Wednesday 21st February to Wednesday 20th March, 7.30pm via Zoom
As we’ve done over the course of many years, we’ll be offering a Lent Course once again.
The course will be held via Zoom, during the five Wednesday evenings in Lent. This year we have chosen the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2024, ‘Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith’, by Selina Stone. It’s a remarkable book, exploring a Black Christian spiritual practice called ‘Tarrying’ – waiting on God, in the midst of often wearying times. The practice originates in Jesus’ words to his disciples, in the garden of Gethsemane: ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me’. Through the book we’re invited to wait with Jesus, opening ourselves to a genuine encounter with God and between ourselves.
The book makes the wisdom of Black spiritualities and faith available for all people. It focuses on seven themes: darkness as a place of encounter with the divine; the unity of all things; movement, belonging and migration; the Spirit as one who moves in unexpected ways; quiet contemplation as essential to spiritual growth; healing in community; and weeping that turns to joy.
Dr Selina Stone is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Durham University, and a much sought-after speaker and preacher. She comes from an Afro-Caribbean background, and was brought up in inner city Birmingham. Her experience of growing up within a black-majority church in that city, has informed her understanding of a uniquely ‘black’ spirituality. There are riches and treasures here for us to discover and to own for ourselves. So do come and join us, as we begin this journey in faith together.
Contact me or Trish if you'd like to take part.
Beverly