Kew United Benefice will be starting a new initiative aimed at offering some space in our busy lives for quiet, meditative time with God. Beginning on Monday 17th April, there will be a weekly half hour meditation group meeting at St Philip & All Saints (The Barn Church) on Mondays at 7pm. Please arrive by 6.50pm to start meditating promptly at 7pm. All are welcome and no prior experience is needed.
Beni Woolmer from the Barn Church has spent time working and training in Christian meditation and writes:
“Meditation involves sitting quietly in silence and repeating one word, or a short phrase, called the mantra. The word that is recommended in Christian meditation is Maranatha, the oldest Christian prayer, it’s an Aramaic word, the language Jesus spoke, meaning “Come Lord” or “The Lord Comes”
This sounds simple, actually it’s incredibly difficult because our minds chatter away in mini seconds, thinking we must buy a birthday card for our niece, or remembering to put olive oil on our Sainsbury’s list or -did I switch the oven off?! The best way to learn to meditate is to meditate! Most of our training in prayer is limited to the mind, there are many different types of prayer but meditation is the prayer of the heart where we are not talking to God or thinking about God, or asking for what we need- we are simply being with God. “Be still, and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46)
This tradition of meditation goes back to the time of Christ (Matt.8) Jesus says about prayer- don’t go chattering on; go to your private room and close the door.
John Main, a Benedictine monk recovered this very ancient Christian way of prayer, of bringing the mind to rest in the heart, through the teaching of the desert fathers and mothers, especially John Cassian. 4th century AD.
The Vatican Council in the early 1960’s emphasized the need to develop “a contemplative orientation” in the spiritual lives of Christians today. Meditation is a universal, spiritual practice which brings us to silence, stillness and simplicity.
I do hop you will join me.”
