After a great deal of anguish over whether the snow was going to prevent us reaching Ampleforth, early on the morning of Tuesday 3rd of February the unexpected thaw freed the way – even if two of us did have to dig out cars before we could start the journey!
Ampleforth Abbey is a Benedictine monastery at which there is a school and a retreat centre, set in the countryside near Easingwold and Thirsk. We decided to try this place because our usual venue was closed for refurbishment, and here we discovered the real warmth of Benedictine hospitality in the welcome, in the comfort of our rooms and the conference room, in the excellent food and in the invitation to share in the monastic offices. These services, other than Compline, the last office of the day, are sung in Latin by the monks; so far removed from our usual pattern of worship that we may have found the experience awkward, but we were greeted, shown where to sit, shown the correct page in the service book in such a caring way that we felt comfortable and able to appreciate the mystery and ‘otherness.’ For some, the great use made of the of the psalms in worship was very special; for others, the way in which one of the monks came to guide us in, throwing open the door with a wide, inclusive wave of his arm was also special. It made us all think about the welcome offered as strangers come to our own churches.
One of the lovely things about Ampleforth was the way in which we were accepted for who we are and welcomed to share in who they are, and the fact of worshipping alongside the community in their regular, ordered pattern of prayer was a great experience – some even managed to get to the early morning services! (Some of us didn’t, but that was all right as well!)
We followed our own programme of input from the retreat leader, Rev’d Mike Playdon, a retired United Reformed minister much involved and valued in our own and other denominations as a retreat leader. The focus was the use of the “Examen” a spiritual tool used throughout the centuries for reflection upon the past day, noticing what within the day had been a source of gratitude towards God and what had been a source of sadness, of desolation. Mike expertly guided us beyond the basis use of the Examen to look at ways in which this reflection could be used, for example, becoming a means of discerning God’s will; or, by extending the reflective principle back across a lifetime, to identify significant times and patterns of God’s working within our lives. The reflection was mainly in quiet and alone, and sometimes took us into difficult memories, but it was very sensitively led, and there were also times for discussion.
It wasn’t all services and solemnity; retreats always involve a lot of humour and companionship as retreatants start to relax. They also often include getting out for walks, but the amount of snow and ice still lying around encouraged a rather lazier approach this year!
We concluded on the Thursday morning by sharing in our own communion service before lunch, having decided that we would return to Ampleforth in 2011 and ask that our retreat be led by one of the monks, so that we could learn a little more about Benedictine spirituality.
Next year’s retreat is at Shepherd’s Dene, Riding Mill, Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th February 2010, when we will be seeking the riches of our own reformed spirituality. While intended primarily for ministers, the retreat is open to all, and early booking is welcomed!