{"id":276,"date":"2020-09-30T13:10:53","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T13:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turveyabbey.org.uk\/pilgrimage\/?page_id=276"},"modified":"2022-03-05T10:51:27","modified_gmt":"2022-03-05T10:51:27","slug":"individually-guided-retreats","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.turveyabbey.org.uk\/pilgrimage\/individually-guided-retreats\/","title":{"rendered":"Individually Guided Retreats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Image by Photo by Ashley Batz<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These resources can be used as a short retreat over several days or spread out over several weeks. You can arrange to talk with a retreat guide digitally during the retreat if you wish. If you would like to do that please contact Sr Judith.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Started<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Photo by Rebecca Peterson-Hall on unsplash.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The retreats divided into sections. You can take one section each day of your retreat or you can spread each section over several days or a week. In this section you will find some useful retreat tools. It includes ideas for creating a scared space at home and some suggestions for praying with scripture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Sacred Space<\/mark><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Praying with Scripture<\/mark><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

People of the Kingdom,
a Beatitudes retreat.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo by Kent Tupas<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Beatitudes lay out Jesus\u2019 vision of the kingdom and and call us to join him in making it a reality. It’s a call to become people of the kingdom in the midst of the challenges and messiness of daily life. This 8 session retreat provides the opportunity to reflect on how to make the values of the Beatitudes the basis of our daily interactions. You take one session per day or spread each section over several days or a week. The resources above, “Creating Sacred Space” and “Praying with Scripture” may be helpful to you. If you would like to speak to a retreat guide digitally during your retreat please contact Sr Judith<\/a>
Begin your retreat by reading whichever version of the Beatitudes you prefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Session 1: Poor in Spirit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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No one likes to admit to poverty. It\u2019s not something we would see as a blessing or as cause for congratulations. The opposite is true, we do everything we can to hide our poverty, whether material or spiritual, from ourselves and from others. Yet here is Jesus telling us that the kingdom belongs to those who are poor in spirit, suggesting that it is something to be accepted, embraced and rejoiced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening prayer:
Loving God, grant me the courage to admit my neediness, the faith to trust your promise and to live in hope. In Jesus name. Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start the session by reading all of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-11), then take some time to pray with this first beatitude:
Where you aware of your poverty of spirit?
What enables you to admit your reliance on God?
What helps you to glimpse the kingdom in your life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may find it helpful to use Psalm 130 as part of your prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving prayer
Take some time to thank God for the insights and blessings of this prayer time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Session 2: Gentle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Gentleness is not a fashionable attribute. In times like ours that value assertiveness and individualism it can be dismissed as weakness. The gentleness Jesus invites us to is very far from being weakness. It\u2019s a gentleness born entirely of love, and it has a strength and the power that only love can give.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening prayer
Lord God, allow me to admit my need for your gentleness in my life. Fill my heart with your love so that I may reach out to others with gentleness and compassion. In Jesus name. Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start the session by reading all of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-11), then take some time to pray with this second Beatitude.
Where are you aware of your need for gentleness?
How do you respond when gentleness is offered to you?
What does it mean to you to inherit the earth?
You might find it helpful to pray Matthew 11:28 \u2013 29 alongside this Beatitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving prayer
Take some time to thank God for the insights and blessings of this prayer time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Session 3: Mourning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This time of pandemic has put mourning at the forefront of our lives as we lived through the suffering and pain it brought. In our times of mourning we know how desperately we need the comfort and consolation this beatitude offers us. It doesn\u2019t take our pain away. It doesn\u2019t brush it aside or pretend it isn\u2019t real. Instead the comfort Jesus offers us in this beatitude is to sit with us in our pain, holding, acknowledging and consoling us as we go through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening prayer
God of love, enable me to place my grief and sorrow in your hands.  In my times of mourning touch my heart with the consolation of your loving presence. In Jesus name. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start the session by reading all of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-11), then take some time to pray with this third Beatitude.
What mourning are you carrying today?
What comforts you in your times of mourning?
What would enable you to unlock the grace this beatitude offers?
