You may be interested in…
-
The Artist’s Rule: nurturing your creative soul with monastic wisdom
Creativity, Monasticism & New Monasticism, Spiritual Exercises, Spiritual Growth, The Inner Journey, Traditional Monasticism, nature, solitude, artists, creativity The Artist's Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom by Christine Valters Paintner, author of Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire, invites readers to discover and develop their creative gifts in a spirit of prayer and reflection. This twelve-week course draws on the insights and practices of Benedictine spirituality to explore the interplay between contemplation and creativity. Sumarised in the phrase 'pray and work,' The Rule of St. Benedict provides the inspiration for Christine Valters Paintner's newest exploration of the mutually nourishing relationship between contemplative practices and creative expression. Artists of all stripes and stations in life - poets or painters, potters or photographers - will discover how traditions of Benedictine, Celtic, and desert spirituality can offer new sources of inspiration for their work. Themes like 'Sacred Tools and Sacred Space', 'Creative Solitude and Community,' and 'Nature as a Source of Revelation and Inspiration' are enriched by Paintner's perceptive discussion and enhanced by insightful quotations from well-known artists and writers. Ideally formatted for faith sharing groups and parish retreats, this guide offers suggestions for grounding both the creative and the spiritual life through three basic practices: walking, lectio divina, and journaling. The Artist's Rule is supplemented with online resources, including guided meditation podcasts, video lessons, and discussions.£14.99 -
Simplicity: The freedom of letting go
Spiritual Growth, The Inner JourneySimplicity – The Freedom of Letting Go by Richard Rohr St Francis’s ancient call to the simple life of freedom and happiness, as seen by America’s foremost Franciscan. Richard Rohr shows you how to: Recognize your radical dependence on others Understand why less is more Break through to contemplation Embrace a deeper spiritual freedom “Rohr’s kind of contemplation is an adventure in the wilderness, letting God call me by name and take me to a deeper place of peace that the world cannot give.” St. Anthony Messenger£16.99 -
Love Is: A6 greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthCreated: 1999 Words: Love is always patient and kind. Love is not boastful or conceited. It is never rude, and never seeks its own advantage. It does not take offence or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice in wrong doing but finds its joy in the truth. It always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. These remain: faith, hope and love, and the greatest is love. Background: Based on 1 Corinthians 13 (v. 4-13). A good exercise is to replace the word 'love' with your own name to see if you match up - not an easy task but one worthy of aspiring to! Printing and Sizing: This item is 105mmX148mm and is printed on 300gsm gloss card stock. Each card is blank inside, has its title and copyright details on the back and is individually wrapped in cellophane with an envelope.£2.25 -
The Holiday Creative Retreat Activity Book
CreativityThis book has been designed to help you make the most of your holiday whether you have a long weekend or two weeks away. It offers a combination of prayers and activities. Some to challenge and some to help you relax and clear your mind and always to encourage you to hear the 'still, small voice'.£3.99 -
Sale
Cargo CD
Creativity, Culture & MissionOriginal price was: £12.00.£5.00Current price is: £5.00.2007 Music & Narration based on the abolition of the Slave trade and to raise awareness of contemporary Human Trafficking. Narration by Sir Tom Courtenay. Vocals by Coco Mbassi, Sadie Chamberlain & Paul Field -
Magnificat: A6 greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthWords: My soul magnifies the Lord My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour Background: Artist Mary Fleeson comments that this design is based on the words attributed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, her praises to God for His blessing and wonder at the great responsibility He has given to her. The figure in ‘Magnificat’ was designed to be deliberately androgenous so that anyone could confidently repeat Mary’s words. The woven strands rising like incense smoke from the vibrantly coloured figure are prayers coming from all parts of the body to symbolise that prayer is an energetic, body, mind and spirit activity. The plant drawn behind the wording grows upwards to represent the fruitfulness of a life steeped in prayer and wholly given to God’s purpose.' Printing and Sizing: This item is 105mmX148mm and is printed on 300gsm gloss card stock. Each card is blank inside, has its title and copyright details on the back and is individually wrapped in cellophane with an envelope.£2.25 -
Remember Me: A6 greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthBackground: Artist Mary Fleeson tells us that... " ‘Remember’ is a celebration of Christ’s words to His disciples, 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, NIV The image includes the empty tomb and the angel standing outside with Jesus and Mary in the garden, the road to Emmaus, a bright star – to remind us of His birth and the light He brought to a fallen world and Jesus carrying the cross as a symbol of carrying the sin of the world. The rich knotwork pattern behind is the backdrop to the royal story of The King of the Universe. The large knot reminds us of our life journey and how God wants us to be immersed, surrounded and sharing in His journey." This item is 105 x 148mm and is printed on 300gsm card stock. Each card is blank inside, has its title and copyright details on the back and is individually wrapped in cellophane with an envelope.£2.25 -
May the Peace: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthAn 11.5cm square greetings card. Original artwork by Francesca Ross with the Blessing from Morning Prayer (May the Peace of the Lord Christ go with you) from Celtic Daily Prayer.£2.00 -
Sister Wendy’s Bible Treasury: Stories and wisdom through the eyes of great painters
