Weekend retreat on the topic of “The Gift of Uncertainty”
Leader: Brother Luke Fox, Mucknall Abbey, nr. Worcester, England.
Liebfrauenberg, a former pilgrimage site and monastery , is a retreat centre surrounded by woods on a hill with wonderful views near Woerth in northern Alsace. Every springtime in Lent members of the Anglican chaplaincies of Strasbourg, Heidelberg and Stuttgart meet here for a study and recreational weekend. As well as study and discussion of the given topic there is time to enjoy the company of friends and to make new ones, to worship together, walk in this beautiful area and enjoy rest and relaxation. All are warmly invited to come and join in. Children are always welcome.
This year our leader is Brother Luke Fox from Mucknell Abbey near Worcester in England, a contemplative Benedictine community for men and women which is part of the Church of England, and he has chosen to talk about uncertainty and thanksgiving.
The weekend starts with supper on the evening of Friday 31st March at 6.30pm and finishes at teatime on Sunday 2 April at about 3pm. It is possible to come for just part of the time if you cannot make it for a whole weekend. If there are four or more children coming there will be a programme especially for them. And on Saturday evening there is a long-standing tradition of visiting the local village for “tarte flambée”. Please note that this year the Eucharist on Sunday will be held early on the Sunday afternoon.
Our leader
Brother Luke writes: “My name is Luke Fox. I am 29 years old and was born and raised in Wales. I studied theology at the University of Wales, Lampeter from 2006-2009. Upon leaving university I spent some time working in a variety of roles for a residential management company before spending a brief period travelling around Europe. I entered Mucknell Abbey as an Alongsider (someone who lives alongside the community without formally becoming a member) in 2011 at the age of 23. After nine months as an “Alongsider” I then entered the novitiate, this lasted 3 years. I then moved on to become a junior professed member of the community. I am now approaching the end of my time as a junior professed member of the community and considering whether to take life vows of stability, obedience and conversion of life, in the community, or to leave and pursue a different path.
The Subject
The focus of the retreat will be on the experience of uncertainty in our lives and the gifts that can emerge from engaging, not fleeing, from that uncertainty. We will spend time reflecting prayerfully on scriptural stories that relate episodes in which characters encounter uncertain times and situations in their lives, and hopefully find correlations with our own lives and the contexts in which we find ourselves. By seeking to ponder the place of uncertainty in our lives we will seek to discover if it offers to us gifts of God’s grace for which we can be thankful.
Practicalities
Every effort is made to keep costs as low as possible. The cost is all inclusive with full board.
Adults 75 euros each day
Young people 13 -17 54 euros each day
Children 4 – 12 40 euros each day
Children under 4 no charge
If you find the price too high please speak to the local Strasbourg organisers, John and Diane Murray. Please use the booking form (see link below) and let the organisers know by 15 March. john.murray67@googlemail.com
Booking form Liebfrauenberg 2017 Email to: john.murray67@googlemail.com
For more information about Liebfrauenberg see http://www.eglise-autrement.com/
Mucknall Abbey also has its own website: http://www.mucknellabbey.org.uk/