COURSES 2009/10


SPIRITUAL ACCOMPANIMENT COURSE

A 2 year course to explore the skills and gifts of accompanying others. Spiritual accompaniment in the Ignatian tradition assumes that God is present and active in our lives and that through reflection and prayer we can become more sensitive to this presence. Through discernment we are invited to ‘find God in all things’, to notice how God is drawing us in our everyday experiences and how we respond to this invitation of God. Participants will find different uses for what they learn, e.g. informal spiritual conversation, prayer guiding, or beginning to offer spiritual direction. The course will include ongoing discernment for each person about whether, and in what ways, they are called to accompany others in faith. As part of the course the participants are asked to make a retreat, the length and cost of which can be negotiated.


The next two year course will begin in October 2010 and run until May 2012.

It will be offered on a Tuesday evening 7pm-9pm with two additional Saturdays per year (10.00am - 4.30pm).



GROWTH IN PRAYER AND REFLECTIVE LIVING

This one year course will run from 13th October 2009 - 29th May 2010.

It will be offered on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm with two additional Saturdays (19th December and 29th May from 10.30am to 4.30pm)

This course runs each year offering experience of different ways of praying and reflecting, fostering connections between prayer and life. The evenings will include some input from the team, led experiences of prayer and meditation, periods of quiet for reflection and sharing and listening in small groups. Some of the themes and exercises that make up the course are:-
  • Ways of praying with Scripture
  • God in our daily lives
  • Images of God and talking to God
  • Imaginative prayer and the Gospels
  • Discernment of spirits - the God of my experience
  • Desires and decision-making
  • The God of my story
  • Creativity and prayer - Art and writing
  • Centering Prayer and Mantras
  • A Spirituality of Faith and Justice


    • As part of the course participants are offered 6 sessions of individual accompaniment if desired. They are also encouraged to attend retreats offered by the Centre.

    Suggested Donation: £10 (£7) per session.



    RESOURCING FOR MINISTRY

    This short course is offered on Thursday afternoons 2pm to 4pm over two 6-week blocks.

    22nd October -26th November 2009
    14th January - 18th February 2010

    These short ecumenical 'breathing spaces' offer a resource for priests and ministers - in the lead up to Advent and Lent - to explore aspects of spiritual life in ministry in a supportive and encouraging setting. It will offer clergy time to reflect on their ministry, to have some time for prayer, to pratice the art of listening in a discerning way and to share good resources with others.

    Suggested Donation: £120 (£75) for whole course



    ART AND CREATION
    SPIRITUALITY COURSE

    This course will run from 14th January to 25th February 2010.

    It will be held on Thursday evenings from 6.30pm to 9.00pm.

    Deepening our experience of God and reflecting on our lives using image and scripture. We will use various art materials in our exploration.


    Suggested donation (including all materials): £100 (£75)



    FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND APPLICATION FORMS FOR ALL THE ABOVE COURSES PLEASE CONTACT US.