiritual Direction): Across the Diocese of Newcastle, the Adviser is the contact for those seeking someone to be alongside them for faith accompaniment.

Who offers Faith Accompaniment?
There is a network of experienced listeners and guides for faith accompaniment, (known as ‘spiritual guides’ or ‘directors’) throughout the diocese and into neighbouring dioceses.

How do I make contact?
The first step is to contact the Adviser who will arrange to meet you, to find out where you would like to go and what sort of accompaniment you are looking for. The Adviser will reflect on who would be a good first contact in the network and will check the person
is able to offer accompaniment at this time. You will be given contact details to arrange to meet the possible guide. Generally there is an initial meeting between the seeker and the spiritual guide, to see if it seems a good way to begin. If it doesn’t seem quite what you expect, the Adviser will think again and offer another contact for you. Once the relationship is established, usually the two people meet one-to-one, approximately quarterly, at a private location. If your guide moves away, or you change your circumstances, you are most welcome to return to the Adviser for a new contact.

Faith Accompaniment/Spiritual Direction initiatives...

Annual Consultation 10-11th May 2010 at Minsteracres Retreat Centre

For some years there has been a consultation of people in the diocese who offer faith accompaniment (spiritual direction). Increasingly in the southern part of the North East region, spiritual guides are working ecumenically and there is an ecumenical network based at St Antony’s Priory, Durham. In the northern part, the religious communities offer accompaniment and meet from time to time with those in the Newcastle Diocesan network. It seems a good idea for everyone involved to meet together to explore working in partnership, to provide faith accompaniment across the region.

If you would like details and an application form, contact Gill: ne44vicarage@live.co.uk

News of the course in ‘Exploring Spiritual Direction’

Another spur to this consultation is the high number of people from Newcastle Diocese who are at present on a six-month course ‘Exploring Spiritual Direction’. Run by St Antony’s Priory and Ushaw College, this version of the course is running at present at Kenton, north west of Newcastle, by arrangement with the diocese.

The course has proved so popular that there are three more members than the maximum advertised! Everyone agreed that the first residential weekend held at the end of January was an excellent way to get going, though exhausting. Many of those attending the course have been in parish ministry for years and are using the opportunity to refresh and deepen their one-to-one listening and reflection skills and experience. Some will join the diocesan or St Antony’s networks of spiritual guides. Others will return to parish ministry with a newly tuned ‘listening ear’ for the people in their care.

If you are interested in a similar course, contact Ushaw College for details of the next one which starts in September.

A Spiritual ‘Oasis’ - Individually Guided Retreats Another way of experiencing a spiritual guide ‘walking alongside’ is by going away for a few days to a retreat house and meeting daily for an hour for accompaniment. The context is an oasis of quiet time with reflective worship, space simply ‘to be’, beautiful grounds and being looked after. This frees us up to stop and listen to God – in the openness we discover, we hear God’s voice anew.

St Antony’s Priory runs such retreats (IGR) at Shepherds Dene Retreat House in the summer, for four and six days. This year the dates are between 26th July and 13th August in three sessions. These are very popular and the atmosphere is so peaceful you won’t want to return home! If you would like to try an Individually Guided Retreat, contact Shepherds Dene: 01434 682212 www.shepherdsdene.co.uk For more information about any of these initiatives, please contact Gill Henwood.