The diocese has a number of groups under its spirituality task force and may be of interest to people who wish to deepen their faith through these various groups.
THE EPIPHANY GROUP
Ignatius of Loyola was born in 1491 and from his own life experiences, he came to help people find freedom to seek God's way and to choose to follow it.
The Epiphany Group was launched in June 2000, and brings together people who have trained in, and practise, Ignatian spirituality. There are members of the Group in Aberdeen who offer help and support to churches, parishes, informal groups and individuals who wish to explore the spiritual aspects of life and faith in their own setting.
There are various forms of group help and individual help, and the Epiphany Group is committed to helping people:- " find God in all things " listen to God with a discerning heart " choose to live for the greater glory of God through helping plan events, offering Quiet Days, Weeks of Guided Prayer, Retreats in Daily life, courses on Prayer, one-to-one Spiritual Direction - in fact, the Group will respond to any need if it possibly can.
Contact: Carole Phelan, Hilsea Cottage, 2 Loirston Road, Cove Bay, Aberdeen AB12 3NS. Tel: 01224 895033
Email: carole.phelan@talk21.com
THE CURSILLO MOVEMENT
The purpose of Cursillo is to help mature Christians to live a more effective Christian life, to deepen their relationship with God and to act as salt and light in the world. It encourages members to develop a rule of life which works out their commitment to Christ in the three areas of prayer, study and action. Its full title, indicating its Spanish origins, is Cursillo in Christiandad, meaning A short course in being a Christian. Fundamental to the Cursillo method are two activities which provide Christians with help and encouragement on their journey.
Group Reunions are regular short meetings of three or four people in which members share personal lessons, insights, successes and failures that they have recently experienced in their Christian lives. Larger meetings include informal worship, Christian witness, and sharing in small groups. This kind of meeting is called an Ultreya, from the Spanish exhortation meaning Onward! with which pilgrims would encourage one another on the road. A third aspect of the Cursillo method is the three-day weekend, which introduces participants to the Cursillo method. (However, you can participate in reunion groups and Ultreyas without having attended such a weekend.)
The weekend provides a varied programme of teaching, discussion, meditation and worship, centred on the Eucharist. The teaching consists of short talks by lay and clergy members on fundamental elements of Christian life and faith. For example: Ideals, Sacraments, Obstacles to Grace, The Life of Prayer, Christian Community in Action. Cursillo is an international movement in both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. Cursillo in the UK operates under the authority of the British Anglican Cursillo Council. The number of Cursillo members in Aberdeen is currently growing; a reunion group meets regularly, and Ultreyas are held roughly every two months.
Contact: Cissy Dirr, 14 Angusfield Avenue, Aberdeen AB15 6AQ
Tel: 01224 208440 Email: cissyd@cistom.co.uk
HEALING MINISTRY
Healing was an important part of Jesus' ministry. He trained his disciples to heal as well as preach, and it was an important part of their ministry too. This suggests that as we seek to become more Christlike, both individually and as His church, a major part of our witness should be to bring God's healing touch to those who are wounded in body, mind or spirit. What can we do to be more obedient to Jesus' instruction in Matt. 10 or James 5? How can we encourage each other? How can healing become a normal part of what we do as church?
Contact: Nigel Feilden, Highmuir Croft, Meikle Wartle, Inverurie Aberdeen AB51 5DA Tel: 01464 851280 Email: NigelEHF@aol.com
JULIAN MEETINGS
The Julian Meetings are groups of people who meet regularly in order to grow in the practice of contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition. At the beginning of the last century there was a reappearance of what at the time was generally called mysticism. Then in the 1960's and 1970's there was a great wave of interest in eastern forms of mysticism and meditation. Many came to realise that the root of this turning Eastwards was the Church's failure to teach ordinary people the practice of contemplative prayer. Beginnings of the Julian Meetings
It began in 1973 with a letter in British church papers of various denominations, which lead to the formation that year of eleven groups. Now there are over 300 groups in the British Isles and a growing number in other countries. The movement was eventually named after the 14th century mystic, Julian of Norwich, because it accords with her precept that, while it is right and proper to make requests of God, nevertheless the highest form of prayer consists in simply waiting on Him. The purpose of the movement was defined as "fostering the practice and teaching of contemplative prayer within the Christian religion". (Taken from the leaflet Waiting on God in the Silence.)
Members of the Julian Group meet on a regular basis weekly or monthly in a church, house or chapel. The meeting starts with a short piece of meditative music, a reading as a lead into about half an hour of silent prayer. A lighted candle can be used or a picture to focus on. No one method of meditation is taught - participants are encouraged to find what is right for them. The Julian Meetings are ecumenical and anyone is welcome to join.
There is no membership fee. A magazine is published three times a year, which contains articles on prayer and related subjects, and news about groups, retreats and other events.
Contact: Mrs Helen Kinnersley, 7 St Machar Place, Aberdeen AB24 3SF
Tel: 01224 486346 Email: handskin@bropenworld.com