Quiet Days

Quiet Days started out occupying an entire day but have blossomed to encompass part or half days to full weekends and lately Zoom sessions. They are designed to facilitate conscious time with the God who is always present.

Generally they will offer a mixture of activities designed to allow participants to engage with as little or as much as they please. My part is to facilitate the conversation with God. To offer thoughts that might spark ideas for growth and provide space to ponder where God is in the present moment. The majority of time will be given over to quiet where everyone is encouraged to reflect personally. It’s your time to be with God.

I consider it really important that if someone has committed to time away, that they should be free to do what is best for them. Thus there are no expectations whatever. While I am based in Banbury, Oxfordshire I am fairly flexible about where I lead a Quiet Day.

What Do Quiet Days Look Like?

You will encounter a safe, non threatening space, where people can engage with offered activities or not.

Activities might include a spoken meditation, focusing on scripture, using pictures or music, a walk or other practice.

You can speak or be silent. You can participate as much as you like.

There will generally be opportunity to feedback your reflections to others, should it be appropriate.

There are no right answers.

Participants comments:

‘God always speaks to me here’

‘Thank you. Your words of explanation (and the lack of pressure to ‘conform’) were helpful ‘

This was a really beautiful time…I could have sat here drinking it all in for days’

A helpful and valuable experience – stimulating and precious

Very enjoyable time out with God to focus, relax and reflect

You are such a blessing to me (and many others) and a true ‘instrument’; in the LORD’s hand! He uses you to bring HIS blessings … special blessings … to those of us privileged to attend your Quiet Days. I experience it each time and today was no exception!

Quiet Weekends

Quiet weekends follow the same pattern as Quiet Days. The emphasis is the same but with more time given to settle into the process and what God is doing.

Generally these will run from Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon with sessions timetabled throughout the weekend.

I offer various different stimuli to precipitate thought and prayer. Typically there might be sessions on Friday evening, Saturday morning and
evening – leaving Saturday afternoon free – and then concluding sessions on the Sunday.

All are optional and the format is flexible.

Participants comments:

‘God always speaks to me here’

‘These weekends create an incredibly valuable opportunity to extract yourself from day-to-day life and observe it from a third person’s perspective. For me, this has meant that God takes full advantage of the space that is created and draws close to develop my relationship with him’ – Tim

Zoom Sessions

Born during the Covid pandemic this is provision for taking time out in your own home.

Following the same pattern as Quiet Days, I aim to provide ideas and suggestions to facilitate prayerful thought in chunks of time.

Communication is over Zoom with most participants turning off their video during the intervals provided to reflect on issues raised or questions posed.

This has proved particularly helpful for those who cannot attend a full day. For those who have small children and on occasion those who want to connect from outside the UK.

Participants comments:

I was slightly apprehensive about being stuck behind my laptop all day and so it was a great relief that this was not the case. I really found it helpful that we could turn our video off and reflect in our own surroundings without getting distracted about what others were doing and what they could see – HV

For us the virtual version meant we could really easily participate whilst managing looking after our daughter too. We know that’s not relevant for lots of people but was great for us! Maybe other parents/people with commitments for part of a day would be encouraged to know that it’s possible to do some of the day….The format really lent itself to being on Zoom as most of the time is our own anyway. It was easy to turn the video off and the screen wasn’t a distraction at these times – GO

Thank you so much for today. I had not realised how much I needed it… Stuff that has been building
up has been defused, lanced etc. I thought it worked very well on Zoom, easy to engage and to be still – RP

… was another beautiful day. You facilitated us to meet with God in deep and
meaningful ways and I am very grateful to you – JT