IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY IN SCOTLAND

General Editor:Eileen Cassidy snd, Ignatian Spirituality Centre, 35 Scott Street, Glasgow, G3 6PE

E-mail: eileen.cassidy@iscglasgow. co.uk

Editorialn the first week of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, retreatants reflect on their origin and destiny in God who is Love: we are made by

Love, in the image and likeness of Love, and will become the fullness of who we are by following the path of love. The love with which we have been gifted is the only love that Father, Son and Spirit know - the total giving and receiving of self. It is in the giving of self that we become the fullness of who we are: we and others are created and the Kingdom of God takes shape.

I

Having savoured their experiences of God’s love, retreatants recall their responses and the effect of these on self, others and creation as a whole. Aware of God’s continuing love, even when responses have been selfish, they are inspired to reciprocate that love by taking some part in the realisation of the Kingdom.

At the beginning of the second week of the Exercises, retreatants are invited to imagine themselves alongside the Trinity and, with them, to look down on the reality of our world. The time reference is just before the Annunciation. What do they see? They see a world where the journey towards the kingdom is seriously off-course. And so they decide that the most effective means of showing humanity the way is to become one of them. But for this to happen, the Son has to risk the limitations of being human, and a young woman, engaged to be married, has to allow her dreams to be turned upside down. Both acted out of self-giving love - and the Word became flesh (Jn 1:14).

When God’s incarnation was announced to the shepherds, its companion was declared to be peace: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,’ said the angels, ‘and on earth peace for those he favours’ (Lk 2:14). Peace would seem to go hand in hand with love. And the corollary seems to be that peace without love is impossible.

Now supposing that we look down on our world today with the Trinity. What do we/they see? Where is love? Where has the kingdom, where has peace become reality, and by whose self-emptying love? Where are they lacking, and

to whose selfishness might this be due? Do I feel inspired to help bring them about? What part of God’s world has been entrusted to me? How might I be a vehicle of love, peace and the kingdom where I have been planted?

Different pieces in this newsletter touch on the above. They show people keeping in touch with God’s view of the world in a variety of ways. They witness to different means of exploring, expressing and nurturing our understanding of the kingdom and of our journey towards it. And they hold before us some of the needs of our world as they are experienced, and invite us to that self-emptying love that makes possible the kingdom of peace.

It is in this spirit that we ask God to grace each one of us to be self-emptying messengers and instruments of that peace which will bring joy to our world. Happy Christmas.

May you havethe spirit of Christmas

which is Peacethe gladness of

Christmaswhich is Hope

and the heart of Christmas

which is Love.

- - Eileen Cassidy, snd

IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY IN SCOTLANDA Newsletter of Scottish Ignatian Groups

December 2011

Issue No. 8

A FOND FAREWELLhis Advent 2011 sees a move for Ali Newell to a new post as

Associate Chaplain in the University of Edinburgh. We are all happy for Ali to have such a good opportunity that will certainly use her gifts and experience to the full for the benefit of students and staff throughout the University.

T

For the ISC, of course, it is a time of transition. Ali has been a much loved and highly respected member of our Team since 2001 and has helped to foster a wonderfully wide sense of Ignatian horizons with enthusiasm and much laughter! Ali brought not only her infectious enthusiasm to the ISC but also a huge amount of sound experience in training and interpersonal work.

Ali’s background and familiarity with the spirituality of Iona has helped to foster some of the Celtic strands that feature in our work at the ISC. Our ecumenical outlook too has been enhanced by Ali’s many contacts. Through Ali friendships and close links have been formed with so many people in the Church of Scotland and the wide network of those searching for deeper spirituality in their lives.

Ali has been Course Coordinator for our two year Training in Spiritual Accompaniment and has also initiated and led accompaniment training and support courses for many appreciative groups of hard-working clergy and ministers from a number of denominations in an atmosphere of great ecumenical friendship. She has had a strong interest in healthcare and especially

support and care of older members of our society – particularly through the work of ‘Faith In Older People’ (FIOP). We hope too that her great interest in interfaith cooperation and conversation will be able to continue and flourish in her new role.

