I first heard of the Jesus Prayer a few years back whilst away on a retreat weekend. Basically, it’s a phrase taken from the gospels, uttered in part by Bartimaeus to Jesus: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy upon me.’ This phrase is used often in Eastern Orthodox circles as a … More The Jesus Prayer
There have been a few verses of scripture floating around in my head for a few days now. In John 6:68, Jesus and Peter are having a bit of a dialogue. Jesus has been teaching hard things and many followers turn and walk away. Whether Jesus is feeling rejection or whether he is feeling like … More To whom shall we go?
I’m just done packing up my few bits and bobs I’ve had with me here at Cliff College this week, ready to vacate my room before we launch into the last half day. I’m looking forward to being home, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being here again for the last full week of my course. The … More Let’s pray about it…
I’m at Cliff College in Derbyshire this week, for the third of my four MA modules. This week is on Pioneering ministry within our current cultural landscape and again I’m listening to stuff which is very familiar, not only from my own reading, but my experience of ministry ‘in the real world.’ In the slight ivory … More Constructing the future?
I’ve been journeying as a part of the Northumbria Community for a few years now, and 3 of those as a Companion (member) of the Community. It is a new monastic group, dispersed throughout the UK and the rest of the world, committed to a shared way of life. I’m just minded of it, because … More Availability and Vulnerability
As the year gradually winds up to its regular steady pace after the lush restful days of the Christmas season, I think its a good time for reflection before leaping in. I’ve been visiting long term dreams and goals, and looking for the things that are life-giving, inspiring and very much at the forefront of … More Reflective
I guess I gave up the sort of ‘must lose weight, must exercise, must save the world’ kind of resolutions a while ago. It’s not that I shouldn’t engage in some of those things, it’s just that they always seem to be framed negatively and that kind of psychology rarely works. Take the ‘January diet’ … More Resolute
Well here we are….2017! To be honest, I still can’t quite articulate the disappointment of having to hold off our move back north, back home. Thats’s not to say that we’re not making a good crack at life here in St Albans, but the move was more than just a practical choice or fad, … More Journeying on…through 2017
It is very easy to shun, or walk away from, our shadows. Those parts of us that we are resistant to recognise, let alone embrace. Within each of us there are unresolved parts, areas of disquiet and suspicion, which feel like something ‘other.’ When these parts of us are more prominent than the sense we … More Shadow King
So far it has been a lovely start to Advent, and a good balance of activity and reflection, worship and witness. I’ve been enjoying the depth of longing found in the Old Testament as I’ve explored various passages of scripture that outline the Messianic Hope the people had for a good King to reestablish and … More The Advent wait…
Andrew S M Clark 