Creativity, The Inner JourneyFrom the majesty of Genesis to the mystery of Revelation, the Bible contains some of the world's most powerful stories and sublime wisdom. It is also the inspiration for some the greatest pictures ever painted. Adan and Eve expelled from Paradise, Jacob wrestling with the angel, God appearing to Moses in the burning bush, Samson betrayed by Delilah, David slaying Goliath, the beauty of Bathsheba, the wisdom of Solomon: these are among the dramatic episodes and memorable characters from the Old Testament, portrayed here by artists such as Masaccio, Raphael, Rubens, Degas and Rembrandt Then, in the New Testament, the figure of Jesus takes centre stage, with his compelling parables and miracles depicted by artists such as Poussin, Delacroix and van Gogh, and with major events in his ministry – from the nativity to the resurrection – painted by Botticelli, Piero, Duccio, Leonardo, Giotto, Titian and Craigie Aitchison. Commenting on these and many other fine works, Sister Wendy takes you on a journey into the heart of the Bible and of biblical art, making this a book you will want to turn to again and again.£9.99 -
Poverty – Simplicity – Joy: Stories of St Francis and his Companions for Everyone
Saints & Mystics, Spiritual ExercisesOccasionally in the Church some spirit is raised up who proves to have a universal significance that endures through the ages. Such a one was Francis of Assisi, whose life continues to inspire countless thousands of Christians, and even people of other faiths and none. When the present pope chose the name Francis, the Church thrilled with a sense of something new, radical, focused on Jesus and the poor. The name Francis alone symbolizes a way of life that challenges and offers hope. It returns us to the basic message of Christianity, the love that is ever ancient, ever new, and demands a response on our part. Francis was born in 1182. It was the era of the crusades, which heralded enormous changes in the Christian West. During his lifetime Francis himself was to go to the East, not as a fighting Crusader, but as one who wanted to bring peace through dialogue and understanding. It was also a new era of lay holiness. There was a reaction to the wealth of the Church and its distance from the ordinary person. People flocked to the growing cities, but for most it was a life of misery and squalor. They were uprooted from the land they had lived on for years, and there was little provision in urban areas for their spiritual welfare or material well-being.£5.95 -
Wingshadow: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthA square greetings card with envelope in a cellophane bag. The card has a print of original artwork by Francesca Ross and uses wording from our Community's Evening Prayer.£2.00 -
Sold out
Aidan, Bede, Cuthbert: Three Inspirational Saints
Celtic Sites & Saints, Celtic Studies & SpiritualityIn this rousing book, David Adam celebrates the lives and interweaving stories of Aidan, Bede and Cuthbert. Recalling, in a personal introduction, his ordination to the pastoral ministry in Durham Cathedral (the burial place of Bede and Cuthbert) and his thirteen years as Vicar of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne (where Aidan lived), the author communicates clearly his appreciation of these three great saints. They have much to teach us, he believes, about vision – about expanding our spiritual awareness and deepening our love for God.£9.99 -
The Creative Pilgrimage Activity Book
CreativityThis little book has been created to inspire the would-be pilgrim, as a companion for the travelling pilgrim and as an introduction to making a pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Included are prayers and activities to help you focus on your journey whether your pilgrimage is part of your inward journey or a physical journey to a sacred place.£3.99 -
Your Breath: A6 greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthWords: Your breath I hear as the wind, whispering worship Your peace I seek as I travel Your face I see as the sun, smiling solace Your peace I seek as I travel Your hand I feel as the water, cradling comfort Your peace I seek as I travel Background: Artist Mary Fleeson tells us that ..." 'Your Breath' is about the feeling I get when I think about leaving our Island home to travel inland and how much the everyday experience of being surrounded by its infinite changes - and constancy - relates to my experience of God." Printing and Sizing: This item is 105mmX148mm and is printed on 300gsm gloss card stock. Each card is blank inside, has its title and copyright details on the back and is individually wrapped in cellophane with an envelope.£2.25 -
The Christmas Creative Retreat Activity Book
Advent & Christmas, Creativity, Resources for the Christian YearThis book has been designed to be used from Christmas Day to Epiphany. It has been created to help you find moments of meaning amidst the mince pies and re-runs of old sit-coms. Be inspired by the stories of Saints and find peace with the activities. The Christmas Creative Retreat Activity Book offers a combination of meditations, prayers and activities. Some to challenge and some to help you relax and clear your mind and always to encourage you to hear the 'still, small voice'.£3.99 -
Multicoloured Life
CreativityA pocket collection of designs to colour in. Used Multicoloured Life for relaxation, prayer or meditation, on holiday or retreat.£3.49 -
Lux Aeterna: A6 greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthWords: None Background: This is based on an album called Lux Aeterna by David Fitzgerald. Mary drew together elements from David’s inspirations with themes from some of the tracks, such as ‘Christchild’, ‘Golgotha’ and ‘Resurrection’. The Trinity is expressed in the embracing figure of God the Father behind the cross, the dove of the Spirit and the representations of Jesus as a babe in the womb and ascending to His Father.£2.50Printing and Sizing:
This item is 105mm x 148mm and is printed on 300gsm gloss card stock. Each card is blank inside, has its title and copyright details on the back and is individually wrapped in cellophane with an envelope.
