Saturday 8 October 2011, 9.30 for 10.00am – 3.00pm
led by Richard Evans, aContemplative Fire Companion on the Way

Venue: The Walker Room, Castleton Methodist Church, Buxton Road, Castleton, S33 8WP

Richard writes about his painting: “The 'text' for the painting is that, as I was looking at it when it was nearly finished, it was as though suddenly I became the bush and the fire was somewhere under my ribs, almost as a physical sensation [maybe that's what happens in contemplation - you find yourself becoming the thing that you thought you were just looking at]. And the fire is in the midst of the bush, but the bush is not consumed; every leaf and twig that embraces/surrenders to the fire becomes fire, becomes light, becomes its true self. Like God breathing into the clay Adam, who becomes a living soul. I suppose the clay could have said "Shan't!", but then we would never have heard about it. And presumably the leaf that says "Shan't" to the flame would end up being consumed, because there is nowhere else to go. There's only one reality: the eternally unfolding NowHere, or nowhere at all.

Richard has been involved in Contemplative Fire from its earliest days. He studied art and design, worked for 30 years in the Civil Service and retired with joy! He has been nurtured by the contemplative Christian tradition for the last 20 years and initiated a meditation group in his workplace. Richard leads a weekly meditation group in Nottingham and co-leads a series exploring different approaches to contemplative prayer.

Pilgrimage to Now/here’ is one of the key Contemplative Fire celebrations of ‘life in all its fullness’. The Peak District is a wonderful context for awareness, attentiveness, stillness and movement. Each Pilgrimage to Now/here combines some input, insight sharing, community building and engagement with the natural world. We will gather at 9.30am with coffee for a prompt 10am start and close at 3pm. Please pre-book with us (reply slip below). Do feel free to invite a friend or colleague who you think might resonate with Contemplative Fire’s approach to the Way of Christ.

Please bring your own sandwiches and outdoor wear.

To register for the day, please print off the booking form (below) and send, together with your cheque made payable to ‘Contemplative Fire’ to Jane McBane at 85 High Storrs Drive, Sheffield, S11 7LN.

Cost: Suggested sliding scale donation, somewhere between £10 and £20 per person. This goes to support Contemplative Fire’s ministry which is entirely dependent upon individual gifts.

Directions: Castleton is about 19 miles and 30 minutes from the South West edge of Sheffield, along the A625, and then onto the A6187 to Castleton. Approaching from the east, drive through Castleton on the A6187 towards Buxton. The Methodist Church is just west of Castleton town centre on the right. (There is a public car park immediately opposite on the left). Drive in through the gates and up the drive on the right of the Church.

Parking: The Church has a small car park. If we block each other in, we may all be able to park there and on the driveway. If it’s full when you arrive, or you need to make a very quick getaway at the end of the day, there is public parking in the car park opposite (£6 per day), in the Tourist Information car park further down (£5 per day), and at the parking meter opposite in the lay-by (also £5).

WARNING: Do not park on the piece of pavement outside the church itself. It looks tempting, but you will be clamped and fined £70!

If you are eligible for gift aid and were willing to fill in a gift aid form, this enables us to reclaim the tax on your donation. Please see link below to print off a gift aid form. Thank you.

Click here for booking form.

Click here for gift aid form.

Click here for map.

Click here to return the Events page