Retired clergy hold devotional morning
The two leaders of the Retired Clergy Association (NI)’s devotional morning in Belfast Cathedral – Canon Raymond Fox (left) and Bishop Trevor Williams – are pictured outside the Cathedral’s Chapel of Unity prior to the celebration of Holy Communion. (Photo: the Rev Clifford Skillen).
Report by the Rev Clifford Skillen
The Retired Clergy Association (NI) held a contemplative and devotional morning for members to mark the halfway stage of Lent. This was held in the Chapel of Unity of St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on March 27.
The morning, under the overall theme of ‘Be Still,’ was led by Canon Raymond Fox and Bishop Trevor Williams.
Following light refreshments, Canon Fox introduced members to the concept of contemplation which he defined as ‘listening to God’ based upon the dominical sayings of God or Jesus.
Taking as his example Isaiah 41: 10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God” – Canon Fox briefly outlined the background and context of the verse and applied it in turn to the threefold pattern of contemplative prayer – receiving into the mind, listening with the heart, and offering it in a time of silent intercession.
Throughout the first session, Canon Fox interspersed his reflections on the verse with periods of contemplative silence to enable members to meditate upon God’s word in a fresh way.
Following a short break, Bishop Williams celebrated a service of Holy Communion, assisted by Canon Fox.The service took the form of The Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer in Ireland’s ‘A Contemplative Communion,’ which again stressed contemplative sayings and silent intercessions, including the Lord’s Prayer, and saw members sing unaccompanied ‘Be still, for the presence of the Lord…’ and ‘Lord of Creation, to you be all praise.’
The morning afforded members a valuable opportunity to experience the concept of contemplation and, for a short time at least, to appreciate some welcome calmness and stillness amid the rush and busyness of life.
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