No tribute to Ali would be complete without mention of a spirituality that is based in justice and the care of those who are marginalised in our society. She has been an inspiration too in encouraging the prayer of art and awareness. Above all Ali has been appreciated and respected as a wise and loving accompanier for many individual people as they have shared their journeys with her in spiritual direction, retreats and supervision.

……. The list could go on! … but at this point maybe it is enough just to say to Ali how much we have appreciated and relied on your generosity and sound experience and we hope that we will be

able to keep good links with you as you settle into your new role.

While we as Team have begun to say our goodbyes to Ali, there will be a final and informal event on March 11th 2012 at 4:00 p.m. We hope that as many as possible of those associated with Ali through the ISC will join us for this occasion.

In the meantime, Team and Friends of the ISC, wish you the very best and offer our grateful thanks for all you have brought us over the past decade.

- - Tom McGuinness SJ

A Song Among the Stones’:A Poetic Opening to the New ISC Year

n Saturday 1st October we were delighted to welcome Scottish poet Kenneth Steven to the Ignatian Centre to help us

launch the new programme year. Kenneth, who was born in Glasgow, is a widely published poet, novelist and children's author.

O"Almost all of my writing, whether poetry or prose, takes its inspiration from the land. It's this umbilical connection between people and the land - especially remote places - which has fascinated me from the beginning. Elements of history and local tradition, the Gaelic language, Celtic Christianity - all these and more are woven through my writing, often in order to ask questions of Scottish identity and culture today.”

Kenneth generously crafted the day by sharing with us, piece by piece, one of his latest works ‘The Journey of the Papar’. We were drawn, through Kenneth’s beautifully sparse and raw verse, into the lives of the ‘papar’ – the Irish and Scottish monks who reputedly ‘wandered’ to the lands of the north, in this instance making a courageous journey from Iona to Iceland.

The invitation Kenneth offered was to quietly make the journey individually, to become part of the story, to rest at one point or another and to write ourselves into the story in some form. He set us on our way with a reading of the first passage of the poem. Opportunity was then

offered to journey into different rooms in the centre to listen to subsequent segments and, when ready, to settle with the aspect of the journey that resonated most strongly: ‘leaving’; ‘voyage’; ‘arrival’; or ‘wandering beyond’.

As Kenneth read aloud each passage, deliberately formed, he told us, in a “brittle fashion as if sculpted out of stone”, it seemed we all found a word, line or phrase that spoke and invited us to remain with and to respond to it with our own words and images. For me, as for some others, a powerful phrase which caught:

“I am going further north he saidI do not know what I will findperhaps I will not come backall I know is that I must seekthis somewhere with all my soul”

We paused for a while to socialise over a wonderful buffet lunch, after which Kenneth invited us to re-enter an atmosphere of quiet.

After offering guidance and encouragement he suggested we might try our own hand at crafting our morning’s collection of words into meaningful form. Some wonderful creations resulted and were shared alongside other expressions of rich reflection. It was clear that the poem had evoked strong themes and responses - tussling between staying and going, safety and adventure; taking inner wrestling into outer exploring; letting the boat go where it will, rudderless in a sea of love; wondering if ‘north’ is actually here; journeying in community; death and resurrection; and realising the essential journey

of coming home to self and God. There was much that we could each take away and dwell with further.

To mark the journey of the day Kenneth gave each of us a tiny piece of dark red garnet - gemstones he had brought back from his own creative voyage to Iceland - and then closed our day together with this simple but apt Bretagne prayer:

‘Lord God be near meMy boat is so smallThe ocean is so large’ISC Director Tom McGuinness SJ

expressed our thanks for a memorable day and

the hope that Kenneth might be able to join us again at a future date. In the meantime, it was suggested the journey might be continued by ‘landing on one or two islands’ in the programme of events and courses on offer in the year ahead at the ISC!

