‘The Bright Field – glimpsing God in everyday moments’

You can download the handout and resources list from Alison’s morning here.

Alison MacTier’s morning of reflection ‘The Bright Field – glimpsing God in everyday moments’ was part of the Spiritual Direction Forum UK’s ‘supporting and resourcing spiritual directors‘.

Saturday 15 April 2023, 10.00 – 13.00.

Using the well-known poem by RS Thomas as a focus for reflection this was a morning to rediscover the extra-ordinary in the ordinary – those transitory moments where the deepest truths may be found and we feel a powerful sense of connection.

These life-affirming moments were explored using bible passages, guided meditations, poems, images and music.

Alison MacTier is Executive Director of the Retreat Association with overall responsibility for the leadership of the charity. She is a spiritual director and leads regular quiet days and retreats. She also enjoys walking, photography and the arts.

Resources list

Suggestions for further reflection

Group 3. To advocate and encourage the creative development of this ministry within the church and in a changing world by 

        • To advocate and encourage the creative development of this ministry in a changing world by 
        • Embracing the wisdom of the Christian tradition and learning from all people’s lived experience both in the church and in society. 
        • Understanding and supporting the prophetic and contemplative dimensions of our ministry.
        • Fostering contexts for creative conversations about spiritual direction in the 21st Century.
        • Exploring and encouraging a diverse range of ways and places to bring the wisdom of spiritual direction to the wider world.
        • Promoting awareness of the value of spiritual direction amongst those involved in church leadership and resourcing them to signpost their communities towards engagement in this practice


Progress made:

Group Members: Julie Dunstan, Chris Chapman, Julia Mourant, Naomi Gates and Sarah Lear

        • established the Edge Walkers series of events.

 

Group 2. To promote and protect good practice by

        • an ongoing articulation of a shared understanding of good practice
        • involving networks, training courses, relevant organisations
        • producing clear guidelines and resources 
        • establishing an ongoing process for developing these over time
        • inviting ongoing discussion and development
        • commending good practice to practitioners 

 

Progress made:

Group Members: Susanne Carlsson, Nick Helm, Chris Mason, Rachel Overton, Ruth Holgate

          • hosted events for spiritual direction network leaders 
          • working at producing information around Safeguarding and spiritual direction.

 

Vision

We desire

  • to support and resource spiritual directors
  • to promote and protect good practice 
  • to advocate and encourage the creative development of this ministry within the church and in a changing world. 

Values

In the same spirit in which Spiritual Direction is conducted, we will endeavour to:

  • be a ‘common table’ through dialogue and hospitality
  • be led by the Spirit, in prayer and discernment
  • be theologically reflective
  • act with wisdom and humility
  • be exploratory and collaborative
  • be responsive and gracious
  • be inclusive and ecumenical
  • be appropriately professional and not professionalised
  • promote equality and respect for all
  • maintain openness and transparency
  • build things organically, being both adventurous and realistic
  • use simple communicative processes

Mission

Create a Core Committee

    • with wide representation and a time-limited period of office.
    • responsible for developing sustainable structures and processes for the initial and ongoing work of the forum.
    • focussing on the following aspects:
      • Vision
      • Communications including website, social media, mailings, newsletters etc
      • Co-ordination of the work of the sub-groups
      • Finance & Administration including membership and fundraising

Create three working groups to represent the three faces of the forum

Progress made

The committee has been operating from the beginning. Current membership is: Nick Helm & Julie Dunstan (co-chairs), Ruth Holgate, Susanne Carlsson, Catherine Williams.

It has:

    • run a number of online events and issued several mailings a year
    • established the three sub groups 
    • established a website and mailing list (the mailing list currently has about 1000 members)
    • raised finances through inviting donations
    • established the Forum as a Charity

Group 1. To support and resource spiritual directors by

        • developing ways to come together to encourage, listen and discern; by zoom gatherings, national conferences, regional meetings
        • gathering and sharing wisdom and inspiration by newsletters, websites, social media

 

Progress made:

Group Members: Catherine Williams (Chair), Ray Andrews, Mary Flitcroft, Henriette Howarth, Peter Rainford & Vron Smith

          • hosted events exploring aspects of spiritual direction 
          • established a FaceBook group that has over 200 members