News Flash

Maintained by Helen Maguire & the Holy Island Team

Northern Cross 2011

See our new web page dedicated to Northern Cross here. Northern Cross organise Easter pilgrimage long distance walks to Lindisfarne from Iona, Lanark, Haddington, Melrose, Carlisle, Bellingham and Seahouses, which is the starting point for a much shorter family walk. You can also visit their own website at www.northerncross.co.uk

David Cole - A New Calling

David is moving into a new area of ministry offering pastoral support for members of the Community of Aidan and Hilda. He is looking for support from members. Find out more about his mission here

David is also Explorer Guide for the Community. You can find his contact details here

He is also Regional Guardian for the South Coast and the Channel Isles. You can find out about events in the South Coast region here

A Free Placement in Return for House Work

We are looking for short or long-term volunteers for hospitality and general domestic type duties at the Open Gate.

We provide a room with free board and a chance to study and experience community life. If you know of someone who may be interested, please invite the m to contact Graham and Ruth Booth at <opengate@aidanandhilda.org.uk>

Volunteers needed at the Open Gate

Members of the Community are invited to volunteer to help at the Open Gate during this year’s retreats. We have a list of booked retreats which you will see below including dates, in which we would love to have some help. In particular the Enneagram Retreat and the Holy Week Retreat. Volunteers will have all their meals and accommodation free, and in return we ask that they assist practically with cooking, cleaning and general assistance with guests. This is a great way to join a retreat you might be interested in, whilst giving some practical help to the team here on Holy Island.

We would also love to here from you if you would like to volunteer at any other time during the year, as there is always much to do!

If you would like to volunteer please contact the Open Gate on opengate@aidanandhilda.org.uk or phone 01289 389222

Many thanks

The Holy Island Team

March 18th-21st ‘Images of God’. What are your images of God and where do they come from? Feeding your life and your prayers. Fr Cliff Bowman & Dr Ruth Booth

April 11th-15th Ancient Faith: Future Mission – a Lenten Study Week on Celtic Christianity that helps to reconnect with creation, the streets and monastic disciplines. Rev Ray Simpson

April-May 29th-2nd Hildegard von Bingen. ‘When Heaven Kisses Earth’– an introduction to a 12th century visionary woman with a earthy spirituality. Lynn Nausner

May 21st-26th Saints and Seabirds. Holy Island, The Farnes, St.Abbs Head and more, a relaxed exploration of the beauty and spirituality of this wonderful part of the world. Rev Graham Booth & John Mulrenan

June 6th-10th Creative Journaling. Mary Fleeson of Lindisfarne Scriptorium

July 11th-16th ‘An Eye on God’. Using your camera to ‘behold’ amongst the beauty of Holy Island. Rev Robert Cooper freelance photographer and calligrapher

August 8th-12th Exploring Pilgrimage with Mary Fleeson of the Lindisfarne Scriptorium October 17th-21st Autumn Watch. Out and about in the serenity and wildness of this holy place. Rev Graham Booth

August 31st St. Aidan’s Day Celebrations

July 25th-29th Look and Learn. Bring your binoculars and pastels for a time of relaxation and creativity among the geology and natural history of Holy Island and its surroundings. Paul Swinhoe and Carol Few

April 18th-24th Holy Week Retreat. Time to ponder the passion of Christ and be part of all that goes on on Holy Island during Holy Week.

February 21st-25th ‘Meditation in Daily Life’. David Cole

A New Year Message to the Community of Aidan & Hilda and the Wider World

2011

Earthing and Flaming A New Year Message from the Founding Guardian

Words from our USA Guardian Paul Martin (in the Lammas edition of USA Wild Goose magazine) spoke to me: ‘I resonate with the Celtic Way at a deep level. It leads me into a much more holistic faith than I have known before. But I stumble to put it into words for American Christians.’

Why don’t we all try to put our Way of Life into words for the people of our own culture? One way to go about this is to look for connecting points. For example, let us make common cause with people who seek:

Holistic Christianity

Ancient-Future Faith

Roots, Rhythm and Relationships

New monasticism

Indigenous styles of faith community

To make and live life as pilgrimage

To value spiritual companionship

Or ….

What would you add?

Let’s face it, however, we may also have to be counter- cultural. As part of an ascetic and prophetic tradition, do we also have to ‘kill’ the twin idols of selfish individualism and consumerism?

Flames

Holy Island was isolated by snow. No one else came for Night Prayer. I stayed outside. Into my mind came what seemed a divine picture of low but widespread, grass-root fires, steadily spreading outwards. This is a message to all the children of Aidan and Hilda and to our children’s children. It is about a revolution of ordinary people. Each of you has a flame in your heart. Let the flame grow brighter. Kindle other flames. Do not expect some important person to do this work. It is your work. That is our calling: ‘Aidan’ means ‘Little Flame’.

As I journey away from the world of busyness further into the world of the spirit, I do not journey away from the flame. God has appointed seraphim to blaze continually before His face. God has appointed guardian angels to protect and kindle the divine flame in each of our hearts. Heaven will never let us down. Pass on the flame. Let a hundred thousand fires encircle this cold earth.

Ray Simpson White House Holy Island

www.aidanandhilda.org

Farne Retreat House Opens in Canada

Barbara and Bob Hudspith came to an Open Gate Retreat last year. and have created their own farm retreat house for those needing silence and spiritual direction. They have called it ’Farne’. See their website at www.bmts.com/~farne. You are welcome to stay with them. For more information you can contact Barabra at barbhuds@bmts.com or by writing to:

Barbara Hudspith

R.R. #3 Elmwood

Ontario

NOG 1S0 519-369-1727

Canada

Date Stamp

Updated 25-01-2011