BACK FOR 2024!
Life-Changing Week of Guided Prayer
Sunday 13th October – 20th October 2024
Book your place now: http://ridl2024.eventbrite.co.uk/
We are hosting a week of guided prayer 13th – 20th October. This is an opportunity to deepen in your prayer life and experience the love of God. Here we introduce a series of videos introducing the week. You will need to book your place and there is a cost for this event. This is an experience you can have online or face to face in Luton.
This is our second video about our week of guided prayer from 13th – 20th October. This is an experience you can have online or face to face in Luton. It is an opportunity to deepen in your prayer life and experience the love of God. Here Stephen brings this to life.
In this short video we explore, - How did God call Stephen? - What is rewarding about accompanying people as they meet with Jesus? - What one piece of spiritual advice does he have for us?
Do you want to deepen your relationship with God and find greater clarity about where He is calling you?
Join us for a Week of Guided Prayer. A retreat in daily life designed for busy people like you.
Can I fit the Retreat in Daily Life in? What can I expect if I do it online or face to face?
- Stephen Hoyland walks us through a typical day for participants - What are some of the prayer practices in the retreat - How much time is needed. An interview with Rev Mike Jones and Stephen Hoyland This is our fourth video about our week of guided prayer from 13th – 20th October. This is an experience you can have online or face to face in Luton. It is an opportunity to deepen in your prayer life and experience the love of God. This is an experience you can have online or face to face in Luton. You will need to book your place and there is a cost for this event.
Who Is This For?
If you want to deepen your relationship with God and find greater clarity about where He is calling you this is the place for you. You may be local or join by Zoom.
Here are some comments from people who participated in the retreat last year:
“This has renewed my enthusiasm for wanting to spend time with God”.
“This was helpful in exploring different ways to pray and the daily meeting held me accountable in a way that a weekly experience wouldn't have. I've felt God speak with me in a way I wasn't expecting... answering my questions - both internal and external - and meeting me in really clear ways”.
“To experience God in such a way has been life changing for me”.
“It gave me a chance to stop and listen to God. Something I struggle to do in the busyness of life”.
About the Leaders
The retreat is led by Stephen Hoyland. We’ve asked him to introduce himself,
“I live in the North West of England where it rains a lot. I am fortunately waterproof. I have worked for the Jesuits for the last 18 years and one of the highlights is an annual trip to Luton to lead a retreat in daily life.
Previously I've been a teacher (so I like to give homework) and a chaplain (so I like to pretend to be working).
I travel the country facilitating retreats for students, people in parishes and other bodies. I have become convinced after 250 or so of these, that God really likes retreats.
I'm married to Kate. I am pleased this year to have another football team to root for. Yes. Luton Town.
The retreat in Luton began at the University of Bedfordshire and has moved into the life of the churches of the town.
We have excellent trained guides who assist with the retreat.
What to Expect
During the retreat, you’ll have the opportunity to journey and reflect with a prayer guide over the course of a week.
Your guide will help you reflect on your prayer and life in a prayerful atmosphere and explore how you might become more open to the movements of the Spirit.
You’ll meet with your prayer guide (in person or over Zoom) each day for half an hour from Monday-Friday.
They’ll give you some prayer ‘homework’ each time for you to take away, often drawing from the Ignatian tradition of prayer and spiritual exercises.
You might want to use your time with your prayer guide to reflect on some kind of decision or just to explore your relationship with God
Dates for your diary:
There will be an opening meeting for the whole group at 7 pm on October 13th, at which you will meet your prayer guide for the week and arrange your meetings with them throughout the retreat. You can attend this meeting in person at St Marys church or online via Zoom.
At the end, there will be a closing meeting at 8pm on Sunday 20th October to pray together and share something of our experience of the week. This will be online only (Zoom links will be sent nearer the time.)
Through this retreat experience, our hope is that you are better able to notice, savour, and respond to the movement of God in your life after the retreat.
Cost
There is a charge of £60 per participant to cover costs for the week.
A bursary is available for those who are unable to pay or unable to pay the full amount - if this is you, email rachwarwick@gmail.com before completing your booking for details.
What will happen
Once you have booked, you will be sent a short questionnaire so that you can let us know whether you’d like to participate in the retreat online or in-person and give some idea of your availability during the week. You will either meet your prayer guide at the opening meeting or they may contact you by email during the week before to arrange times to meet.
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your relationship with God and find greater clarity about where He is calling you. Sign up today! 😊