Details of the ISC 2011-12 programme can be found at: www.iscglasgow.co.uk.

To find out more about Kenneth Steven and his work go to: www.kennethsteven.co.uk

- - Julia Ling

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Guest Evening At The ISC

n the evening of October 4th the Team and Associates of the ISC had a very

enjoyable evening with a group of guests from a variety of ministry situations. The purpose of the evening was to share with them what we did both in the Centre and in parishes and communities, but also to hear their experience of community needs and what they think we might offer. Our hope is to work with their suggestions and develop a long-term outreach programme, in collaboration with others.

O

We began with a welcome of cheese, wine and introductions. It was an ecumenical group of students and teachers, clergy and lay people whose work ranged from prison chaplaincy to social care, retreat work and ecumenical and interfaith work. With such an informed and experienced group of guests we could hardly fail to learn and gather ideas and wisdom.

Some of the main issues that emerged were the needs of those on the margins of society and the support of those who work with

them. These include the prison and ex-prison community, areas of poverty, people going through times of transition or loss, those who are caring for others in a host of different ways. The list could continue and we are aware that there are limits to our abilities, energy and resources. It is good, however, to have needs identified.

As a team we have begun to reflect on what we heard. We are aware that we already address some needs. We have, for example, an interest in those who are blessed with the experience and wisdom

that older age brings and are currently planning an afternoon to support carers; and we already offer various ecumenical outreach possibilities with a bursary fund to help those who need financial help. We would, however, like to do more, and will continue our reflection later in the year. We are also more than willing to respond to

invitations. So, if you have a need that you think we can meet, please do get in touch.

We are grateful to all those who came to the evening for their support and ideas and we look forward to future contact and collaboration.

- - Jane MacKichan

My Experience of the 19th Annotation

istilling the experience of the Spiritual Exercises in a way that makes sense to a reader

other than myself is something that worries me as I sit down to write this. Choosing the most significant experiences is quite a daunting task. What was and is significant for me may be puzzling, or seem downright obvious to others. So I have decided to try to record what I have learned and am still learning from my experience of the Exercises in Daily Life.

D

I know now that my motivation for beginning the 19th Annotation was a growing sense of needing guidance and support in beefing up my spiritual life. I love learning and over the years have taken opportunities to try to develop myself and my skills. But things just seemed a bit out of kilter....It was as if there were a whole lot of ingredients for a recipe gathered together on a work top, but the thing that would give the food depth and flavour and make it taste really good was missing. I had attended some short courses at the ISC over the years and had always been intrigued by the Spiritual Exercises. I had a sense that now was the time to find out more.

As a fan of ‘Exercises’ and a fairly practical woman, I wanted to do something that would weave itself into the fabric of how I work and how I live. So I emailed the Ignatian Spirituality Centre. Soon afterwards I received a call from Father McGuinness and decided to take up his offer to meet with a Spiritual Director. To be honest, even after the meeting I was not entirely sure that I would manage this, but I knew that I could always change my mind. Anyway, I now know it wasn’t me who did it, but I wasn’t to know that then!

Over the months, and with the guidance of my director, I learned to use various methods of prayer, including lectio divina and imaginative contemplation, and I grew to value the Ignatian practice of repetition. I took the time (most days) to

‘do my Exercises’ and write my journal. I learned to question myself, and connect my head to my heart.

Being asked repeatedly to describe what I had FELT at a given, significant point in my day or during prayer usually resulted in a description of what I had THOUGHT. Not the same thing, as I am sure most readers already appreciate. It took me quite a long time to get that sorted out. My head tended to be a busy place, and I reckon that God had to work really hard to get a word in.

The Exercises, for me, were as much about changing as learning. Tuning in to what was going on in me was a key to sensing and hearing and feeling God; developing a relationship with Him. The paradox for me is that this inner work has somehow meant that I am more available to look outside myself. To live outside myself...if that makes sense?

