St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Ourselves

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Ourselves: Read: 1 John 4.7-12   Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Jesus

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Jesus: Glykophilousa Icon Mt Athos, Greece, before 9 th C. Read: John 1.1-18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Anna

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Anna: The presentation of Christ Picture from the Mafa people of Cameroon/ Eastern Nigeria 20 th C Read: Luke 2.36-40 Ther...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Simeon

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Simeon: Simeon’s Song of Praise Aert De Gelder 1645-1727 Maritshuis, The Hague Read: Luke 2.22-35 When the time came for their puri...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Egypt

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Egypt: The Rest on the Flight into Egypt Nicolas Poussin 1594-1665 Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg Read: Matthew 2.14-15, 19-23 Then Jose...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The parents of the children of Bet...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The parents of the children of Bet...: The Massacre of the Innocents Nicolas Poussin 1594-1665 Musee Condé Read: Matthew 2.17-18 Then was fulfilled what had bee...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The children of Bethlehem

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The children of Bethlehem: Massacre of the Innocents Léon Cogniet 1794-1880 Musee des Beaux Arts, Rennes Read: Matthew 2.16 When Herod saw that he had...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Herod's advisers

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Herod's advisers: Slaughter of the Innocents Duccio di Buoninsegna d. 1319 Read: Matthew 2.4-6 C alling together all the chief priests and scri...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Herod

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Herod:   Massacre of the Innocents Matteo di Giovanni 1482 Sant’Agostino, Sienna Read: Matthew 2.13-19   Now after they had left...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Jerusalem

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Jerusalem: The Wise Men enter Jerusalem William Brassey Hole 1846-1917 Read Isaiah 60.1-6   Arise, shine; for your light has com...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Jerusalem

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Jerusalem: The Wise Men enter Jerusalem William Brassey Hole 1846-1917 Read Isaiah 60.1-6   Arise, shine; for your light has com...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Jerusalem

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Jerusalem: The Wise Men enter Jerusalem William Brassey Hole 1846-1917 Read Isaiah 60.1-6   Arise, shine; for your light has com...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Jerusalem

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Jerusalem: The Wise Men enter Jerusalem William Brassey Hole 1846-1917 Read Isaiah 60.1-6   Arise, shine; for your light has com...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The Magi

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The Magi: Adoration of the Magi Albrecht Dürer 1405 Ufffizi Gallery, Florence Read: Matt 2.1-12   In the time of King Herod, after Jesu...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: King David

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: King David: King David Gerard van Honthorst 1592-1656 Read: Luke 2.4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galil...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The sheep

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The sheep: Annunciation to the Shepherds De Lisle Psalter British Library 1310 Read : Matthew 19.27-30 Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we ha...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The Shepherds

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The Shepherds: Adoration of the Shepherds Andrea Mantegna 1431-1506 Mantegna’s shepherds are a ragged pair. Their trousers have holes in the k...

How is your Advent colouring coming along?

How is your Advent colouring coming along? Here is mine so far. It's not too late to join in , if you don't mind doing some catching up. It's a form of Lectio Divina - look up the Bible verse for each day, numbered around the edge of the picture, then colour in, draw, write etc. As you want to. Many of us at St Peter and Paul, Seal are enjoying this. You can download the sheet herehttp://sealpeterandpaul.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/advent-candle-light-colouring.

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Bethlehem

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: The people of Bethlehem: The Arrival in Bethlehem Luc Olivier Merson 1897 Read: Luke 2.7    And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him ...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Quirinius, Governor of Syria

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Quirinius, Governor of Syria:   The Census in Bethlehem Pieter Breughel 1566 Museum of Fine Arts, Brussels   Read : Luke 2. 2 This was the first re...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Augustus Caesar

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Augustus Caesar:   The Meroë Head 27-25 BC The  British Museum Read: Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all t...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Mary and Joseph's neighbours

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Mary and Joseph's neighbours:   Marriage of the Virgin Pietro Perugino    1446 - 1523 Read: Matthew 1.18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took pla...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Joseph

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Joseph: The anxiety of Joseph James Tissot  Read: Matthew 1.18-25 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When ...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Mary

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Mary: Virgin of the Annunciation Antonello da Messina 1430-1479 Alte Pinakothek, Munich Read: Luke 2. 19 But Mary treasured all t...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Gabriel

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Gabriel: The Cestello Annunciation Sandro Botticelli 1445 -1510 Read: Luke 1.26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: the relatives of John the Baptist

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: the relatives of John the Baptist: The Birth of John the Baptist Luca Signorelli 1445-1523 Read: Luke 57-80   Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, a...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: John the Baptist

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: John the Baptist: John the Baptist in the Desert   Phillipe de Champaigne 1602-1674 Read: Mark 1.1-11   The beginning of the good news of J...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Elizabeth

  The second Advent thought from St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Elizabeth: The Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth Carl Heinrich Bloch 1834 - 1890 Read: Luke 1.24-25, 39-45   After those days his wife Elizab...

