Dom John Main

Dom John Main - the founder of the modern Christian Meditation movement. John Main rediscovered the authentic practice of mantra-based christian meditation by studying the ancient works of John Cassian.

WCCM website

Visit - the World Community for Christian Meditation website.

‘Maranatha’ is an Aramaic word from the time of Jesus, meaning 'Come Lord'. It can be found in Revelation 22.20 (the penultimate verse in the New Testament) and has been used as a prayer word since earliest days of Christianity. When meditating, use it simply as a focus for your attention, without thinking about the meaning of it.

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Bere Island: The birth place of Laurence Freeman's mother and a place to which he has returned from time to time for periods of prayer and solitude. In his book “Jesus, the Teacher Within”, Laurence uses his rediscovery of the island as an allegory of the search for personal identity and the gradual separation of reality and illusion we all need to make in order to grow spiritually.

Scenes from Guildford: The historic town of Guildford is located between the rolling North Downs and the winding River Wey. It has an interesting past that hails back to Saxon times.

Hove: scenes from the sea front.

Laurence Freeman: a Benedictine monk and priest of the Congregation of Monte Oliveto, and director of WCCM. He is also the founder and director of the John Main Center for Meditation and Inter-religious Dialogue at Georgetown University, and author of many books and articles for the Tablet particularly, and a member of the Board of Medio Media.

Central London, viewed from Greenwich Observatory. Can there be space for quiet contemplation in a city like this? Well yes actually! Saint Marks Church in Islington, hosts the London Christian Meditation Centre. Cockfosters Retreat Centre also offers a range of meditation retreats throughout the year, and further meditation events take place at St Peter’s Centre for Meditation and Peace, at Vauxhall, and at Westminster Cathedral

Views, from Loweswater Village Hall. Usually, once a year in the summer, the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group meet here. The hall provides one of the most panoramic views in the Lake District looking up the valley that holds Crummock Water and Buttermere, to Great Gable, which is wreathed in cloud on this occasion.

The Newsletter is released quarterly and is the main source of information for many many members of the Community. In it you will find sections covering news of the Community's leaders, forthcoming retreats and events and a message from Father Laurence Freeman. Contact Saint Mark's Church if you want to receive it. There are details at the foot of this webpage.

North Staffordshire includes the City of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme and their surrounding areas. There are currently three groups in the area: May Bank (Newcastle), Longton (Stoke) and Stone.

Benedictines: John Main, the founder of the World Community for Christian Meditation, and Laurence Freeman, the Community's current leader; a sketch of the Christian Meditation Retreat Centre at Cockfosters and one of the corridors at the monastery of Monte Oliveto.

The Open Gate: a retreat house run by the Community of Aidan and Hilda on Lindisfarne, Northumberland. Courses and retreats on many aspects of christian spirituality are provided each year.

Oxford: Britain's oldest university town.

Portsmouth Catholic Cathedral was built in 1882 and is situated close to the City centre and the home of the Royal Navy.

Waterfall, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, near Ambleside. Meetings organised by the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group often take place here. The mountains of the Lake District make an inspiring backdrop to the grounds of the hall and remind us that although the path of meditation can sometimes appear rather steep and craggy, there is a way to the summit.

Autumn Colours, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, near Ambleside. Meetings organised by the Cumbrian Christian Meditation group often take place here. The mountains of the Lake District make an inspiring backdrop to the grounds of the hall and remind us that although the path of meditation can sometimes appear rather steep and craggy, there is a way to the summit.

Shrewsbury: typical half timbered houses in the town and plate glass windows in the cathedral

Lindisfarne Slakes, in the fading light of a late February afternoon. The tranquility of the sea and sky on this day, might remind us of our quest for tranquility of mind and spirit during meditation.

Staffordshire Moorlands at the southwestern end of the Pennines, provides an opportunity for solitude. The Staffordshire Peak District is distinctly quieter than its more famous Derbyshire neighbour!

Scenes from Surrey famous for its gardens and picturesque villages, and also an area where WCCM UK is very active, with a good number of groups and local events

Painted Ceiling, in one of the corridors of the Vatican Museum, leading to the Sistine Chapel.

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WCCM Doves John Main, Laurence Freeman, Cockfosters, Monte Oliveto Scenes from Bere Island

Retreats and Events in the South West - 2010

 

Martock - East Somerset

Mary Wilkinson is running a series of meditation events entitled “Somerset Roots”. These will take place on one Friday evening each month. Some whole day events are also be planned.

You are welcome to join us.

To attend, telephone Mary on 01935 82 2222


Thursday 17th June 2010

Extraordinary Women

Time: 9.45am - 3.30pm

Location: 26 Watton Park, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5NJ

Theme: A Quiet Day - Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and find some rest.  (Mark 6:31)

We have all been inspired by women at some time –maybe our mother, partner, sister, teacher.  Perhaps our lives were changed by words written or spoken by, or by the example of, an extraordinary woman.  Today we will look at just a handful of women who have made a difference and see what they can teach us about God and spirituality, love and faith in action.
There will be plenty of time for quiet reflection, reading and prayer - as well as materials for those wanting to use their creative skills.

Leaders: Veronica Ziegler and Jo O'Farrell

About the leaders:  Veronica Ziegler has worked locally with Christian groups of all ages.  She is a member of the Quiet Gardens Trust and has a particular interest in Africa where she lived for many years.  Jo O'Farrell facilitates Celtic Christian spirituality groups/events and hosts the weekly Bridport Christian Meditation Group.  They both work at Good Books, the Christian bookshop in Bridport, and are happy to lead quiet days, workshops and retreats wherever they are needed.

Domestics: Coffee, a simple lunch and tea will be provided. 

Cost: Donations can be made on the day towards the costs of these and the expenses of the leaders.

Contact: Jo O'Farrell, 26 Watton Park, Bridport DT6 5NJ.  Tel: 01308 427851, e-mail: jo@jovian.co.uk

You can download a flyer and booking form here

Friday 18 June 6pm to Sunday 20 June

Cloud of Unknowing

Theme: The focus of the weekend will be ‘The Cloud of Unknowing’ - an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in the latter half of the 14th century which has reputedly inspired generations of mystical searchers, from John Scotus Erigena, St John of the Cross and Teilhard de Chardin

Location: The Ammerdown Centre, Radstock, Bath BA3 5SW - You can see a Google Map showing the location of the centre here.

Leader: Kim Nataraja

Time: Starting 6pm on Friday, finishing with lunch on Sunday

Cost: Residential: £185, Non-residential: £123

Contact: The Ammerdown Centre, Radstock, Bath BA3 5SW;
Tel: 01761 433709
Email: centre@ammerdown.org www.ammerdown.org

You can download further details and a booking form here.

For further information about the Ammerdown Centre itself, click here.


WCCM Birds

Updated: 09-06-2010