What is a ‘Retreat in Daily Life’?
In January 2021, Red Letter Christians UK hosted a unique home-based retreat, designed specifically for this season of lockdown with the aim of providing space and resources for leaders and activists to pause and invest in their spiritual resilience.
Our ‘retreat in daily life’ used a mixture of online content, interaction, and offline activities which encourage us to engage with our bodies, with sacred places, and in shared rhythm of prayer.
For those who weren’t able to join us, we’re now making many of the retreat materials available for free. We invite you to use these as part of a personal, community or team retreat, or even just to grab some needed moments of peace or contemplation over a lunch break.
Led by a variety of ordinary radicals, we hope these sessions and activities can provide moments to breathe, and a chance to develop healthy patterns of spiritual nourishment in the strange times we live in. You will be encouraged to explore local spaces and to discover the sometimes hidden reflections of glory all around us.
A Rhythm of Prayer
You might want to use fixed rhythms of prayer as part of your retreat. Here are some resources you might find useful for morning and evening prayer:
Common Prayer for Ordinary Radicals
Celtic Daily Office – Northumbria Community
Some additional resources for contemplating your spiritual rhythm:
- Rhythm of Life – Society of the Holy Trinity
- Developing a Rule of Life in a Pandemic
- Home, Daily Rhythms & Resilience – Institute for Collective Trauma & Growth
Spiritual Resilience & Contemplative Practice: Video Sessions
We recorded a number of our main sessions and panel discussions which are available here to view. We’ve also included some suggestions for how you can use these sessions as well as further resources for reading and contemplation. You will see that a number of these recorded sessions can be used in conjunction with the activities offered below.
Sacred Embodiment in the Age of Zoom
The Practice of Pilgrimage
A pioneer of modern land reform, Alastair McIntosh has been described by BBC TV as βone of the worldβs leading environmental campaigners.β In his beautiful book Poacherβs Pilgrimage: an Island Journey, Alastair shares his twelve-day pilgrimage, often in appalling conditions, to the Outer Hebrides islands of his childhood and explores the meaning of these places. Dr Guy Hayward co-founded the British Pilgrimage Trust and Joel Wilson is a filmmaker, writer and thinker who was deeply impacted by a bike pilgrimage to Scotland, where he spent some time with Alastair as he processed his journey. Joel chairs this fascinating conversation.
Some additional resources about pilgrimage:
- Quotes on Pilgrimage from Alastair McIntosh
- How intention turns a walk into a pilgrimage (Guardian) – Dr Guy Hayward
Borders & Space: Our Relationship with the Land
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of space β space to explore for our mental health and curiosity, alongside space to live in to prevent overcrowding and poor living conditions. Centuries of sell-offs have left the public with access to very little of the land in the UK, whilst narratives of being βfullβ dominate discourse about migration. How can communities reclaim their power to develop healthy relationships with the land and space around them, along with its complicated history and politics?”
Diverse & Holy Bodies: Spirituality & Intersectionality
We recognise that no discussion could cover every area of diverse experience, and so we include this link to additional resources and plan to host further conversations on this important subject on the heart of many Red Letter Christians.
Contemplative Activities & Walks (from wherever you are)
An Unorthodox ‘Labyrinth’ Walk in your Neighbourhood
Take part in the ancient spiritual practice of ‘walking the labyrinth’ (or maze) in your own neighbourhood. You can follow these instructions on your own, or use them to coordinate a geographically dispersed group walking event. This is a unique way to both notice details in your day to day environment and to spend time in shared reflection in the open air. (If you would like to join in with future coordinated Unorthodox Walks, click here to join this Facebook Group.)
Here’s a video we compiled from those who participated in our January walk, around the UK …
Making & Praying the Rosary
Prayer ropes and beads have been used by Christians since at least the third century. There is nothing magical or superstitious about their use; it is simply a way of counting prayers in an embodied way. It can be a really helpful practice to help us βpray without ceasingβ (1 Thess. 5:17) and to love God with our whole selves, including our body (Mark 12:30).
You will need about five metres of braided cord or rope or similar, a lighter/candle and scissors. Download our guide here which includes instructions and links to ideas and prayers.
Walking & Wheeling Pilgrimage Prayers
Pilgrimage and journey have been a key part of the Christian tradition, going right back to the Exodus journey to the promised land. Pilgrims abandon themselves to the care of God as they journey. Strangers met along the way are often seen as messengers of God. Pilgrimage is a chance to experience Godβs presence with us as we journey through life. To connect with sacred spaces, and grow along the way. Pick a destination you can safely get to within 20 minutes. It can even be your own home if a lap round the neighbourhood or being assisted from one part of your home to another is what is possible for you. Read these instructions before you set out.
Creative Contemplation Using Mandala drawing
Poet, artist and activist Nona Wyld (they/ them) developed a guided creativity session on Zoom which will includes meditating on a few passages of scripture and responding creatively and reflectively with words and design. The materials needed are a piece of paper, a pen/ pencil, something round like a roll of sellotape and then something bigger that’s round like a small plate (both for tracing circles), colouring pencils, pens or paint. You can download and follow along with these instructions.
