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Seven Sacred Spaces
Influences & Suggested Reading, The Inner Journey, Traditional MonasticismGeorge Lings spent an extended time with us at the Northumbria Community in 2009 and during this and other visits and studies brought together some key thinking about healthy communities. During his stay he facilitated a teaching and discussion weekend around this and other topics and it was during this weekend that George admits he added the seventh sacred space - the chapter house. What makes a healthy Christian community? George Lings, director of Church Army's Research Unit, believes we have much to learn from monastic communities.£4.00 -
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Seven Sacred Spaces
Influences & Suggested Reading, The Inner Journey, Traditional MonasticismToo often people's understanding of and engagement with 'church' is reduced to corporate worship, when it is so much more. George Lings identifies seven characteristic elements in Christian communities through the ages, which when held in balance enable a richer expression of discipleship, mission and community. In the monastic tradition these elements have distinctive locations: cell (being alone with God), chapel (corporate public worship), chapter (making decisions), cloister (planned and surprising meetings), garden (the place of work), refectory (food and hospitality) and scriptorium (study and passing on knowledge). Through this lens George Lings explores how these seven elements relate to our individual and communal walk with God, hold good for church and family life, and appear in wider society.£10.99 -
Matching Monastery and Mission
Influences & Suggested Reading, New MonasticismGeorge Lings 'accompanied' the Community during 2005 (as part of 'Building Bridges of Hope') and has written this very helpful exploration of where the Northumbria Community fits into the 'fresh expressions of church' scene today. He examines particularly the Community's balance between the interior life ('monastery') and its outward expression (mission'). George Lings concludes: If the need today is for deep people then here is the portal to inner attentiveness in following Jesus and the painful but liberation process of being transformed by Him.' This booklet is part of the Encounters on the Edge series. A downloadable PDF version of the booklet is also available.£1.00 -
Encountering Exile
Re-imagining Church, Scripture & Prayer, The Inner JourneyThe decline of the Church in the West means many Christian leaders are forced to taste a bittersweet draught of hopes fulfilled and deferred, liberally laced with failure and even shame. Our world seems so different to the joyful simplicity of the new Church of the New Testament. Where else in the Scriptures could we look to cope and hope?' George Lings investigates. This booklet is part of the Encounters on the Edge series. A downloadable PDF version of the booklet is also available.£2.00 -
Encounters on the Edge: Encountering Exile: PDF download
Re-imagining ChurchThe decline of the Church in the West means many Christian leaders are forced to taste a bittersweet draught of hopes fulfilled and deferred, liberally laced with failure and even shame. Our world seems so different to the joyful simplicity of the new Church of the New Testament. Where else in the Scriptures could we look to cope and hope?' George Lings investigates. Encountering Exile is part of the Encounters on the Edge series, and is also available as a printed booklet. When you complete your purchase, you will receive an email with a link to download your pdf. The link will expire in 3 days.£2.00 -
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Living the Autumn of Life: walking through retirement beginnings and endings
Influences & Suggested Reading, Seasons of Life, The Inner JourneyLiving well post-retirement Autumn is a time of gains and losses: fruit being harvested, and leaves falling. This book charts the experience of living through both realities, drawn from the author’s own life and from the views of interviewees. Informed by historic and contemporary reading, it offers snapshots of later life, taken against a backdrop of ageism in society and church. George Lings reflects on the identity of the ‘active elderly’, and considers through a biblical lens the challenges and opportunities that this season brings.£12.99
