Cave Refectory Road
Monastic Rhythms for Contemporary Living
1st Edition
Published on 30. September 2010
128 pages
978-1-84825-350-6 (ISBN)
Description
One way in which Fresh Expressions of church are springing into life is through 'new monastic' or 'intentional' communities, groups of individuals and families living in the same geographic area or connected virtually who share a simple rule of life. Cave ~ Refectory ~ Road explores how traditional monastic life is helping to shape a new flowering of Christian community today. It traces the roots of 'new monasticism' and draws on the classic elements of monastic life to suggest how this ancient wisdom, learning and spiritual practice might be reinterpreted for new settings.
A handbook for all who are exploring 'intentional living', its rich and inspiring teaching is clustered around these themes: The cave: the place of stillness, prayer and withdrawal that can inspire a new engagement with the mystery of God,the refectory: how monastic practices of hospitality can create communities that make a difference in the world and the road: how the example of the friars can lead to creative and loving engagement with public life.
A handbook for all who are exploring 'intentional living', its rich and inspiring teaching is clustered around these themes: The cave: the place of stillness, prayer and withdrawal that can inspire a new engagement with the mystery of God,the refectory: how monastic practices of hospitality can create communities that make a difference in the world and the road: how the example of the friars can lead to creative and loving engagement with public life.
Reviews / Votes
'This is a very gentle, ruminative approach to the subject - not so much a guide book or rule book, but a poetry book.' 'Ian Adams' excellent book takes three elements of the historic monastic tradition and recasts them for the benefit both of individuals seeking a deeper walk with God and for the many emerging new monastic communities in the UK and beyond ... This is an easy book to read, and at 99 pages not a long one ... Read chapter by chapter it would provide excellent material for a series of Third Order small group meetings.' -- David Walker, Bishop of Dudley "Adams marries expertise with theology with ease...It would easily suit those who know nothing of the subject, even of the Christian faith...Adams's honest insights and lyrical sensitivity may well manage to encourage the world-weary, calm down frantic clerics and even engage those who presume that spirituality signifies scented candles and sounds of whale cries." -- Jennie Hogan * Church Times *All prices
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Book
09/2010
Canterbury Press Norwich
€25.30
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
IAN ADAMS is an Anglican priest, an Associate Minister with Fresh Expressions, a missioner with the Church Mission Society and founder of mayBe, a new monastic community in Oxford. A popular Greenbelt speaker, he is the creator of Morning Bell, a daily call to prayer sent by e-mail, text and twitter. He lives in South Devon.
Content
- Intro
- contents
- 1 reshaping the world - bringing monastic practice, wisdom and spirituality into everyday life
- disillusionment and hope
- peering over the wall
- seeing clearly
- live a story of community
- Note
- 2 ancient paths, emerging patterns - exploring monastic practices of cave, refectory and road
- jazz monastics: tradition and improvisation
- cave. refectory. road.
- an authentic life
- Note
- 3 to the cave - monastic patterns of withdrawal and prayer opening up space for encounter beyond our experience
- into the cave
- mouth to the dust
- finding caves, creating encounter spaces
- the cave: a practice
- Notes
- 4 in the refectory - monastic practices of hospitality and commitment to locality, creating communities making an earthy difference for good
- being there
- communities of hospitality
- communities of reconciliation
- communities of energy
- the refectory: a practice
- Notes
- 5 on the road - the experience of friars inspiring creative engagement in the wider world
- on the road
- travel light into exile
- the travelling band
- the road as teacher
- storytelling in the open
- the road: a practice
- 6 rhythm of life - the traditional monastic rule of life reinterpreted, bringing freedom and creativity through a new understanding of time
- meister eckhart's circle
- a different measure
- morning bell: a daily rhythm of life
- making vows: creating a rhythm of life
- rhythm of life: a practice
- Notes
- 7 piritual formation - monastic learning practices and becoming more (beauti)fully human in the way of Jesus
- go to checkout
- into stillness
- a radical centre
- walk with me
- letting the text work: Lectio Divina
- spiritual formation: a practice
- Note
- 8 he way of simplicity - learning from the vow of poverty
- towards simplicity
- towards justice
- simplicity in design
- care for the earth
- simplicity: a practice
- Notes
- 9 the way of devotion - learning from the vow of chastity
- a passionate life
- from chastity to devotion
- devotion in all of life
- gazing, being gazed upon
- devotion: a practice
- Note
- 10 The way of humility - learning from the vow of obedience
- humility in the landscape
- what to make of obedience?
- ubuntu and the Holy Trinity
- the gritty business of community life
- humility: a practice
- Note
- 11 the way of rootedness - learning from the vow of stability
- before you die
- places open up slowly
- discovering wisdom, finding home
- the place of resurrection
- finding a thin place
- rootedness: a practice
- Note
- 12 crossing boundaries - monastic patterns of life and reaching out beyond what we know
- discovering charism
- flow like water
- the real thing?
- crossing boundaries: a practice
- Notes
- references and further reading
- websites