My experience of the Exercises was at times puzzling, challenging, sore, frustrating, comforting and above all surprising. Essentially I have discovered there was no ingredient missing from the work top: it was the Chef. Somehow I thought that that was MY job. Not so. What a relief! My job is to be His willing pupil…but regretfully some days I am more wilful than willing. And that just doesn’t work!

If I were to sum up where I am as a result of having made the Spiritual Exercises, it is this: I want to learn to live each day so that God can say to Himself, ‘This is my daughter, Frances. I can see by how she lives that she loves me’. So I ask and I stumble along.....as a work in progress.

- - Frances McGeoch

PS – An amusing learning – how to use a prayer stool. It was pointed out by my director that kneeling ON TOP of the wooden cushioned stool was NOT what was intended. I had stuck at that every day for the best part of a week and was beginning to doubt if I was made of strong enough stuff to keep these exercises up!!

The Soul Work of Clay“‘You are in my hands just like clay in the hand of the potter.’

Working and praying with clay we will explore our journey with God.No experience with clay necessary. ”

he Soul Work of Clay was a one-day event, led by Katy Low. Encouraged by

the above words not to worry about my limited artistic abilities, I headed for the ISC, an oasis of peace just two minutes from the rush of Christmas shoppers on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. I hoped that the day would give me an opportunity to reflect and pray, to work and share with others, to deepen my sensitivity to clay and learn basic techniques of how to work with clay. I was not disappointed.

T

We were a small group. After a welcome cup of coffee and introductions we headed to the chapel for the first session. We reflected on poems, carefully selected by Katy, on various aspects of clay, including its life-blood. We then proceeded to the art room where we were encouraged to work with clay, sensitive to what we had gleaned from the poems, and simply appreciating the process of handling and moulding the clay. We repeated this exercise with closed eyes in an attempt to experience it with greater depth. Throughout the morning Katy reminded us that our attention should be on the processes which we were engaging in, not on the production of fantastic pieces of artwork. This pleased me considerably!

The day continued with a medley of quietness, music, sharing and laughter, all of which helped the group to bond. People identified features of their ‘pots’, sometimes linking these with life experiences or simply making observations of sharing pieces of wisdom. I found the final display of our day’s creations to be quite moving: the pots, moulded out of

and containing people’s feelings and experiences, were grouped together in the sanctity of the chapel; candles were placed in the pots, and the display was used as the focus for final reflections and prayer.

The day was deeply spiritual for me, and was also informative and good fun. I enjoyed meeting the other participants; I enjoyed getting away from the busy-ness of the city centre - and not spending money; and most importantly I enjoyed the continued exploration of my journey – with others and with God. I gained much more than the development of my artistic skills – which still have a long way to go!

On behalf of all of the participants, I would like to thank Katy for her preparation and input, and most especially for her encouragement and humour which were shared so freely over the course of the day.

- - A Participant

Spirit in All Things

This nine week course used the process of Matthew Fox’s Creation Spirituality. We began with the Via Positiva and celebrated the wonder and gift of creation. We then moved on to the Via Negativa and stayed with the darkness, suffering and struggle of life. Following this we celebrated the Via Creativa, born both from the wonder and the pain of life. Finally moved to the Via Transformativa and explored how we might work towards healing and transforming our world. The themes were introduced by input and film and then

prayerfully explored through art, movement, reflection and music. We included some of the exciting thinkers in this field - Thomas Berry, Brian Swimme, and Joanna Macy - and found ourselves challenged and encouraged to engage with the environmental issues of our time. As St Ignatius helps us see - the Spirit is indeed ‘in all things’. And this raises the question 'How do we

become involved from a grounded and spiritual perspective in cherishing the earth and each other?'

