contemplativevoyage

[contemplativevoyage]

Heard about this crazy little stone chapel built in to the side of a cliff in Wales called St Govan's Chapel. There were so many things about it that caught my eye, I had to do some research. First of all, there's the name: Govan. Yes, I may share names with this guy! Legends put him in the 6th century & identify him as either a saint from Ireland searching for the family of his mentor, Sir Gawain from the Round Table living out his post-knighthood days, or a thief.

I love the diversity of these possibilities. Yeah, there's this Saint living in a cave in those limestone cliffs over there and he's either an Irish holy man, a knight from King Arthur's court, or a reformed outlaw, we aren't really sure which one. But we're going to remember this hermit, celebrate him, and in 700 years we're going to build a stone chapel over his cave. Oh, and the stairway from the top of the cliff down to the chapel will mystically have a different amount of steps whether you ascend or descend.

This is what I love about these Celtic Christian legends. There are so many wonderful little oddities, so many bones to build our own stories onto. Today, we'd probably try to take the various legends about St Govan and try to merge the stories into one. But I prefer them contradicting each other. He was either a sinner or a saint, a warrior who had turned to peaceful introspection or a man who found the cave by hiding from pirates. It really doesn't matter -- Gavin, Gawain, or Govan -- whatever his name, whatever his story, he found shelter in a place, he met God in that place, and we can go to that same place (or perhaps our own) to find our own shelter and to have our own experience with the Divine.

[contemplativevoyage]

May the Holy Trinity encircle you through the night.

May your heavenly Father enfold you in his arms,

May Christ Jesus save you from all harms,

May the Holy Spirit guide you through the night,

That you may wake up fresh in the morning light.

Amen.

[contemplativevoyage]

- a Breton fisherman’s prayer

[contemplativevoyage]

A chant from Psalm 91 for a time like now.

[contemplativevoyage]

[contemplativevoyage]

from Celtic Daily Prayer: Book Two: Further Up and Further In

[contemplativevoyage]

The purpose of incarnation

The purpose of the incarnation is to establish full communion between God and humanity so that in Christ humanity may find adoption and immortality, often called ‘deification’ by the Fathers: not by emptying human nature but by fulfilling it in the divine life, since only in God is human nature truly itself.

- Olivier Clement, “The roots of Christian Mysticism”

[contemplativevoyage]

Dec. 19: Almighty God #bless is, and be our companion on our journey to wisdom and grace. @adventword #adventword #advent #episcopal #labyrinth #whidbeyisland https://www.instagram.com/p/B6SL-U_hRAd/?igshid=1azl81vag08c9

[contemplativevoyage]

[contemplativevoyage]

i adore Advent.

this morning i awoke before my wife, just as the sun was rising, because i felt a pull to my altar. i slipped from the nest of blankets and warm skin for the dim hallway with its chilly floorboards. i lit the first candle on my wreath, and thanked God for this season pregnant with hope, with joy, with liberation. May this season be a womb that nourishes us all for the work God shares with us: the delivery of a Kin(g)dom, a new Way of living that turns everything we know on its head.

Do any of you who observe Advent have feelings about this time, or plans for it?

[contemplativevoyage]

Expressions of faith

Lord, You have always given bread for the coming day; and though I am poor, today I believe. Lord, You have always given strength for the coming day; and though I am weak, today I believe. Lord, You have always given peace for the coming day; and though of anxious heart, today I believe. Lord, You have always kept me safe in trials; and now, tried as I am, today I believe. Lord, You have always marked the road for the coming day; and though it may be hidden, today I believe. Lord, You have always lightened this darkness of mine; and though the night is here, today I believe. Lord, You have always spoken when time was ripe; and though you be silent now, today I believe.

–Northumbria Community

[contemplativevoyage]

from our Celtic Vespers service on St Patrick's Day at Bethany Covenant. What a lovely evening it was. (Words originally from the Iona Community.)

[contemplativevoyage]

from October 21 Taizé service at Bethany:

"Christ Jesus, although we have not seen you, we love you.

And still without seeing you, we place our trust in you.

As we go from this place bless us; and may we find rest in your peace.

Amen."

[contemplativevoyage]

- a Breton fisherman’s prayer

[contemplativevoyage]

- Saint Francis of Assisi

[contemplativevoyage]