(Mandala drawn by Jo Simister)
Finding Sacred Spaces
Find a quiet and still space and spend some time in a guided contemplation of sacred space. What is ‘sacred’ to you? What have been the significant spaces in your spiritual journey? What are the sacred spaces in your community? You may want to use pens, paint and paper as you reflect, or create a photo collage. You can find and download detailed instructions and prompts here.
About our RLC UK Retreat organisers, facilitators and contributors…
Naomi Bennett is the Co-CEO of Red Letter Christians UK (whilst also completing a PhD in Biomedical Materials). Sheβs passionate about amplifying prophetic voices and stories and creating change from the grassroots – up. She loves mobilising the church and working on cross-cutting and radical campaigns, especially when it comes to healthcare, housing and the environment. Naomi also works with Newbigin Community Trust in Winson Green, Birmingham, developing projects that use science as a community development tool.
Danielle Wilson is the Co-CEO of Red Letter Christians UK and curates RLC UK’s blog and communications. Danielle has been working in missions leadership and communications for more than 20 years and has an MA in Contemporary Missiology, focussing on Reconciliation, Justice and Advocacy. Danielle is the pioneer minister of Inclusive Gathering Birmingham, an emerging church community growing in its understanding and practice of God’s radical inclusion. She lives in Birmingham with her husband Joel and their two daughters.
Father Luke Larner (minister & activist) is ordained in the Church of England, and based in the centre of Bedford. Passionate about Jesus and Justice, particularly in the areas of homelessness, peace-making, and interfaith collaboration. Luke is currently studying for a doctorate in Practical Theology, researching with Christians involved in Community Organising. Big fan of Saint Francis.
Alastair McIntosh (Author & Activist, Scotland) has been described by BBC TV as βone of the worldβs leading environmental campaigners.β A pioneer of modern land reform in Scotland, his books include Soil and Soul, Hell and High Water: Climate Change, Hope and the Human Condition, Rekindling Community, Spiritual Activism: Leadership as Service, and Poacherβs Pilgrimage: an Island Journey.
Alexandra Groves is a registered Counsellor, working in Birmingham. She has over 32 years experience and has founded multiple charitable organisations, supporting children and young people, ex-offenders and care-leavers by providing counselling and mentoring.
Sally Mann has a PhD in Philosophy and Theology and lectures in Sociology. She is a minister at Bonny Downs Baptist Church where she is the 4th of 5 generations of her family to stay put and serve in that East-End community. Sally has written a book βLooking for Lydia: encounters that shape the churchβ reflecting on 25 years of ministry in London through the stories of encounters in Acts. Sally was on the original team who launched RLC UK and is proud to be a Red Letter Christian.
Ash Barker has spent over 30 years living and serving on the front line of urban poverty and has a passion to release the unique potential of urban people & places through Jesus. Since 2014, the Barkers have been based in Winson Green, Birmingham, after spending 12 years in Bangok’s largest slum. They founded Newbigin House which started two new local congregations as well as innovative organisations such as Newbigin Community Trust, Red Letter Christians UK & Urban Shalom Society now led by others. Currently, Ash is the Co-CEO of Seedbeds, focusing on growing leaders & communities into fullness of life.
Ian Rutherford is the City Centre Minister based at Methodist Central Hall in Manchester. Ian is committed to civic engagement and his current priorities in Greater Manchester are Housing and Homelessness, Challenging Hate Crime and Climate Change. He chairs a number of social justice organisations – Greater Manchester Homelessness Faith Network, Manchester City Centre Street Pastors and Greater Manchester Citizens. Ian is the chair of Red Letter Christians UK’s Housing & Homelessness Forum.
Rajiv Sidhu (he/him) is a Church of England Ordinand currently in formation at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. He is reading for a Masters in Theology, Ministry and Mission with the University of Durham, having completed undergraduate studies in Theology at the University of Oxford. Rajiv is a passionate liberation theologian and is currently researching racism in the Church Of England. Rajiv can be found writing at https://findinggodinthewilderness.wordpress.com/, or on Instagram and Twitter at @RajivDSidhu.
Faith Van Horne received her Masters of Divinity from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio in the United States. She is currently a postgraduate researcher in Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham. Her thesis explores how perceptions of selfhood and the body influence theological visions of redemption for survivors of sexual abuse. She also blogs for Pentecostals and Charismatics for Peace and Justice.
Nona Wyld (they/ them) is a writer and researcher, currently completing a PhD in trans studies. They are non-binary and the Gender Identity Inclusion Lead for Inclusive Gathering Birmingham. As a trans Christian, Nona is passionate about sharing their story and celebrating diversity.
Mick Kane (originally from Glasgow) is an ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene, and has been involved in ministry in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. Driven by his passion for incarnational ministry and mentoring, he is currently resident chaplain to 300 students, staff and faculty at Nazarene Theological College in Manchester where he lives with his wife, Debbie; his son, Mikey and around 30 students who live on campus together. Mick was part of the original team that launched Red Letter Christians UK and is particularly interested how Spirituality and Justice inform each other.
Guy Hayward co-founded the British Pilgrimage Trust, after completing a PhD at Cambridge on how singing forms community. Guy also runs the website choralevensong.org and is one half of musical comedy duo Bounder & Cad. You can read more about the British Pilgrimage Trust here: https://britishpilgrimage.org/