- - Ali Newell

A FUNDRAISING CEILIDH

The Hall Committee

Prize for the Free Raffle

A Parishioner Receives a Prize

Ceilidh-Goers

Ceilidh-Goers

riday the 28th October was a memorable night for the ISC: we had our first social fundraising event - a ceilidh, hosted by St Catherine’s parish in NE

Glasgow. The parish priest, Fr Angus MacDonald, is a member of our team.

FThe run-up to the event was not without anxieties, but

our two contact persons from St Catherine’s, Bernadette Hewitt and Cathy Brunton, assured us that they were unnecessary anxieties. A few meetings with them saw the event take shape. There would be a free raffle to welcome people, followed by dancing, which would be interspersed with various activities and a buffet meal fit for a queen. After Auld Lang Syne at the end, ceilidh-goers would be invited to ‘splash your cash’ on leaving the hall. Bernadette and Cathy also offered – together with a ground force of cheerful and industrious ladies who were the Hall Committee - to set everything up and do the catering for the meal. Their gifts to us went further. Just two weeks before the ceilidh, when our spirits reflected the low sale of tickets, they ‘moved us’ from despondency to hope, promising that all would be well on the night!

The Rerr Terr Ceilidh Band set the tone of the evening with a melodious backdrop of Scottish music to welcome the steady stream of 150 Ceilidh Folk who came through the doors with toe tapping feet, ready to enjoy themselves and each other’s company. Fr Tom McGuinness welcomed everyone, drew the free raffle, and then let the serious dancing begin. Half way through the evening energies were renewed by the tasty buffet meal, which was indeed fit for a queen! And in the midst of these activities some ISC team members and associates persuaded people to buy the lucky raffle tickets. Jigging and ticket selling became an unrehearsed choreographed event. All took part with light-hearted enjoyment and ‘waited’ for their lucky win of one of the 53 prizes that were so generously donated.

The Ceilidh continued with energy and a lilting pace and in what seemed no time at all the call for Auld Lang Syne drew everyone to the floor. The new acquaintances of the evening would be the ‘auld acquaintance’ of next year’s event, whatever it may be.

There are many people whom we wish to thank: the Hall Committee of St Catherine’s, particularly

Bernadette and Cathy, who made this event possible and who welcomed us so warmly;

the parishioners of St Catherine’s and the ISC friends and associates who joined us;

all who donated prizes; and not least - the Rerr Terr Ceilidh band who picked

up the pulse of the crowd and led us through an event that was more than “ALL RIGHT”.

Thank you to each and all for the wonderful evening and for helping us raise the grand sum of £1,277.09

- - James Spence

‘MUSIC OF THE HEART’“the music in my heart I bore

long after it was heard no more ...”Wordsworth

n Monday 25th July, a group of us took part in an Epiphany Group

Day at the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh, to share the power of music in our lives. The questions we were asking were: How does music affect our relationship with God? Does music help to dispose us for prayer? How does music interact with memory and imagination?

O

The day was led by Peter Scally SJ of Jesuit Media Initiatives who is responsible for the beautiful music we hear on ‘pray-as-you-go’. We were in the hands of a Master, someone who has a vivid memory as a young man of spontaneously processing through the streets of his university town with a band of classical musicians, each playing as he went, and his own keyboard held aloft by friends as the music rang out along the pavements. The band ended up playing to a very appreciative audience in a local pub where they were rewarded with hospitality of the liquid kind!

Peter’s passion for music fired the day. He began by playing a piece which had transformed his life and helped shape his calling - Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission (by Ennio Morricone). This was followed by short and beautiful extracts used in ‘pray-as-you go: Keur Moussa, Senegal, Magnificat; Rachmaninov, Vespers; Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Baba wethu; Ex Cathedra, Hanaq Pachap Kusikuynin and Crossbeam, Change Me.

We also listened to longer pieces such as Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite no.1, Bach's Fugue in E major from 24 Preludes and Fugues, and Summa, by Arvo Part. We were encouraged to notice the feeling quality of each piece, and to reflect on and name the feeling evoked. Some pieces were beyond words for me - almost painfully beautiful and deeply evocative of times and feelings long forgotten.

