Rythmic Report
21 February 2008
About 70 people gathered for an ecumenical day of reflection in Bristol, led by Father Richard McKay, Parish Priest of St Nicholas of Tolentino, Easton, Bristol and Mary Hopper.
It was a day of experiencing rhythms hosted by Westbury-on-Trym’s Baptist Church. We were invited to step aside from the relentless activity of life and to experience silence and stillness, within the framework of the Divine Office with its rhythm of morning, midday, afternoon and evening prayer.
Within each of these prayer times were short reflections on the rhythm of creation, and on the rhythm of our lives as individuals and in our relationships. Together we read the powerful description of God as “The midwife of our lives. Always drawing us to be born again.”
Following each time of prayer and reflection we were “sent” into silence with the words of the refrain, “we are what we do with our silence”.
To experience the healing of silence was at the heart of this day, (with time to talk and share over lunch!) We were encouraged to listen and to be present with God and were helped in this by the presence of icons.
It was a nurturing and challenging day. We were offered “food” for our inner journey to the heart of our being and for our outward journey - to live and share the love and compassion that we receive.
The next Bristol Spirituality Network Day of Reflection is on 18 October at Clifton Cathedral. Gavin D’Costa, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Bristol, will lead the day on ‘Praying with Painting, Poetry and Scripture’.
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