Retreat - Quiet Soul Still
Led by Magdalen Smith
Isaiah 30:15 says
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and trust shall be your strength”.
This retreat is an invitation to explore the power of quiet and rest and how we experience the presence of God within them. Through story, art, poetry and the Bible we will reflect on how we can reorientate our incessant busyness in job, church and world into a more contemplative approach to living. We will explore the power of quiet places, how a quiet presence can change the dynamics of a group, how quiet experience can help heal trauma and sooth the soul and how quiet spirituality can be deeply transformational. Quiet (different from silence) emerges from a place of rest. Each day there will be the optional opportunity to experiment with some simple Christian meditative practice as a way of praying.
This retreat is open to anyone but may be especially appropriate for those at a point of change, anyone looking to reorientate how they approach work and faith or feeling a sense of overwhelm, and people interested in experiencing God through a more contemplative pathway.
This retreat will be held in silence from Monday evening to Thursday evening, with daily input and liturgy.
Magdalen Smith is the Associate Priest in Moseley Parish in Birmingham, a diverse and vibrant area of the city. She grew up in Cornwall and has been ordained for 30 years, working in many different contexts and roles including as the Diocesan Director of Ordinands for Chester Diocese. She has ministered in the countryside, in the city, on an outer estate, at a cathedral and in the suburbs. She is also an author and has written 6 books. Her latest, Reverence: A priest’s life of holiness and humanity is one of the only memoirs written by a woman priest and is also a reflection on past and present priestly vocation. More recently she is exploring the spirituality of quiet and rest in an increasingly noisy church and world.
She also holds degrees in Theology and History of Art and has always held a keen interest in the visual and how it can help us understand and enjoy the world and deepen spirituality. She regularly leads retreats around the country, has been a spiritual accompanier for many years and now teaches others to do this. She has recently undertaken a sewing course and is enjoying making her own clothes but also loves spending time with her family, reading, travelling, cooking and cocktails.
This event is open to everyone.
Arrival: 3 - 5pm
Mon 8th March
2027
Departure: 10am
Fri 12th March
2027
Residential - £580 (20% ministry discount)