-
Times and seasons: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthGreetings card supplied with envelope featuring original artwork by Francesca Ross. Blank inside.£2.25 -
Sold out
One Day Creative Retreat Activity Book
Creativity, Spiritual Exercises, The Inner JourneyThis book has been designed to guide you through a day long creative retreat or quiet day whether it be at home or away. It offers a combination of prayers and activities, some to challenge and some to help you relax and clear your mind and always to encourage you to hear the 'still, small voice.'£3.99 -
Small boat, wild sea: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthGreetings card supplied with envelope featuring original artwork by Francesca Ross. Blank inside.£2.25 -
Hermits of the Inner Farne
Celtic Daily Prayer & Liturgy, Celtic Sites & Saints, Celtic Studies, Celtic Studies & Spirituality, Northumbria Community Resources & TeachingThis booklet has been compiled by Andy Raine, a Companion with the Northumbria Community, as a way of retelling the story of the hermits who lived and prayed on the little island of Inner Farne, just off the north Northumberland coast. It begins with a reprinting of Kathleen Parbury’s manuscript of The Hermits of the House of Farne, which she self-published in 1983, and which is contained here with the permission and blessing of her surviving relatives. It also includes relevant liturgical material taken from Celtic Daily Prayer, and other articles about the hermits.£6.00 -
As the Touch: A6 greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthWords: Embrace me Lord As the loving parent to a new born babe; As the gentle wave on a windswept shore; As the summer breeze lifts the soaring bird; As the fall of rain on the parched garden soil; As the pure note of song caresses an ear; As the touch on the face from a lover; As the clear starlight falling on a deep, still lake; As the warming sunlight on a butterfly wing; As the brushstroke on a painters canvas; As the soft hug of a much loved toy; As the familiar words of a memorised poem Embrace me O Lord Background: An encouragement to invite God to be intimate with every aspect of our life.£2.25 -
Blessings: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthGreetings card supplied with envelope featuring original artwork by Francesca Ross. Blank inside.£2.25 -
Advent and Christmas Wisdom from St Francis of Assisi
Advent & Christmas, Resources for the Christian YearThe much loved Saint Francis of Assisi discarded the trappings of wealth and found Christ in the simple life. Through daily meditations, Scripture readings, and action-based spiritual exercises written for the Advent and Christmas season, we are each invited to examine our spiritual life, to listen to the wisdom of Saint Francis and to follow in the footsteps of Christ. St Francis of Assisi calls us to embrace a life of radical Christian discipleship. For Francis, to live the life of a disciple of Christ meant that one had to embrace the poverty and humility of Christ as made manifest in Christ's own birth. This Advent and Christmas, let Saint Francis guide you in finding the great expression of God's overflowing love for each one of us through reflection and prayer.£11.99 -
The Lent Creative Retreat Activity Book
Creativity, Lent & EasterThe Lent Creative Retreat Activity book is the newest of a series of Retreat books written and illustrated by Mary & Mark Fleeson with readings, prayers and activities split into sections to help you Take time out with God. This book gives an opportunity to discover some of the things that the approach to Easter can teach us. Some of the meditations, prayers and activities are intended to challenge and some to help you relax and clear your mind. All encourage you to hear the ‘still, small voice’. It is recommended that the activities are spread over the weeks of Lent and cover 'Sharing Together', 'Prophecy Fulfilled', 'Forgiveness', 'Behold' and 'Father into Your hands'£3.99 -
Watchman: A6 greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthWords: My soul waits for the Lord, More than those who watch for the morning, More than those who watch for the morning. Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord hear my voice. With my whole heart I want to praise you, O Lord hear my voice. If You Lord should mark iniquities Who could stand? Who could stand? I will wait for the Lord, my soul waits And in His word do I hope. Background: Based on Psalm 130 these words were written by Larry & Pearl Brick for a song called ‘I Will Wait’ on their 1989 album ‘See-through Servant’. Northumbria Community use the song in their Evening Prayer liturgy. Printing and Sizing: This item is 105mmX148mm and is printed on 300gsm gloss card stock. Each card is blank inside, has its title and copyright details on the back and is individually wrapped in cellophane with an envelope.£2.25 -
Wings and Waves Celtic Cross: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthSquare greetings card with Celtic knot work design by Francesca Ross. Blank inside.£2.00 -
Faith, hope and love: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthA square greetings card with envelope in a cellophane bag. The card has a print of original artwork by Francesca Ross.£2.00 -
