In these times of isolation and lockdown, taking time to relax into the silence of God’s company, although very challenging, can be an enriching and enlightening experience. The URC: Spirituality network has much wisdom and experience to share in this regard, shown at its recent gathering at Westminster College, Cambridge, looking at ‘Heaven in the ordinary’.
This diverse network, formerly known as the URC Silence and Retreats Network, is focussed on enabling people across the denomination in deepening their spiritual awareness and action through the sharing of information, strategies and resources around many helpful themes including, but certainly not limited to, meditation, prayer, Bible study and spiritual direction (having someone to support you in your spiritual journey).
Taking the opportunity to meet together, with input from Susan Durber, a URC minister serving in Taunton and with the World Council of Churches as its Moderator of Faith and Order, as well as Terry Hinks, author of ‘Pray the Way’, a helpful resource for Walking the Way, made the event even more special.
As well as enabling participants to consider what it might mean to pray through the day, spend time in silent reflection, search for God in artwork and think about what leading people in spiritual direction might look like, the event also allowed for plenty of free time to roam the beautiful city of Cambridge with the challenge to pay close attention to everything they saw, heard and felt around them, asking ‘Where is God in this?’
Simon Peters, Walking the Way project manager, said, ‘Silence and spirituality are not always easy to engage with. We cannot always pin them down, touch them or feel them in the same we can other, more tangible concepts. Yet, they are so important, especially in a world of noise and busyness, to recognising and responding to God’s presence in our everyday reality.’
More findings from the conference will be shared in due course. In the meantime, have a look at the URC’s worship page for some thought-provoking articles on various elements of spirituality.
