Sheffield, Holy Week Evenings and Easter Sunrise 2011

Led by Revd Philip Roderick, Chaplain at Whirlow Grange, Community Leader of Contemplative Fire and Director of The Quiet Garden Movement.

At Whirlow Grange Spirituality Centre, Sheffield.

Evenings, Monday - Saturday, 18 – 23 April, 7pm till 8.15pm

Simple Quiet Day with Eucharist and lunch, Tuesday 19 April 9.45am till 3.45pm; £12 – please book with Whirlow Grange; www.whirlowgrange.co.uk

Easter Sunday morning 24 April 6.00am

Whirlow Grange Christian Spirituality Centre
Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield, S11 9RX; 0114 236 3173

Holy Week Evenings:

In the life of the body of Christ, there are many routes and resources which draw us towards wholeness. In the delightful Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Whirlow Spirituality Centre, from 7pm till 8.15pm each evening during Holy Week, Philip will lead gentle explorations of the theme ‘Journey into Wholeness’. We will experience the oil of anointing, ancient Christian postures of prayer and songs of lament and liberation. The Wednesday and Friday evenings in Holy Week and the Easter Sunday morning will incorporate some simple harmony singing and chanting led by a small group. This will be music that you can sink into, or let wash over you, as a way in to meditation and prayer. No musical experience needed to join in, or simply to listen! The evenings will also include stories from the tradition of spiritual accompanying, symbol and stillness, prayer for healing and Compline.

Simple Quiet Day:

In the Whirlow series of Simple Quiet days, this Tuesday in Holy Week, led by Philip Roderick, will offer a time for communion, prayer and reflection, stillness and silence to ‘dwell deep’ in the power of this special time in the Christian year. Please book with Whirlow Grange Conference Co-ordinator for this day as it includes a packed lunch.

Easter Sunday: Christ is Risen!

At 6am on Easter Sunday morning, having passed through, in Holy Week, the mystery of Jesus’ ministry, suffering and death, we meet as Christian community in a contemplative Eucharist, to celebrate the light and freedom of life in Christ. The resurrection is a deep truth. In the quietness of the early morning garden at Whirlow (weather permitting), we gather in simple wonder.

Retiring Collections for the work of the Spirituality Centre.

Do join us on the whole journey of the week, if you are able. If you can only make one or two, please feel totally welcome to do so. No pre-booking necessary.

Our Holy Week and Easter journey represents a partnership between Whirlow Grange Spirituality Centre, Contemplative Fire and The Quiet Garden Movement

"Anointing is not simply for the moment of death, or even just for physical healing. Its primary reference point is spiritual transformation: the 'dying before you die' that inaugurates the passage into 'singleness' or unity of being. Anointing is supremely the sacrament of wholeness.

Aside from restoring the anointing ceremonies to the Holy Week liturgy I would encourage the growing use of anointing for healing and introduce the practice of anointing at times of intentional spiritual passage, particularly through those classic ‘dark nights’ of the spiritual journey.

Reality floods back into our own world and fills us with grace, presence and creativity. Here we discover that God is not only for us, but with us. The earliest Christians awakened to this reality at the resurrection…. the unmistakable certainty that Jesus was present and that their hearts now knew their way to him."

The Meaning of Mary Magdalene by Cynthia Bourgeault, (Shambhala 2010)

Directions can be found on the Whirlow Grange web site.