The Advent Creative Retreat Activity Book
Advent & Christmas, Creativity, Resources for the Christian YearThe Advent Creative Retreat Activity Book is one of a series of Retreat books written and illustrated by Mary & Mark Fleeson. It's an A6 format, 20 page book with readings, prayers and activities split into sections to help you to take time out with God. This book gives an opportunity to discover some of the things that the approach to Christmas can teach us. It includes excerpts from Henry Van Dyke’s short story ‘The Other Wise Man’, come and join him as he seeks the King! The Advent Creative Retreat Activity Book offers a combination of meditations, prayers and activities. Some to challenge and some to help you relax and clear your mind and always to encourage you to hear the ‘still, small voice’.£3.99 -
Labyrinth: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthGreetings card supplied with envelope featuring original artwork by Francesca Ross. Blank inside.£2.00 -
Trinity: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthA square greetings card with envelope in a cellophane bag. The card has a print of original artwork by Francesca Ross.£2.00 -
Multicoloured Seasons
Advent & Christmas, Creativity, Lent & Easter, Resources for the Christian YearA collection of sixteen images to colour based around the Church Year, two images for each season starting at Advent, then Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost and Harvest with mediations on the reverse of each image.£4.49 -
Wind, Water, Flame – the Holy Spirit: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthSquare Greetings card with image of original artwork by Francesca Ross.£2.00 -
The Love Is Activity Book
CreativityThis little book contains meditations, prayers and activities about Love, inspired by the verses in the book of Corinthians. In Paul's first letter to the Christians of Corinth in Greece, he spends a long time instructing, advising, challenging and encouraging the young church there. He hasn't visited for a few years and he knows of the immorality in the wealthy pagan city and the divisions that have emerged within the church. Although he aims not to diminish the message of the cross with 'wisdom and eloquence', he gave us, in chapter thirteen, some of the most powerful and well-known verses of the New Testament.£3.99 -
Heart: A6 greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthWords: Do not be afraid Do not let your heart be troubled Background: A variation on John 14:27, incorporating the rainbow, symbol of God's covenant with man and the dove as the Holy Spirit and the image of peace. Printing and Sizing: This item is 105mm x 148mm and is printed on 300gsm gloss card stock. Each card is blank inside, has its title and copyright details on the back and is individually wrapped in cellophane with an envelope.£2.25 -
Deep Peace: Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthGreetings card supplied with envelope featuring original artwork by Francesca Ross. Blank inside. Illustrated text of the traditional blessing 'Deep peace of the running wave to you...'£2.00 -
Life Journey: A6 Greetings card
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthWords: Life journey winding, Patterns undulating, overlapping Weaving community Touch as you pass, smile, hold the moment As God holds you in His heart Background: Artist Mary Fleeson comments...'The weaving of lives in community are expressed in 'Life Journey', whether that is a religious community or not. It is about living each moment, making a positive difference in the lives of others and getting to know God better as we see Him in those we meet.' Printing and Sizing: This item is 105mm x 148mm and is printed on 300gsm gloss card stock. Each card is blank inside, has its title and copyright details on the back and is individually wrapped in cellophane with an envelope.£2.25 -
Eyes of the Heart; photography as Christian contemplative practice
Creativity, Spiritual ExercisesEyes of the Heart by Christine Valters Paintner explores photography as a spiritual practice from a Christian perspective. Christine builds on the process of contemplative creativity in her book The Artist’s Rule (also available from the community bookshop) by adapting the monastic practice of lectio divina (sacred reading) into a form of visio divina (sacred seeing). A spiritual director and Benedictine oblate, she guides readers through a new way of spiritual observation – through the lens of a camera – and in receiving images, not simply taking them. She writes that, ‘My hope is that, in exploring the language of photography, you [develop] new portals into the your own experience and awareness of God. Shadow and light, framing, colour, reflections, and mirrors all offer us metaphors for ways of understanding how we might move towards seeing ourselves and God with the eyes of the heart.’ She invites us to use our cameras to help us to release our expectations of what we think we ought to see and learn to discover what is actually there. And then helps us to bring this kind of interaction into our everyday lives.£12.99