We had been asked to prepare for the day by identifying music which has been significant to our spiritual journeys and to bring examples. After lunch people shared the sometimes pivotal role that music has had in their lives. One person spoke, for

instance, of how Leonard Cohen’s song ‘Anthem’ had woven a seam through her life:

‘Ring the bells that still can ring,Forget your perfect offering;There’s a crack,A crack in everything;That’s how the light gets in.’

I shared a lullaby that had spoken to me on retreat of God’s infinite love and acceptance. It had been a moment of epiphany entirely created through a piece of music that had kept grabbing my attention, and listening to it again with other people added to its impact.

I know from first hand experience that music has the power to touch us and reveal our own hearts and God’s heart to us even when we feel disconnected and lost. The day with the Epiphany Group helped me to experience this again and to reconnect with God and with others in a way that got under my defences and spoke to my heart. Let’s please do it again!

- - Elspeth Strachan

Epiphany Group RetreatsDunblane & Skelmorlie, 2011

On the last week-end in May ten people gathered in Leighton House for the Epiphany Group’s final retreat there before the sad closure of Scottish Churches House. The two guides (Cath McManus and Helen Kinloch) and eight retreatants were glad to have the opportunity to listen in the silence to the depths of God’s love and invitation into life. For some the week-end was a fruitful first introduction to being on silent retreat. For others there was a sense of sadness at the ending, as well as thankfulness for how this place has so often over the last six years felt imbued with Presence and calling into Love. And this despite the swiftly banging doors, erratic central heating and awkward kitchen for self-catering!

This year our retreat coincided with Dunblane “Fling” week-end with all sorts of activities and pipe bands down by the river. Still retreatants were able to find places to ‘be’ and to be deeply touched by the beauties of nature and the God of creation.

In September three guides (Margaret Fielding, Helen Kinloch and Alison Moody) and eight retreatants travelled the rather longer road to the Notre Dame Centre in Skelmorlie for a 6 day Ignatian guided retreat. We were generously welcomed by Sister Denise who supported and encouraged us throughout our stay; we found the house wonderfully warm and comfortable with a chapel for morning and evening prayers and plenty of space for rainy days.

Once made, the journey even from the east, is remarkably straight forward and the magnificent setting, looking over the Firth of Clyde to Bute and Arran makes it very worthwhile! For those fortunate enough to have rooms facing the sea, wildness, wonder and tranquillity were all powerfully manifested. During our stay the end of Hurricane Katia made its presence felt whipping up huge waves, spilling sea creatures onto the front lawn, cutting the electricity and setting off an elusive house alarm!

A very apt setting in which to contemplate being alongside Jesus in the storm and true to the Gospel, the following days brought flat calm, dolphins and wondrous sunsets over the distant hills. ‘Who then is this, who even the wind and the waves obey?’

As organisers we had felt daunted at the prospect of doing all the catering. At least one of us was asking for the grace not to be

preoccupied by food! In reality we all three greatly enjoyed working together in the kitchen and around the house and rather than detracting from the experience, it seemed to add another dimension to the giving and receiving, learning and growing of directing retreats.

Although retreatants could come for any number of nights a lot stayed for the full 6 days so there was a sense of the whole house entering more deeply into the silence as the week went on.

- - Helen Kinloch and Alison Moody

We are keen to offer retreats at Skelmorlie again next year. Provisional dates for 2012 are:Mon July 23rd – Mon July 30th Mon September 3rd - Mon September 10th

View from Bedroom Window, Skelmorlie – In Sunshine!

‘Six Days’ Serieshe ‘Growth in Prayer and Reflective Living’

(GPRL) course was not being offered by in Edinburgh in the programme year 2011/12, and so the idea of a series of ‘taster’ days that would link both to and from GPRL began to emerge early in 2011. This quickly grew into something much broader and open to all, addressing a need for themed and reflective day events which had not taken place since the closure of The House of Prayer at Nile Grove.

