When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. John 20.19
This Coronavirus season has disturbed us out of familiar routines, rearranged our calendars and introduced uncertainty into our lives. We are more aware of our vulnerability. And, perhaps surprisingly, we are also more alive to new possibilities. It’s as if we have joined a retreat none of us planned for. What is God’s invitation to us individually and collectively during this time? St. Augustine’s is hosting an online retreat for the Easter season, beginning on the 19th April, based on a weekly talk, accompanied by a pdf with suggestions for prayer and reflection. Speakers will include Gemma Simmonds, Eddie Howells, Christopher Chapman, Andrew Walker and Barnabas Palfrey. The retreat will explore the impact of lockdown, with its heartfelt struggles and unanticipated gifts. Each week’s input will draw on wisdom from the Christian spiritual tradition to explore how we might respond to the challenges and opportunities of this time, in openness to God.
Week 1 Seeking God in a time of change
Week 2 Connecting with God and one another in a time of disconnection
Week 3 Meeting God within uncertainty
Week 4 Hearing and responding to God’s invitation
Week 5 Caring for our imagination
Week 6 Changing the way we live
