Upcoming Events
Events List Navigation
Trees – Images for Life (Painting & Prayer Retreat)
We will reflect on Christ the tree and the ways in which trees can inform our spiritual lives. Our painting need not be confined to trees, but they do make an excellent study. Tutor: Jackie Ball - Since her retirement from teaching Physics, Jackie has been able to devote more time to her long-standing passion for more creative pursuits, particularly drawing and painting. She also enjoys gardening, choral singing and cooking lunch each week for a local charity which helps…
Find out more »Garden Quiet Day
Reflections on garden encounters in scripture, from the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden of the Resurrection. There will also be plenty of time to enjoy Pleshey's garden under the expert guidance of Val. Revd Ruth Patten is a priest and musician, and is currently the incumbent of two parishes not far from Pleshey, Great Dunmow and Barnston. Whilst not "green-fingered" herself, she loves spending time in a variety of gardens - from the unkempt…
Find out more »Individual Guided Retreat
If you are in need of some silence and looking for an opportunity to pray, this is for you. A time for those with a desire to deepen their relationship with God. Rosemary Alonso leads a team of experienced spiritual directors. (Costs are per £24hrs - minimum stay of 3 nights) Follow this link to download a Booking Form.
Find out more »Walking in His Presence – Walking Week
A relaxing week of walking, reflecting, enjoying, being together with each other and God. Some lunches in local pubs. Whilst the routes are not finalised yet, walks will be of varying lengths up to approximately 12 miles with the opportunity to stop midway. Chaplain: Revd Jean Andrews is Associate Priest at Downham (St Margaret) with S Hanningfield and Ramsden Bellhouse and has been an attendee of this walking week for some years. Follow this link to download a Booking Form.
Find out more »Flowering (Poetry & Prayer Retreat)
Flowering is a beautiful way to describe how the spiritual life deepens and matures, and even ‘buds again’. It’s something celebrated in poetry from George Herbert to Edwin Muir and many others, and there will be the opportunity to enjoy some of these great poems as well as doing our own writing to explore this theme. The retreat leaders will bring books of poetry and some devotional books, and participants may want to bring some of their own to share.…
Find out more »Finding Your Voice – Music Week
Finding Your Voice…a week with Jonathan and Sue Veira where together you will be given the opportunity to discover, or re-discover, the joy of singing in worship. A time for all, whether you sing regularly or only occasionally. Jonathan Veira is a wonderful singer and musician with a larger than life personality and sense of humour. For over 30 years Jonathan has had a successful professional career and his Christian faith has been an essential part of his life and…
Find out more »What is Christian mission today?
A discussion of different aspects of mission including presence, dialogue, action and evangelism. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was the Bishop of Rochester until 2009. Before that he was the General Secretary of CMS and the Bishop of Raiwind, Pakistan. He is the current President of the Oxford Centre for Training, Research, Advocacy and Dialogue and has authored thirteen books. Follow this link to download a Booking Form.
Find out more »Finding God in the wonder and reality of life
The hope is that this day encourages you to practise connecting with God in different ways and have a deeper appreciation of him in every walk of life. Revd Jackie Sams is Associate Minister at St Margaret's Colchester and also a Spiritual Director. She has discovered that life flows best if she connects with God in every aspect of life and let doing flow from being in Him. Follow this link to download a Booking Form.
Find out more »Every place is hallowed ground
“Every place is hallowed ground” is a line written by the Olney Poet William Cowper and in this Quiet Day Jonathan will seek to use verse from Cowper and others to celebrate how, in Gerard Manley Hopkins words “the world is charged with the grandeur of God”. There will be an opportunity for prayer and Eucharist. Ven Jonathan Smith serves as Archdeacon of St Albans. He was first introduced to Pleshey at a Parish Weekend for Waltham Abbey where he…
Find out more »Celtic Reflections
An opportunity to spend time reflecting on God's word and creation with an influence from the early Celtic church. Revd Graham Dowling is the Vicar of St Patricks, Barking. Since early 2017 he has also fulfilled the role as Chaplain at The House of Retreat, leading a team of approximately 16 day chaplains. Follow this link to download a Booking Form.
Find out more »