T

The ‘Six Days’, which take place on Saturdays, are ‘an invitation to become more fully open to the person God is creating me to be’. Initial advertising drew an overwhelming response, with some people booking into all six days, while others are selecting one or more between October 2011 and June 2012. The bonus for us is that these days are attracting folk who are new to the Epiphany Group, as well as people in the ministry of spiritual direction in and around Edinburgh.

Our first day in October on Celtic Spirituality and Contemporary Cosmology was led by Julia Ling and Jane MacKichan, and it was full to capacity, with a waiting list. The mixture of input, reflection, poetry, visual presentation and sharing was very well received. On December 10th 2011 we will welcome Margaret Silf who will address the topic of Finding God in All Things. Seventy people have already booked their place. February 4th 2012 will take us into Faith

Journey Transitions with practical theologian, counsellor, spiritual director, researcher and author, Dr Eolene Boyd-MacMillan. There are still places available for this which is now taking place in a larger hall. On March 24th 2012 we will reflect on Male Spirituality with Rev Robin Anker-Petersen. This is almost full, as is Creative Spirituality, with Melitta Bosworth, on April 28th

2012. Lynda Wright will bring our year to a close with a day on the Enneagram, June 9th 2012.

For more information, suggestions for ‘next time’ and up to date booking availability contact Claire Starr at clairestarr@talk21.com

_____________________________________________________________________________________

‘Parents, Prayer and Pre-Schoolers’

hirteen adults and nineteen children below the age of 5,

together with coloured balls, bubbles, stickers, sand, fruit, music, stories, puppets and hand cream! These were the mix for this new six week course in Edinburgh which aimed at sharing ideas for prayer with parents and preschoolers from 6 weeks old to 4 years. Running for an hour over six Tuesday mornings in October and November, the course met an original desire to offer ‘something in the daytime’ to accompany parents who, with young children, find themselves in a new spiritual landscape.

T

Claire Starr and Elizabeth White planned excitedly, in the hope of bringing awareness of

God and prayer into the everyday activities of young families, helping them to experience and to talk with and about God, who is with us in everything. There are oodles of things that parents and children can do together to make prayer fun and real in the midst of the ‘untidiness’ of everyday life. Over the sessions we explored what parents might try at home, and we supported each other in coming to know more of the God who both welcomes children and gives grace to busy adults.

Given that children and adults are often separated within church (and society), we decided to keep them together. The children offered parents a glimpse into a very ‘here and now’ experience of God, and the adults were able to become aware of God in life, without having to find ‘separate’ time for prayer. Duplo and building bricks were a reminder to ponder the things that

‘build us up’ in life, things that knock us down and what we might want to ask of God at this moment. “Thank you God for my house” went up in a bubble and difficult feelings were ‘poured out’ to God as we played with water. Songs with actions from children’s charity ‘Fischy Music’ contributed to an emotional and spiritual literacy which we hope will continue long after the course. And ‘Making Heart-Bread’, a children’s story book about the Examen, now comes recommended to all!

Other activities included planting a bulb as we thought about growing, and holding hands with God through play-doh. And ‘Basil and Percy’ puppets were

our guides to the morning’s activities, peeping over the pulpit!

Feedback from parents has been enthusiastic, especially around the course’s use of creativity for linking play with prayer. We hope that we have been able to provide space for parents and children to pray together while playing together, and to have their needs met, while respecting that each has their own child or adult way of meeting God at other times. With interest and requests from more parents and also from children’s church workers to come along or meet us, we hope that more opportunities for this kind of course will follow.

- - Elizabeth White and Claire Starr

___________________________________________________________________________________

For Reflection: A Christmas PsalmO Blessed One,it is said that Christmas is for children.Indeed, I agree:It’s only a feast for the young of heart,a feast for finding beneath the treegifts to surprise and delight the eternal child.

