Parish of Llandudno North Wales, Rector's letter

June 2013

'True silence ... is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment'
(William Penn, Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania)

In 1973 a lady called Hilary Wakeman wrote a letter to church newspapers of various denominations on the subject of Christian contemplative prayer. At the time there was great interest in eastern forms of mysticism and medi-tation and Hilary wanted to remind Christians that their own religion had an ancient tradition of meditation or contemplative prayer which had been sadly neglected. As a result of her letter people in eleven areas set up contemplative prayer groups - and so was born the 'Julian Meetings' movement, named after the 14th century English mystic, Julian of Norwich. Today there are around 300 'Julian prayer groups in Britain not to mention those abroad, and in 2013 the movement is celebrating its 40th Anniversary.

Five years ago, following a Cytun Lent Course on prayer, a 'Julian' group was founded in Llandudno which in 2013 continues to meet monthly and at present has eight members. Last month four members of the group (including myself) were privileged to attend the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the Julian Meetings, held at the Lumen United Reformed Church in Bloomsbury, London. It was a very inspiring day including a talk by Angela Ashwin, workshops, some excellent food, worship, and of course some times of silent prayer. Believe me, it's a very powerful experience to be in a room of a hundred or so folk united in silent prayer!

The purpose of this letter is to encourage you all to develop stillness and silence in your own relationship with God. But it is undoubtedly a great help practice this form of prayer in the company of others. As one of the Julian Meetings leaflets put it: 'Sharing prayerful silence with a like-minded group can be both encouraging and strengthening ..... There can develop an intensity and depth to the silence that is not describable, but can only be experienced and shared'.

We always welcome new members in our Julian meeting in Llandudno, so come along and find out what it is all about.We meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 10.00 am in the Stella Maris centre in Lloyd Street. After a few minutes for greeting each other and settling down, a member of the group leads us into our time of silence with some readings, prayers or meditations. We then keep between 20 and 30 minutes of silent prayer together before being led out of the silence with a final prayer by the leader.The meeting ends with a cup of tea or coffee and a chance to 'catch-up with each other. By 11.00 a.m. or so most members of the group are well on their way home.

You may wonder how the members of the group use the silence. The answer is that every person present will use it in their own way. Some may reflect on the readings or prayers which led us into the silence. Others may use a prayer word (mantra) said silently as a focus for their prayer, others may simply rest in the presence of God. Whatever each does, the intention is to be attentive to the presence of God. As the same leaflet quoted above puts it,'ln contemplation we just 'are' before God with the four 'S's: Stillness, Silence, Simplicity, Surrender'.

If all this speaks to you then do come along to our group. If you would like help with your own life of prayer please do not hesitate to speak to me. It is quite simply one of the most important things I'm here. Yet it is very seldom that anyone ever speaks of these things to me - isn't that rather odd!

Fr. John

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