St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 24

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 24:   The Virgin and child with St Anne Anonymous Flemish 15 th Century Our Advent seri...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 22

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 22:   Theotokos of Smolensk (c. 1500) “Hodgeteria” type icon. Icons of Mary classically fall into a number of distinct types. Yesterday we saw...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 21

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 21:   Virgin Eleusa   c. 1425–50    Angelos Akotantos Icons of this type, showing Mary cheek to cheek with her child are called Virgin Eleusa ...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 20

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 20:   The Presentation in the Temple, Rembrandt 1606-1669 When Jesus was 40 days old, Mary and Joseph brought him to the Temple, as religious ...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 19

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 19:   The rest on the flight into Egypt:  Gerard David 1460-1523 This picture, inspired by the story in Matthew’s Gospel of the Holy Family’s ...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 18

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 18:   The Adoration of the Magi. 1 490-1500, Book of Hours Central France Mary holds Jesus as the magi, pictured as medieval kings, present th...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 17

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 17:   The adoration of the shepherds,  Matthias Stom: c. 1600 – after 1652 ...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 16

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 16:   Nativity by Duccio 1308 - 1311   Duccio’s crowded nativity – originally part of an altarpiece in Siena Cathedral – features Mary and ...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 12

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 12:   Merode Altarpiece Annunciation:  by Robert Campin 1375-1444 The final annunciation in our series shows Mary at home, in a typical Mediev...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 11

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 11: Cestello Annuncation:  Sandro Botticelli 1445-1510 Yesterday’s annunciation was all about stillness, but this one, by Botticelli, is full of...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 10

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary: Day 10: Like yesterday’s image, there’s no angel to be seen in this painting by Antonello da Messina, but it’s clear that Mary is hearing the call o...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Day 6: Picturing Mary

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Day 6: Picturing Mary:   Who are my mother and my brothers?  by  Rudolf Yelin d. Ä. (1864–1940) This is the only image in this series which doesn’t include Mary,...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Day 4: Picturing Mary

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Day 4: Picturing Mary:   Christ Crucified, by  Antonello da Messina  1430-1479 John’s Gospel records that Mary and John stood at the foot of Jesus’ cross, and that...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Day 3: Picturing Mary

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Day 3: Picturing Mary: The risen Jesus appears to his mother by  Juan de Flandes c.1460-1516   The Bible doesn’t record the risen Jesus appearing to Mary, but peop...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Day 1 : Picturing Mary

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Day 1 : Picturing Mary: Pentecost, by El Greco 1541-1614 It might seem odd to start an Advent series with a picture of Pentecost, but this is the last mention of Ma...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary. Advent reflections on images of Ma...

This Advent at Seal, we are reflecting on images of the Virgin Mary. The introduction is here. St Peter and St Paul, Seal: Picturing Mary. Advent reflections on images of Ma...: The Gospels tell us very little about the mother of Jesus. There are just a handful of stories which feature her. Despite this, she soon bec...

A space to reflect on the experience of the pandemic

 When the Dark Clouds Lift? 

A space to reflect on the experience of the pandemic  

The session will give space to reflect on the experience of the pandemic.

What do I embrace? What do I need to let go of? What have we learnt?   

There will be input, time for reflection and sharing in small groups.

 

On Zoom: 27th of November 10am-12.30  

 

Rev Susanne Carlsson is the Spiritual Adviser for Rochester Diocese.

To book contact: susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk 

Donations to Rochester Diocese are welcome.  

Latest edition of the Current - Rochester Diocese Spirituality Network newsletter

The new issue of The Current, the newsletter of the Rochester Diocese Spirituality Network is here, with news of events through the autumn and winter. 

Check it out  for opportunities to reflect, pray and learn. 

Praying with Icons Oct 13 2021

 Praying with Icons 

with Elaine Wilkins and Paul Stevens 
13 October 2021,
10:00 am-12:30 pm
at St Benedict's Centre 

"We look at an icon of Christ or another Christian scene… we see rich colours - red, yellow, blue... and the silence of the icon speaks to us of a deep inner world...a world of mystery and divine presence. In this workshop, we will take a look at some eastern and some western icons and consider how they speak to us.. and how we may use them to enrich our life of prayer..."