Peel back the scabs of cynicism from my eyesso that this calloused and aging child,may see holiness blazing at the tip of every branch,may see every tree as a Christmas tree

Let me not be ashamed to dance with delightat hidden gifts wrapped in shimmering paperwith bows of rainbow-coloured ribbon.But also grant me the youthful and wide-eyed wonderto recognise, and even to expect,life-giving miracles on every street corner,miracles of kindness and generosity and care.

Gift my all-too-calculating heartwith the excitement of anticipationto truly receive the gifts of life,the capacity to feast and rejoice.Give birth within me to a spaciousness of heartthat can celebrate this feastof the birth of Christ, the Child, as a child.

- Edward Hays

ANNOUNCING

Courses and Events: January - March 2012See programmes for further details. Please contact by telephone or e-mail

EPIPHANY GROUPTraining Course CoordinatorAlison MoodyTel: 0131-229-4170E-mail: malisonoody@hotmail.com

Retreats

Courses 2011-2012 (See Website for details) Deepening Prayer and Reflective

Living. Galloway and Edinburgh: Series of Saturdays, 2011-2012

A Date for Your Diary at the ISCOn March 17th 2012 Roger Dawson, S.J., will lead a day on some aspect of the relationship between Psychology and Spirituality. For further details keep an eye on the website: www.iscglasgow.co.uk. If you wish to attend, please register through the secretary either by phone (0141-354-0077) or e-mail (admin@iscglasgow.co.uk).

ISC, GLASGOWThe Administrative SecretaryIgnatian Spirituality CentreTel: 0141-354-0077E-mail: admin@iscglasgow.co.uk

Events Taizé Evenings, Third Monday of Month, 7:30-8:30 Retreat Mornings, First Friday of Month, 10:00-1:00 Encountering God in Circle Dance and Poetry, Saturday

14th January 2012 (Full day) Interfaith Action Against Poverty, Monday 23rd January

2012 (Evening) Renewal for Carers, Tuesday 7th February (Afternoon) Songs of Longing: A day of reflective prayer with music

and songs of Tom McGuinness, SJ, Saturday 11th February 2012 (Full Day)

Lent 1: Suffering and Salvation in Picasso’s Guernica, Saturday 3rd March 2012 (Full Day)

Courses and Series Weaving Prayer Through Life: Series continues on Third

Tuesday of Month, 2:00-4:00

RetreatsWeekend Taster Retreat March 23rd - 25th (Xaverian Conforti Centre, Coatbridge)

Weekend Individually Guided Retreat February 17th – 19th (Skelmorlie)

______________________________________________________________________________________

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: This newsletter, published three times a year, is free, and is also available on our website. If you wish to subscribe to the e-mail edition, please send your full name and e-mail address, with the subject Newsletter, to admin@iscglasgow.co.uk. If you know of anyone else who may be interested in receiving it by e-mail, please invite them to send their details in the same way.

If you prefer to receive the newsletter by regular mail, please send your full name and address to: The Administrative Secretary, Ignatian Spirituality Centre, 35 Scott Street, Glasgow, G3 6PE. A donation towards postage would be appreciated.

IGNATIAN GROUPS and ROLES in SCOTLANDEpiphany GroupElizabeth South (Coordinator)Tel: 0131-346-1338E-mail: Epiphanygroup@yahoo.co.ukWeb: www.epiphanygroup.org.uk

Ignatian Spirituality Centre35 Scott StreetGlasgow, G3 6PETel: 0141-354-0077E-mail: admin@iscglasgow.co.ukWeb: www.iscglasgow.co.uk

Ignatian Spirituality PromoterGerald McLoughlin sj28 Lauriston StreetEdinburgh, EH3 9DJTel: 0131-477-5782E-mail: gero@talk21.com

The Lauriston Jesuit Centre28 Lauriston StreetEdinburgh, EH3 9DJTel: 0131-477-5795Web: www.lauriston.org

Ignatian Spirituality in Scotland Page 17/17___________________________________________________________________________________