Saturday 22nd May 2010 - Newport Minster, Isle of Wight - 10am - 3.30pm

Saturday 10th July 2010 - St Thomas' Cathedral, Old Portsmouth - 10am - 3.30pm

Led by Barbara Mosse

In a world (and church!) of increasing activity and busyness, the deep truth enshrined in the words be still, and know that I am God seems ever-harder to experience as a lived reality. The desire is there both within the Church and beyond its boundaries, as the huge growth of the retreat movement and the appeal of television programmes such as The Monastry makes clear.

Using times for personal reflection and group sharing, periods of silent meditation and shared worship, this day aims to confront the dilemma we face: how do we respond with integrity and courage to our deep yearning for God as members of a society that glories in noisy superficiality?

Barbara Mosse is a priest working in Portsmouth and Chichester dicoeses, and is a Lecturer in Christian Spirituality at Sarum College. She is a writer and has been involved in spirituality work for a number of years. Her book The Treasures of Darkness was published by Canterbury Press in 2003.

Cost: £7.50

Saturday 26th June - Newport Minster, Isle of Wight - 10am - 3.30pm

Led by Simon McMurtary, Harriet Lea-Banks, Ben Mizen and Caroline Baston

"Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls."

Jeremiah 6:16

This is a day to explore how some of the ancient spiritual practices such as 24 hour prayer, labyrinths, prayerful reflection on scripture (Lectio Divina), icons, prophetic voices have re-emerged in today's multimedia world. There will be silence, space to reflect and the opporunity to practice what we explore. The day will be lead by a team of people:

Simon McMurtary lives in Winchester, he read Theology and trained as a Vineyard Pastor before becoming a Reader in the Church of England. He is involved with Reader training and is a novice Third Order Franciscan. He is especially interested in contemplative prayer, biblical hermeneutics and relating spirituality to today's post modern culture.

Harriet Lea-Banks is currently studying in her last year at sixth form college, hoping to go on to university next year and use her gifts to serve through Medical Engineering. As a student, finding God in the routine of everyday is something that she is really inspired by - much like many of the ancient monastic practises. Harriet says "Whether it's getting the bus, calculating a solution to an equation or playing Christian metal; worshipping God seems to take many different forms for me!"

Ben Mizen has been Youth and Children's Work Adviser for the Diocese of Portsmouth since February 2005. Prior to that he was the Youth MInister in St ALbans and was responsible for leading worship and music for an evening service. He has also worked nationally for The Boys' Brigade UK, an English speaking church in the Netherlands, a local Youth For Christ Centre and before all of that he was a primary school teacher. He describes himself as a "recovering charismatic seeking reflection and space to meet with God".

Caroline Baston is Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, and is committed to wanting to find ways of sharing the spiritual wisdom from the past, today. She is a Third Order Franciscan; passionate about issues of social justice and helping people deepen their faith and prayer in order that all may be agents of transformation today.

Cost: £7.50

Led by Simon Parke

The Enneagram offers a uniquely complete map of the psychological forces in us - both the healthy and the destructive. There is no aspect of life it doesn't touch on. As with all truth, its honesty is only for the courageous. But should courage be found in you, you in turn will find the Enneagram a great friend.

The day in the Cathedral will be given over to consideration of the Enneagram, in its various aspects and application. Bring your questions and discoveries. It is a day both for those who know nothing, and for those who know something. No knowledge will be assumed; but all knowledge will be welcomed, deepened and stretched. Time spent by you in preparation for the day will not be time wasted. We will each bring what we can; and carry away gold.

Simon Parke was a priest in the Church of England for twenty years, before deciding on new adventures. He then worked in a supermarket for three years, stacking  shelves, on the till, chasing theives and chairing the shop union. He is now a free-lance writer, consultant and retreat giver. He writes a weekly column for the Daily Mail called 'One Minute mystic', which is also now a book. He has a weekly column in the Church Times, and his Enneagram book is called 'Enneagram, the world's greatest psychologist' (Lion). Simon has been working with the Enneagram for something over twenty years; and is still learning. www.simonparke.com

Saturday 16th October 2010 - St Thomas' Cathedral, Old Portsmouth - 10am - 3.30pm

Led by Patrick Moore

Here's a day to explore what 'mysticism' means.  It will outline the mystical tradition in the Western Church, focussing on that great 14th century English classic on prayer - The Cloud of Unknowing.  We will then compare this with the contemplative tradition articulated by Gregory the Great in the early church and the monk Thomas Merton in the 20th century.  The day will include prayer and reflection time and guided meditation.

Brother Patrick Moore is Scholar-in-Residence at Sarum College, Salisbury.  He was educated at Saint Catherine's College, Cambridge and received his PhD at the University of Leicester.  He has also done graduate work at Stanford and was a Guest Fellow at Yale.  He has taught in Cambridge, London and California.  He is a member of the De La Salle Brothers.  Saint John's College, Southsea is a De La Salle foundation.

To book any of the above courses please contact Mrs Kay Lancaster on 023 9289 9656 or via email for a booking form.

Saver Season Ticket

Ths year we are offering a 'Saver Season Ticket' which will allow you to take part in all or any of the days for a cost of just £30.00. To take advantage of this please contact Kay Lancaster on 023 9289 9656 or via email for a booking form.