Day of Reflection – The Coming of the Lord
Parishioners from Holy Ghost Exmouth spent a quiet day of reflection at Sheldon on Tuesday 13th December during the busy lead up to Christmas. They were warmly welcomed to by a member of the community of The Society of Mary and Martha before being guided by Fr Philip gently through the day.
Sheldon is a cluster of converted farm buildings set in 45 acres of grounds with beautiful views across the Teign Valley. As home to the members of the Sheldon Community, the place has a loved and lived-in flavour and is well cared for indoors and out. They welcome several thousand guests to Sheldon every year and ensure that everyone has the space and privacy they need.
On the morning of Tuesday 13 December, as storm clouds gathered over Exmouth, a group of parishioners gathered outside the church and travelled to Sheldon for an Advent Quiet Day. By the time we arrived the clouds had shed their load, Sheldon was bathed in sunshine and a rainbow spanned the car park. This set the weather pattern for the rest of the day – successive waves of heavy rain interspersed with bright sunshine – almost a metaphor for Advent with its twin themes of penitence and joyful anticipation.
However there was nothing at all penitential about this day – it was full of laughter and companionship and, as always, every care had been taken to make sure that all our creature comforts were catered for, with wonderful food prepared by Betty leaving us free to relax and enjoy the experience.
The day began in the chapel as we explored the theme ’The Coming of the Lord’. Using the Old Testament symbol of the Jesse Tree (Isaiah 11:1), Fr Philip led us into a deeper understanding of Advent, connecting the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history, leading to the Incarnation and to our longing for the Kingdom of Peace which is yet to come. The resource material we were given which included quotations from scripture and some poems, as well as a transcript of Fr Philip’s talk, provided a rich source of spiritual nourishment to take us through the rest of Advent and beyond. We met in the chapel again for mid-day prayers and a closing Mass but in the meantime we were free to spend the time in whichever way suited our present needs. For some this meant donning wellies and waterproofs and exploring the grounds while others sought refuge in the comfort of the beautifully refurbished Long Barn with its panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Advent is essentially a time of waiting and at this time of year, when many of us are heavily involved with our immediate families, it is good to step back and spend time with members of our extended parish family, recharging our spiritual batteries and celebrating the faith that binds us.
