Ridley Hall, Cambridge

The Simeon Centre for Prayer
and the Spiritual Life

Latest News

Simeon Centre Blog is launched

A new blog from Centre Director Adrian Chatfield explores aspects of the Christian life. To visit, go to www.simeoncentre.blogspot.com

 

Hovering Over the Waters:
The Holy Spirit for Everyone

Adrian Chatfield will be guest speaker at a day event in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham on Saturday 1st October. Part of their "Journeying in the Life of the Trinity" series, it will be an opportunity to discover and experience living traditions of prayer. A range of workshops will be available exploring the prayer and the Holy Spirit in different Christian traditions: Charismatic, Orthodox, Evangelical, Ignation & Benedictine.

For more information download the flyer. Both individuals and church groups can book; please contact Catriona Gundlach on
01636 817232 or email catriona@southwell.anglican.org by 9th September.

The secret to our difficult attitude to prayer

"We need to get prayer back at the centre of our lives... and that means seeing it as the most natural thing in the world", Adrian Chatfield, the Simeon Centre's Director, told Steve Morris of the Church of England Newspaper in a recent interview.

"Praying together in community is what we are here for... we have tended to think that praying in private on our own is the primary task, but perhaps we have got things round the wrong way..."

The full interview can be read and downloaded here. (pdf)

Simeon Newsletter

The Spring 2011 issue of the Simeon Centre electronic newsletter is now available (pdf). Included in this issue:

• "Realistic Praying"
• Window on the Simeon Centre
• Simeon Community Notes
• Living with Dying - book review

To receive the mailing direct send an email to Adrian Chatfield on ac588@cam.ac.uk

Archived newsletters:

• Spring 2011 (current issue)
• Autumn 2010
• Summer 2010
• December 2009
• April 2009
• November 2008
• April 2008
• January 2008

 

The Churching of Women

Our recent Simeon Centre intern, Katy Wehr, has had a fascinating article on the Orthodox ‘Churching of Women’ published online. It’s well worth a read!

GOOD FRIDAY, GOOD NEWS

It is strange how – in Western culture – we have become obsessed with wishing one another a happy Christmas, presumably as an expression of thanks to a God who chose freely to empty himself and become one of us! As the story doesn’t end there, I wonder whether we could fly in the face of tradition, and start wishing one another a Happy Good Friday as well. Yes, I know that we’ll get there three days later, and (perhaps in a more muted way) exchange Easter greetings. Christ’s redeeming work on the cross is the crux of the matter, however, and of all days, this Friday is the most ‘Good’. So the Simeon Centre and Simeon Community would like to wish you a blessed, holy and happy Good Friday and Easter Day. As you read the 17th century poem that follows, consider what Jesus Christ has done for you, and ‘feed on him in your hearts with thanksgiving’.

Robert Herrick: His Saviour’s Words, Going to the Cross

Have, have ye no regard, all ye
Who pass this way, to pity me
Who am a man of misery?

A man both bruis’d, and broke, and one
Who suffers not here for mine own
But for my friends’ transgression?

Ah! Sion’s Daughters, do not fear
The Cross, the Cords, the Nails, the Spear,
The Myrrh, the Gall, the Vinegar,

For Christ, your loving Saviour, hath
Drunk up the wine of God’s fierce wrath;
Only, there’s left a little froth,

Less for to taste, than for to shew
What bitter cups had been your due,
Had He not drank them up for you.

 

Adventuring in Prayer

In the latest issue of 'Quiet Spaces', the prayer and spirituality journal, Adrian Chatfield writes about the Simeon Centre for Prayer and the Spiritual Life - and its continuing journey as the original dream turns into a reality which excites and surprises as it takes shape. 'Quiet Spaces' can be ordered online on the Bible Reading Fellowship website.

'The Sprituality of Unity'

Adrian Chatfield spoke on 'The Spirituality of Unity' at the Fulcrum Conference in New Malden on Saturday 16th May 2009. The transcript and audio file of the talk are available on the Fulcrum website.