RELEASE RECEIVE RETURN
Are you depleted, worn down and untethered in this season?
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Do you long for a day to escape to a quiet, nurturing space and reconnect with your self and with God?
Come away to a place of ancient spiritual significance for a walking retreat.
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Together, we will use the labyrinth phases of release-receive-return to experience this sacred landscape and allow it and the Spirit to restore our souls.
Hosted by spiritual director Fiona Koefoed-Jespersen, you will spend the day walking through the windswept salt marshes and sitting on stunning shell beaches. There will be space to talk, space to be alone in the quiet, and space to reconnect with God and your truest self.
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Travel to this wild edge of Essex, and discover one of the oldest chapels in England, founded in 653AD by celtic St Cedd, as a place of healing and prayer.
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We will base ourselves at Othona, an open and inclusive Christian community located alongside the Chapel, right behind the seawall. During the morning we will make a pilgrim loop of the headland together, before returning to spend time in holy listening: to each other, to nature, and to Divine Love.
ESSEX'S WILD EDGE
St Peter-on-the-Wall Chapel is at the end of the road, just beyond Bradwell-on-Sea on the Dengie peninsula between the River Blackwater and the River Crouch. Much of the coastline is nature reserve, protecting the stunning and important shellbanks, mud and sand flats for migrating birds and other rare flora and fauna. It is an isolated and magical place, that will find its way into your soul from your first visit.
THIS IS FOR YOU IF...
You are longing for some time and space to retreat and find new strength and hope for the coming season.
You love to be surrounded by the sacred power of nature and ancient thin spaces.
You are seeking an embodied practice to help you reflect on your life and connect with God.
You would love a day to walk, talk and reflect with an experienced guide!
YOURÂ QUESTIONS ANSWERED
WHAT DOES THE DAY INCLUDE?
We gather at 10am, and spend the morning walking, and the afternoon on the shoreline, drawing inspiration from what we see, hear and sense.
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We will be based at the Othona Community, with refreshments and a home cooked lunch included in the price.
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The day will include guided contemplative prayer reflections, facilitated sacred listening circles, and lots of space to let the quiet beauty of this sacred land and the wild grace of the Spirit do their work in you.
HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
The distance of the initial walk is around 5-6 miles, but there will also be time to wander around the beach, so expect to be on your feet around 6-7 miles in total. The landscape is flat; there may be stiles and kissing gates to navigate. We will be walking on grass, country dirt paths and a few paved paths. We will be taking frequent pauses to reflect together.
If you have average to good levels of fitness you should be able to participate. Please make a reasonable judgement of your own fitness and capabilities before signing up.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
St Peter-on-the-wall is just beyond Bradford-on-Sea in Essex. It is about a 90 minute drive from London. There is an infrequent bus that stops in Bradwell-on-Sea, but I would recommend driving, or taking your bike on the train to Southminster, and cycling from there (9 miles).
Check the Othona website for more travel tips and links to timetables.
WHAT COVID PRECAUTIONS ARE YOU TAKING?
We are following all current government guidelines in relation what what we are allowed to do and what we are recommended to do. In particular, we will ask you to remain socially distanced as much as possible, and bring everything you need for the day as we cannot share anything. A full kit list will be sent to you when you register.
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SCHEDULE
5 June 2021
GATHER
10:00Â AM
We meet at Othona Community for coffee and tea, and to set our pilgrim intentions for the day.
WALK
10:30-12:30
We spend the morning walking a loop of the headland (about 4 miles) at a leisurely pace, with pauses for reflection.
CHAPEL
12:30 PM
At the end of our walk we arrive at the Chapel and spend some quiet time in this sacred space, using poetry and prayer to centre ourselves and listen for the Spirit.
LUNCH
13:00-14:00
We eat lunch together, hosted by the Othona Community (lunch and refreshments are included in the price).
REFLECT
14:00-15:30
We spend the afternoon on the shoreline, letting the wild edge speak to us and receiving what the Spirit gives us for our return journeys.
BLESSING
15:30
We close with blessing, sending you out in hope and courage, back to your homes and the work you are called into.