jonnybaker

lent on proost

i have neglected to blog about proost here for a while. we have had a bundle of new resources of late. lent has become a really strong season for creativity in worship and spirituality for those on the alternative/emerging end of things. we have gradually built up quite a collection. anyway here's the latest proost news which outlines some resources old and new…

Lent was once described as the "bright sadness". It's a season which embraces every human emotion and every spiritual experience. In this time we learn to hope in pain, to become at peace in turmoil.  At Lent we learn to find God in all things. We hope some of the resources available on Proost will help you in this journey.

This month we're launching a wonderful new book by Tim Watson. Old Lost and Broken Dreams is a beautifully moving journey through pain, disappointment and loss through poems, litanies, blessings and prayers. This is a wonderfully inspiring book to help you through Lent as Tim's inspiration is St. John of the Cross' idea of the Dark Night of the Soul - that somehow at our weakest point we learn new maturity in our understanding of God.  Tim writes

"And as we journey through life as people of faith we will face all kinds of challenges. Perhaps we will find ourselves feeling like isolated prophets. Perhaps sometimes we will feel like Thomas after the resurrection. Sometimes we will have more questions than answers. Sometimes we will have to wait doggedly for the voice of God or for the leading of the Holy Spirit."

I want to recommend this book to all of you. I found it deeply inspiring as I read the manuscript before publication and I've come back to the poems and prayers again and again since then.  I'll be looking to use a poem or prayer each day to help me through Lent. Do take a look.

As well as Tim's new book there are lots of resources in our Lent section of the website. A particularly popular resource is Si Smith's 40 and it's accompanying 40 Book by Si and Chris Goan. These are two inspiring interactions with the story of Jesus in the wilderness with moving words and beautiful illustrations.  Each Lent we find loads of people download this resource and love it, coming back to it each year.

Another great resource is Cave by Harry Baker. This is all about seeking God alone and echoes the yearnings and challenges we all find in solitude and isolation. Harry's poetry is incredibly popular and this one is a Proost favourite.

At Lent we often find people seek out Pocket Liturgies on the site to help their community or church travel through the season together. Making Communion from Grace is one of the most popular in this line of Liturgies. Making Communion is the second set of Liturgies from Grace but specifically explores Communion and is packed with creative, innovative approaches to the church's most ancient rite. It also has a long introduction which helpfully shares Grace's story and how they have negotiated a creative approach within the Church of England.

As well as these individual resources you may want to explore the other areas of the website. A Get it Allsubscription is a great way to do this, enabling you to get your hands on everything on the site for one whole year. Why not sign up today?

This is the first of two updates you'll be getting from us this Lent as we have more new resources to launch shortly. Watch this space.

Take care

The Proost Team

descent

i'm on a week off but taking time to sort out and decorate in the house... i thought i'd have time to catch up on some other things such as the blog but not so! but here's a snap on my phone whilst at heal's in london. my favourite thing in the whole shop was this stairwell! i didn't have my camera with me so had to resort to the phone...

reflected light

open day for pioneer training

we have an open day tomorrow for cms pioneer training - it's not too late to sign up...

on the way to work in the fog again

all are welcome

i was back at st beunos at the weekend for another dose of silence which was like drinking. i found it quite easy to settle back into it. it was a guided retreat which means you have a conversation with a guide once a day. i can't remember what we were talking about that led to it but my guide showed me a painting by sieger koder of the table with christ's hands breaking bread at the front and faces looking towards him. the people round the table are a motley crew - i think they are something like a jew, a prostitute, a beggar, a misfit/clown, a scholar, a rich woman, a migrant. it's a lovely picture of christ's table filled with outsiders. on the wall behind is an image of the prodigal son with the father and son's embrace while the older brother looks on aloof...