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Silence and Retreats Network
Core Group Convener: Revd Barry Hutchinson Secretary: Revd Meriel Chippindale Revd Gill Jackson; Mr Alan Fox; Revd Brenda Stephenson; Mr Mark Argent
1. Some years ago Silence and Retreats published a leaflet called Retreat to Advance. The title encapsulates something of the ideology and purpose of the network and it begins to unwrap one of our central beliefs.This is that unless we take time away in retreat and silence, listening for and interacting with God, we make it harder for ourselves to advance in any aspects of the Kingdom which is in us and amongst us. Put more positively, it is when individuals, small groups and whole congregations take time out to be with God, much as Jesus took the disciples aside a while in the midst of a busy ministry, that God is able to transform us. It is this deep inner transformation, possible only through silence, that helps us to discern more clearly various realities – of the world around us, of the divine presence in the temporal and material, of ourselves as loved, called and equipped people of God.
2. This inner, deep transformation properly issues in mission which, reflecting the nature of God seen in Jesus Christ, is balanced, gentle and compelling. Because of such balance mission itself will be nourishing for the missioners rather than enervating as so much church activity is or threatens to become.
3. Taking this to heart ourselves, the network is retreating to Windermere for a time of assessment and discernment during which we hope to be changed, challenged and guided into the future. Cutting back on the ‘business’ of reportage from our splendid Synod link people, we plan to enter into a 48 hour period of guided silence to listen to and engage with God, whom we believe is calling us in some new directions which are currently vague but which we hope will become clearer in the months ahead. Perhaps this is one aspect of his call to our whole church which we are responding to in many new initiatives, extant and in the pipeline, which will be well discussed at Assembly?
4. Be that as it may we are heartened to hear of increasing interest in ‘spirituality’ in our church, however that word might be understood; of people who believe themselves called to found quiet houses which are small places of retreat, healing and prayer; of people who feel themselves called to a deeper commitment to the life of prayer and into the radical contemplative lifestyle. And we suspect that Silence and Retreats Network will need to re-invent itself to encompass and further encourage such growth.
5. So, watch this space, as they say, and see what will happen in the future. Maybe it will be nothing much but maybe, just maybe, God will be doing something new and different for us and with us and through us, us being the United Reformed Church, with the Silence and Retreats Network being only one small part of the wider body.
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