To book:

https://www.rochester.anglican.org/events-and-training/ministry-training/https://www.rochester.anglican.org/events-and-training/ministry-training/ 

Film Quiet Day on Oct 16

 Companions of Christ 

65 Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME4 6DP 

 

VIDEO DIVINA 

A Quiet Day  

Saturday 16 October 

10am to 4pm 

  

We will be watching a feature-length documentary on the themes of death, change, and prayer. Participants will be guided through an Ignatian imaginative exercise based on a scene from the film, and there will be time for you to engage in several more of these exercises by yourself throughout the afternoon. 

 

The day will be led by Joel Love, who offered a similar quiet day here in February 2020. 

 

Please bring your own packed lunch drinks will be provided. 

Donations are welcome. 

 

To book contact: Rev Susanne Carlsson 07795 167 603  susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk 

Creative Writing Quiet Day: Sept 11th in Chatham

 

Companions of Christ

65 Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME4 6DP

 

“In the beginning was the Word…”

A Creative Writing Quiet Day

 

Saturday 11 September 2021 10am - 3pm

[ed. Bring your own lunch, drinks will be provided]

 

There is something special about creative writing that brings us into the presence of Jesus.  The Living Word meets us as we express to God the thoughts and desires of our hearts.  On this quiet day, there will be space to prayerfully experiment with words and ways of writing, and an opportunity for spiritual refreshment, as we listen to what God might be saying in us and through us.

 

Leader: Rev. David Kichenside, Team Vicar of Holy Trinity South Chatham. David has been a parish priest for 10 years and a dabbler in things creative and artistic for as long as he can remember…

 

 

 

To book contact: Rev Susanne Carlsson 
07795 167 603  susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk

Living under a Dark Cloud: Discernment during the Pandemic March 30

 Living under a Dark Cloud

Discernment during the Pandemic

 

30th of March 2021 10.00 - 12.30 on zoom

 

Led by Susanne Carlsson

 

As we are slowly coming out of lockdown this session will give an opportunity to reflect on how the pandemic has had an impact on our discernment.

Last year has also connected us in a special way to the mysteries of Holy Week.

The input will draw on the wisdom of St Ignatius of Loyola and the tools from the Spiritual Exercises. There will also be space to share our experience.

Susanne Carlsson is the Advisor for Spirituality for Rochester Diocese and a consultant for Spirituality in Canterbury Diocese. 

 

To book contact Susanne Carlsson and you will be sent a link for the Zoom meeting. Donations are welcome to support the work of spirituality in Rochester Diocese at this time.  susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk  07795167603

St Benedicts reopens for day visitors

 

St Benedict's to re-open The team at the St Benedict's Centre are delighted to say that they will be reopening again from next week, for individual day guests. Full risk precautions are in place. Guests will have their own room with facilities for making hot drinks. The Pilgrim Chapel is open for private prayer and guests may join the Abbey community for their offices during the day. The cost of a day is £10. If you would like to book please contact Rev Jane Winter on bookings@stbenedictscentre.org   A warm welcome awaits you at the Centre.

Reflection and learning opportunities

 

A Lenten Quiet Day -  ‘Hunkering down – trusting the soil beneath the snow’, Thursday 18 March 10.30am - 2.30pm Rochester Diocese Spirituality Network invites you to this online session led by Sue Smith & Margaret Wooding Jones  To book contact Susanne Carlsson on susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk Although sessions are free, donations are welcome, in order to support the work of spirituality in Rochester Diocese at this time.   Living under a Dark Cloud: Discernment during the Pandemic, 30 March, 10am - 12.30pm   As we are slowly coming out of lockdown this session will give an opportunity to reflect on how the pandemic has had an impact on our discernment. The input will draw on the wisdom of St Ignatius of Loyola and the tools from the Spiritual Exercises. There will also be space to share our experience.    To book contact email:  susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk /  07795167603

Divestment and Investment for Climate Justice - Thursday 25 March, 7pm to 8.30pm    The Anglican Communion Environmental Network, Operation Noah, Christian Aid, Tearfund and Eco-congregation Scotland invite you to a webinar entitled COP26, Divestment and Investment for Climate Justice.   With inspiring speakers from across the Anglican Communion, an opportunity to find out how you can get involved in campaigning for divestment in your local church, diocese and at a national level ahead of COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. Register here Nature and the Environment - our mental health - Thursday 13 May, 6pm – 7pm   During Mental Health Week, the Diocese of Canterbury's Environment Group invite you to join this session on how nature helps with our mental health. Guest speakers include Dr Caroline Jessel - NHS England Lead for the South Regional Sustainability and Health Network and Stevie Rice - CEO of West Kent Mind.  To register click here