Advent Thoughts from St Peter & Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Zechariah

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: In the Picture: Zechariah: The angel appears to Zechariah    Alexander Ivanov 1806 – 1858 opaque watercolour on paper (26 × 39 cm) — 1850's   Tretyakov Gal...

Advent thoughts from Seal Church: In the Picture

INTRODUCTION

The story of the first Christmas has been a powerful source of inspiration for artists for most of Christian history. They haven’t just focussed on the stable, the shepherds and the magi. They have painted and sculpted every part of the tale, from the angel appearing to Zechariah, to tell him that he is to become the father of John the Baptist, to Simeon and Anna greeting Jesus in the Temple forty days after his birth and acclaiming him as “the light that enlightens the Gentiles”. In between those points virtually every human experience is found. There is new life, hope, love and tender care in the story, but also fear, death, shame and poverty, things we may all feel in the course of our lives. That’s why depictions of the events around Christ’s birth have such universal appeal; we can see our own lives reflected in them. They may seem to be pictures of things that happened long ago and far away, but in reality they are happening right here, today, in our lives and the lives of those around us. Christians believe that in Jesus, God came among us in flesh and blood; “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth” (John 1.14) That means we can find him just as much in our own lives as we can in a straw filled manger.

This Advent series of thoughts, one a day from Advent Sunday onwards, focusses on a different picture each day and on a different character or group of characters from the Nativity story. How does each of these characters or groups fit into the bigger picture of the story? Can we identify with them, or recognise what they might be feeling and thinking from experiences in our own lives?

Read along – a post a day – and see what you think. Links posted here every day through Advent.

Advent Candle Light colouring

How are you going to mark Advent?
It's good to find time and space amidst the busyness to pause and reflect. If you're into colouring, here's an Advent exercise for you. Print out the picture - there's a PDF version here if you prefer it https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/59103132/Advent%20Light.pdf
(You are also welcome to copy the idea and draw your own version - your handwriting may be tidier than mine - I threw this together yesterday!)

Starting on Dec 1, find candle ray number 1, look up the bible verse - there's an online bible here, where you can enter the verse - http://bible.oremus.org/. Then decorate that candle ray as you want. You could fill it with patterns, draw a picture, write out the verse, or a word from it...it's up to you.
On Christmas Eve colour the candle and the flame.
Why not post a picture on social media at the end, or as you go along, to share your Advent journey?

News from the London Centre for Spirituality

Safeguarding and Spiritual Direction Safeguarding and Spiritual Direction Saturday 12th December 2015, 10 - 1 pm with Dawn Watson from CCPAS (the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service) Cost: £30 From time to time spiritual directors may find themselves presented with an event which concerns child or vulnerable adult abuse, either historic or current. This morning is designed as an event for all spiritual directors & those training to become spiritual directors on the issues we need to consider when working with vulnerable adults issues concerning Safeguarding Topics that will be covered include: Who is a vulnerable adult or adult at risk? Who might be abused? What issues relating to abuse should raise our concern? Who might abuse? How to handle the matter of confidentiality Signs and symptoms Responding to concerns Read more and book here Developing Direction: The Human Role in the Planetary Incarnation The Human Role in the Planetary Incarnation with Paul Maiteny 4 Dec 2015, 11 - 3:45pm Cost £45 The ecological crisis we have created on planet Earth is symptomatic of denying the purpose for which what God has created us as a species. Today we will reflect on the extent to which we, as individuals and a species, have arrived at this point of ecological crisis, holocaust and extinctions because we have failed to have 'the eyes to see and ears to hear' what mystics and prophets have been trying, for millennia, to tell us. This is that discerning the core meaning and purpose of our lives, and engaging in the emotional and spiritual work necessary to do so, is the key to averting the crises that we inevitably bring on ourselves when we seek to find satisfaction through the only other alternative - that of consuming the planetary body of which we are part and, today, using our intellect to devise ways of doing so in ever more clever, intensive and accelerating ways.  Please bring readings, poems, artwork, etc that speak meaningfully to you of these types of themes. Read more and book Last chance to book....

