Sabbatical

#ServiceShirk

I’m reaching the end of my intended #ServiceShirk which was planned to last from Christmas Day to Holy Week. It’s been a great opportunity to explore different forms of Christian spirituality and practice away from the entertainment – and passivity – of a conventional church service setting.

This Sunday was an exploration of Sabbath and silence using Wayne Muller’s fine book, “Sabbath – Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives”, as a starting point.

Wayne Muller - Sabbath

The book has some great insights into the different ways that people, across cultures, have built structured space and simplicity into their daily lives.

I’ve also been enjoying Anne D. LeClaire’s wonderful “Listening Below The Noise: The Transformative Power of Silence”.

Listening Below The Noise

Next Sunday sees a return to Church for Palm Sunday and, of course, the events of Holy Week will follow. This #ServiceShirk has been great and far more fulfilling and spiritually challenging than the usual hour and a quarter in the pews. That needs some examination. Watch this space for what’s happening after Easter 🙂

Anachoresis

#ServiceShirk

This week’s intentional #ServiceShirk was spent in the company of St Anthony of Egypt. I read James Cowan’s splendid account of time at St Anthony’s Monastery – Desert Father: A Journey in the Wilderness with Saint Anthony (Shambhala Publications, 2004). This recalls the life and legend of the ascetic St Anthony and explores the practice of the current desert hermit Fr Lazarus Al-Anthony, originally from Australia, who lives a 21st century version of Anthony’s discipline up on the mountain beyond the monastery.

Desert Father by James Cowan

I read mainly in silence, fittingly, but took time out to listen to the evocative David Ensemble’s recording of Coptic Hymns (on Spotify).

Coptic Hymns by the David Ensemble

Later in the day I rewatched the short film on Fr Lazarus’s life “The Last Anchorite” on vimeo.com and followed up with the first of two extended interviews he gave from St Anthony’s cave to the Coptic Youth Channel (available on YouTube).

The Last Anchorite

It has been a day of wonderful reminders and discoveries; I’ll have another desert day next Sunday, I think.