Welcome to a series of reflections offered by the Leadership of the Northumbria Community.

THE VULNERABILITY OF HELP AND HEALING – 17 July 2020

Catherine Askew explores the Vulnerability of Help and Healing through the story of a paralysed man who is brought to Jesus by being lowered through the roof by his friends (Mark 2:1-12).
This talk is given as part of Communion Service of Healing in the Nether Springs walled garden.

ST. TERESA’S BOOKMARK – 10th July 2020

Sarah Hay explores how the words from our Midday Prayer Blessing have given her strength and comfort throughout the seasons of life.

https://monasticliving.wordpress.com/2020/07/10/a-reflection-on-teresas-bookmark/

 

PREPARING TO LEAN ON THE HEARTBEAT OF GOD – 26th June 2020

Catherine Askew reflects on a key teaching: ‘Those who lean on Jesus’ breast hear the heartbeat of God.’  We are invited to pause, as we prepare our hearts for breaking bread together.

You might also like to join in with ‘A Celtic Communion’  HERE

 

ACTING OUT OF WHO WE ARE – 19th June 2020

Catherine Askew reflects on how the Northumbria Community’s Rule of Life can help us to ‘act out of who we are’, with integrity, during these difficult times.  
To view this reflection CLICK HERE

WALKING THROUGH BROKENNESS INTO BLESSING – 5th June 2020

In this leadership reflection, Sarah Pillar, Catherine Askew and Sarah Hay tell the story of an unexpected blessing they received, while on their way to visit Kielder Observatory, Northumberland, at the very beginning of their leadership journey.

©2020 Northumbria Community Trust

 

ZOOMING INWARDS AND OUTWARDS – 30th May 2020

Catherine Askew explores how God’s love can be both limitless and intimate through the push and pull of zooming both outwards and inwards.

 

WHEN YOU NO LONGER KNOW HOW TO BE – 22nd May 2020

This week’s reflection is a special blessing from the leadership of the Northumbria Community for such a time as this. It is taken from the end of our Small Boat, Great Big Sea Communion Liturgy (see also the ‘Come and See’ Wednesday prayers from this week)

When you no longer know how to be,
may the Father take you on your deeper journey.
When you no longer know what to do,
may the Spirit reveal to you your fitting task.
When all feels lost or foreign
may you know your home in Christ.

On the path that is before you,
may you have companions for the journey,
may you find Christ in the stranger
and may you know the love and blessing of God.

The music to go with this blessing is now available HERE

Filmed and recorded on location, in ‘lockdown,’ in Evesham, Alnwick and Beaurepaire Priory, Durham in May 2020.

 

IN THE CELL THERE MAY BE MONSTERS… 15th May 2020

The work of the cell is important for the monastic life. In this week’s reflection, Catherine Askew encourages us to step into our cell to recognise and confront the monsters that might just be popping up more visibly in us during this time of ‘lockdown’…

 

BECOMING A DEEPENED ONE – 8th May 2020

Catherine Askew explores the idea of becoming ‘deepened’ and how it might enable us to make more meaningful connections with one another.

LEARNING TO BE FILLED IN A TIME OF ABSENCE – 28th April 2020

Catherine Askew reflects on the experience of learning to be filled in a time of absence, as part of a new weekly series from the Leaders of Community, during this time of pandemic.

 

KEEPING A MONASTIC RHYTHM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS – 19th March 2020

In these disorientating, difficult times and on the day that we have had to close our Mother House – Nether Springs – Catherine Askew outlines how keeping a monastic rhythm can help bring hope and meaning to our relationship with God and each other: alone, together.