You might find it helpful to pray Isaiah 61:1 \u2013 11 or Psalm 125 alongside this beatitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving prayer Take some time to thank God for the insights and blessings of this prayer time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Session 4: Hungering for righteousness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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It seems to me that the heart of this beatitude is desire and passion. At its heart is the passion of love that fuels our desire for communion with God. That love does not exist in a vacuum, our loving relationship with God soon spills over into a concern for the well-being of others. Our knowledge of God leads us to care passionately for all God\u2019s creatures. It leads us to want to build communities based on fairness, justice, respect and equality for all God\u2019s children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening prayer
Heavenly Father, fill my heart with passion for your ways. Make your love fill me and overflow in care and compassion for all those in need. In Jesus name. Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start the session by reading all of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-11), then take some time to pray with this fourth Beatitude. What causes you to hunger and thirst?
How are you being called to live an upright life?
What might fill the empty spaces within you?
You might want to pray Isaiah 55:1 \u2013 11 alongside this beatitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving prayer Take some time to thank God for the insights and blessings of this prayer time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Session 5: Mercy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The need to both give and receive mercy unites us all. However well intentioned our actions we all fall short, make mistakes, fail, cause hurt to others. We also all have the experience of being hurt and wounded by others. So whatever else we experience we can be sure that we all stand together in our need to forgive and to be forgiven. As well as taking us to the heart of our faith this beatitude touches the very core of what it is to be human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening prayer
Loving Father, I come before you aware of my need of your forgiving love. Let me feel the healing touch of your mercy in my life. Give me a forgiving and merciful heart. In Jesus name. Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start the session by reading all of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-11), then take some time to pray with this fifth Beatitude.
Where are you aware of your need for mercy?
What enables you to accept the mercy Christ offers you?
How are you being called to imitate Christ\u2019s mercy in your life?
You might want to pray Matthew 18: 21 \u2013 22 or Matthew 5: 9 \u2013 13 alongside this beatitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving prayer
Take some time to thank God for the insights and blessings of this prayer time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Session 6: Pure in Heart<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This beatitude is a call to look inwards, to examine the motivations that prompt our actions and behaviour. It reminds us that important as our actions are, they are not enough by themselves. So often we can find ourselves doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. The way to learn purity of heart is to spend time in God\u2019s presence, learning to love as God loves, learning desire what is better for other people rather than what is better for ourselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening prayer
Lord God, as I seek your presence in my life purify my heart, give me the courage to acknowledge my motivations and to bring them into the light of your loving presence. In Jesus name. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start the session by reading all of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-11), then take some time to pray with this sixth Beatitude.
Where are you being called to give reflect on your motivations?
How are you being called to give your whole attention to seeking God?
What helps you to live wholeheartedly?
You might want to pray Psalm 23 alongside this beatitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving prayer
Take some time to thank God for the insights and blessings of this prayer time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Session 7: Peacemakers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Peace is something we all desire. Deep in our hearts we recognise its value and know how necessary it is for human flourishing. Yet in practice it can seem almost impossible to achieve. A quick glance at the news shows a world torn by conflict, each one having devastating effects on the lives of ordinary people. Our world urgently needs people who will cultivate and nurture peace in every circumstance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening prayer
God of love lead me to seek your peace in my life and in my relationships. Help me to bring peace to the people I meet and the situations I encounter. In Jesus name. Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start the session by reading all of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-11), then take some time to pray with this seventh Beatitude.
Where do you desire peace in your life?
Where are you being called to actively seek and create peace?
What sustains you when you need to seek peaceful solutions?
You made want to pray with Isaiah 52: 7 \u2013 9 or Isaiah 9 :5 \u2013 6 alongside this beatitude<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving prayer
Take some time to thank God for the insights and blessings of this prayer time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Session 8: Persecuted for uprightness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This beatitude reminds us that truly to live by the values of the kingdom is risky. At best living that way risks causing painful misunderstandings and at worst it can liaise open to persecution. Our care and concern for others will not always be well received or understood. However we are misjudged, misunderstood or persecuted, even when our motivations are mixed, we’re called to keep trusting God\u2019s grace and to persevere in building the kingdom however challenging the circumstances we face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening prayer
Heavenly Father, fill me with your grace, give me all I need to seek and live by the values of the Kingdom. In Jesus name. Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start the session by reading all of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-11), then take some time to pray with this seventh Beatitude.
Where are you called to risk persecution for the sake of the kingdom?
What enables you to examine your motivations honestly?
Where are you being called to persevere in building the kingdom today?
You might want to pray Mark 10: 28 \u2013 31 alongside this beatitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To end your retreat watch the video below.
What word, phrase or image will you take away to help you live by the values of the Kingdom?<\/p>\n\n\n\n