Launde Abbey.

After a strange weekend (please don't ask!) It was good to arrive at Launde Abbey yesterday for an annual retreat with friends I trained for the ministry with. We are here till Thursday. 

We have been coming to Launde together for 20 years and it always is a special place to be with good friends.it's space to relax, 'chew the cud', reflect on life and ministry together, walk together (so far today I've done over 16000 steps...definitely a record for me) and the yummy food always helps. 

It is good to be in such a familiar place that is good for the soul! 

Sabbath Reflections

During the week since I last blogged, I've had a good week not only reading about Sabbath but living out some of it's attitudes as well. In my dissertation I spoke of 4 principles of Sabbath (although I might add more when I finish my reading!) - rest, thanksgiving, justice and generosity. 

My week has involved reading, worship, sleeping, singing with my choir, more reading, knitting angels ready for Christmas, doing some jigsaw, walking and meeting friends for coffee/lunch and more reading, spending time with Andrew (including time at the national memorial arboretum) 

I've also started to sort some of the 500 + (non work) books I have - clearing and sorting them is being therapeutic although there is still a long way to go. 

I've finished reading Sabbath as resistance by Walter Brueggermann which i'm quite proud off as i'm good at starting books and not finishing them.....😂

It was a good book and and i have found new things that I would now add to a dissertation if I was writing it now, i"ll share more once I've read more books! Next on the list is a book by Mark Scarlata who reflects on Sabbath rest for a digital age

Sabbath Theology

After 4 weeks of retreat, rest, worship and being kind to myself, I am ready to start a new part of sabbatical plans.... Reading and re-engaging with my dissertation on Sabbath Theology. 

I wrote it in my final few months of formal ministry training (of course we never stop learning..so training never stops!). It was something I wanto explore before entering circuit to help develop and maintain a holistic approach to ministry and enable good practice in terms of work /life balance. 

17 years later, I admit I've not really looked at it although the theory of Sabbath theology has never left me!

At times I think I'm good at it but mostly I think I'm rubbish at allowing myself time to be rather than do and so with about 12 years left till retirement (unless the rules change again) I felt it was an important time to re-engage with it. Today then I will reread it, then over the next few weeks read some newer books on the subject and consider what else I can learn from it and put into practice 

I'm sure I'm blog about this morning but for now, it's time for coffee and space to read

called to be witnesses but what do we witness?

I attended a small village Anglican church this morning and was made to feel very welcome. The service was fairly traditional in terms of following the liturgy and lectionary for the day, but the visiting preacher spoke really well, on what it means to be a witness asking how and what do we witness today when we talk about Jesus. He reminded us that in order to be a witness we need to experience something and challenged us on making time to experience God in our daily lives... much to ponder!

The coffee was lovely too and I think there will be a return visit soon! 

What is your body saying to you?

There's a saying that I've been reminded of recently- 'listen to your body'. In our world of work, being busy and the pressure we put on ourselves and others put on us, it's often difficult to take the time to stop and we can feel guilty for doing so...but it's really important for our mind body and spirit that we do so. 

I'm very grateful for the time gifted by the Church for sabbatical and the time to do that, and listening to my body has been the highlight of this week. A lovely weekend in North Wales followed by a relaxing few days with time to do some reading, jigsaw and knitting and to go to my choir has helped me start feeling relaxed at last.. the rest of this week will be much of the same. 😀

Next week I intend to reread my dissertation on Sabbath Theology and do some reading around it. Part of living a Sabbath Theology life is finding time (not just on the Sabbath) to have moments for God and for self... something I've already done during the first few weeks of this sabbatical, but i also want to put in place things to ensure a better work / life balance as I return to work in July. 

For now though back to listening to the body!

Being Honest.

I've really enjoyed the space to retreat last week and join in worship and teaching at Spring Harvest (at home) this week...but I have to admit I'm beyond shattered. I'm not sleeping well at the moment and what sleep I have is full of stressy nightmares (not work related but some involving folk from the circuit). 

I had hoped to be feeling relaxed by now, but struggling a bit. Thankfully we have a weekend away coming up and I'm going to make sure I take some time to rest...