RECOGNISING CHRIST The London Spirituality Centre Network Day 21st November 2015 10.30 for an 11.00 start – 4.30 Cost £25 We welcome you to the annual London Spirituality Centre Network Day. This will be a chance to : •    Re-connect with one another; •    Hear the latest news from the Centre; •    Sign up to our new and improved Spiritual Direction Network; •    Meet both Diocesan and Centre Advisors – people who are responsible for linking our work with church and community; •    Reflect together on spiritual direction; •    Pray together and bless one another in our ministry; The talk, entitled ‘Recognising Christ,’ will be from Julie Dunstan, Director of Encounter, The London Course in Spiritual Direction, psychotherapist and licensed lay minister.  She will talk on the need for good theological reflection in spiritual direction and its role in bringing greater integrity to the work, richness and depth to the ministry, and vital links to a church in need of far more ‘burning hearts’. The day will be facilitated by Robin Hepburn, Chair of Trustees, The London Spirituality Centre. Read more and book here   Open Soul Space Retreat Saturday Nov 28th - 10 to 5pm Cost £40 - bring a notebook and your own lunch Give yourself the gift of a day to nourish your soul. There will be silence, stillness, personal and group meditation and contemplative prayer – and an opportunity to develop your spiritual practice with experienced guides and facilitators. With Julian Maddock & Annette Kaye. Read more and book here   News from Centre staff and friends As well as doing events and marketing at the Centre, Beth runs leadership embodiment workshops. Her next workshop will be on Friday Friday 26th February 2016 10 - 5:00 pm (Day One) and  Friday 25 March 2016 10 - 1:30pm (Day Two) Leadership Embodiment is a set of practices that uses gentle physical movements with mindfulness techniques.  The work  ‘gives us a way to synchronize the energy of the body, speech and mind with emotions and intuition, thus increasing our capacity for somatic intelligence, discriminating wisdom and unconditional love.’ (from Wendy Palmer, founder of leadership embodiment).   Beth is a certified Leadership Embodiment teacher and is one of a handful of people in the UK trained in this work. Read more and book As many of you know the former Centre Director Mark Godson, we thought some of you might be interested in a couple of his latest offerings which are around the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness is an integrative approach to life that helps people relate effectively to their experiences. It involves paying attention to thoughts, feelings and body sensations in a way that can increase awareness, help to mange difficult experiences and create space for wise choices. In December, Mark is offering a weekend retreat called Sit: Breathe: Love.  It is open to everyone and will be running from 5pm Mon 5th Dec 2016 to 10am Fri 9th Dec 2016.  Residential Price - £360 (20% ministry discount)  Read more and book In January, Mark is running a one day workshop called Mindfulness Now on Saturday, 23 January 2016 from 10:00 to 16:30 (GMT) Haywards Heath, United Kingdom  Read more and book

Rochester Diocese Spirituality Network Events

Training day on how to lead a quiet day
Led by Rev Susanne Carlsson and Sr Diane Reynolds
16 Feb 2016
St Justus Church, The Fairway, Rochester ME1 2LT
10.00 - 4pm
Bring your own lunch, drinks will be provided.
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On going training for spiritual directors 
Loss, Lamentations and Laughter
This   day   will   explore   the   theme   of  loss   through   scripture,   poetry,
psychology, the contemplative tradition, and reflective exercises.
Led  by Julie  Dunstan , Director  of  Encounter,  The  London  Course  in
Spiritual Direction.
5 Mar 2016 St Justus Church ,
The Fairway, Rochester ME1 2LT
10.30 - 3pm
Bring  your own lunch, drinks will be provided.
Network day
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Franciscan Spirituality
Led by Paula Pearce
21 May 2015
St Justus Church , The Fairway, Rochester ME1 2LT
10.30 - 3pm
Bring your own lunch, drinks will be provided.

Rochester Diocesan Spirituality network newsletter

The first of the new Rochester Diocesan Spirituality network newsletters is here to download. It has news of lots of upcoming events in the area and news of the development of the community house in Chatham which will be a great resource for quiet days and retreats.

Formed by the Spirit - Southwark Diocesan spirituality news

Southwark Diocese's Spirituality Newsletter for Oct 15 is here, with lots of interesting events, just over the "border" in our neighbouring Diocese.
Why not sign up for something?

Autumn events from the London Centre for Spirituality

Early Christian Spirituality

Book now for Early Bird Discount - Exploring Christian Spirituality We've extended the deadline for the Early Bird Discount to Friday October 9th!    All bookings made by 5pm on the 9th October will receive £50 off the normal cost of £350 for this 19 week course. Course Details: Led by Antonia Lynn and John-Francis Friendship Starts November 23rd  2015, 19 sessions over two terms Monday afternoons 2 - 4.45pm  Three Modules over two terms (19 sessions). The Course is open to people of all traditions, those of other faith groups, and any who are interested in exploring the theme of Christian Spirituality. This Course is intended to be experiential rather than academic – to complement personal journeys in spiritual development – and some may find the pace gentler than in other Courses. Read more and book    Open Prayer Sessions We continue to run Open Prayer Sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes, 1 - 1:20pm.  If you are able to join us it would be lovely to have you here but if not, we'd love it if you would  consider joining us in prayer wherever you may be at that time so as a community we actually join together for prayer Singing at the Centre!

Lombard Street Sings! Every Wednesday Lunchtime Starting on Wednesday 14th October 12:30 - 1:00pm followed by tea & coffee (and your lunch if you'd like to bring it) FREE Many of the staff working here at the Centre are keen amateur singers and have decided to start an informal singing group - open to all! No need to read music.  Group members will teach each other simple songs from a varied reportorie including pop, world/folk music and simple classical music. For more information, email Beth at programme@spiritualitycentre.org but feel free to drop in! Coming Up... We have a number of other workshops & upcoming events coming up soon including: Open Soul Space - October 12th, 5:45 - 7:30pm Praying with the Whole of Our Being - October 31st, 11 - 4pm. Developing Direction: Noticing the Unnoticed - November 6th, 11 - 4pm Spiritual Direction Network Day - November 21st, 11 - 3pm Open Space Retreat Day - November 28th, 10 - 5pm Click on the title of the event to read more and book.