body mind and spirit

Fascinating weekend conference called Reaching out in body mind and spirit in Sheffield with other people engaged in the new spiritual cultures. Really enjoyed contributions from Ole Skjerbaek and John and Olive Drane and it was great to be at a conference where everyone's experience was heard and valued. looking forward to an online network following - names for which are being debated right now. The pic is of Gail at a stone circle on the Isle of Mull.

Handel 250

It's 250 years today since Handel passed on. There's lots of his brilliant work on Radio 3 this week.

resurrection day

...and everything changes. A day for dancing.

[the pic was taken in a dancing moment last month in south devon]

all is lost

It's Holy Saturday, the body of the Christ is in the tomb, and all is lost. Here's the painting I did for the StillPoint Stations of the Cross art event [still on at the Jam Factory] - which I called 'all is lost'.

slowly through Holy Week

I'm trying to let Holy Week do its work on me by going slowly through each day, not anticipating the next, letting this day be the only day, this moment the only moment. The pic is from a slow improvisation we did at yesterday's quiet day @CMS - making our own psalms to go with the Psalms of Jesus in Holy Week.

Stations opening pics

The StillPoint Stations opening went really well last night. Lots of people, great conversations and thought-provoking, inspiring and hope-full art. These pics are by Jonny Baker - thanks Jonny.

'stations' opening night

Opening night tonight from 8pm @the Jam Factory. Matt and I will do a quick welcome around 8.30/845. Pic is of Ali and Clay hanging Ali's art work.

converse with me via Twitter?

I'm really enjoying being on Twitter. I'm finding it a really good way to be in conversation with people who are interested in similar stuff to us. I really like the fact that it's about the conversation, more than a load of random information about me. I like the fact that's it quick and immediate. And somehow, while it has a playful quality, it feels like a quite grown up, engaged and focussed way of interacting.

If you are interested in following Twitter updates from me on and conversing with me this way you can do this via this blog [go to 'follow me on Twitter] or through my pace bene! website, or go straight to me on Twitter.

going to the edge

Some big news from Gail and myself: we will be moving to the south-west of England this summer and do our work from our home in South Devon [we currently live in rented accommodation in Oxford].

The idea is for me to continue the Pace Bene! project from the south-west. Pace Bene! covers the various ways that I am trying to bring peace and good to the world, and enable others to do the same, inspired by the story and the stories of Jesus of the Gospels. It's a mix that includes writing, resourcing, mentoring, the 'morning bell' call to prayer and the StillPoint project. I am also currently working with CMS on their Small Missional Communities project, and am doing some work with Fresh Expressions and again I plan to continue to do both of those from the south-west.

Gail and I are very excited about being involved locally in the south-west, and we hope to get involved in various other projects there. Gail is going to focus full time on her life-coaching - gail adams:conversations for change - and on our joint workshops Change! and Flow! She sees this as a great opportunity for her to give herself full-time to her calling, and we are very excited by that.

The main thing that I will not be able to do is lead mayBe. I am working hard with the current guardians [the leadership team] of mayBe to ensure that the transition is good. We know that there will be lots of challenges for mayBe, but we also sense that this is a moment full of possibility. When you begin something like mayBe, as I did with Cara and Gail - it can become very closely identified with you. This is a great opportunity to see mayBe evolve without me, and to see it being shaped by the people in it and those yet to come. Clearly this has some tough aspects - we love mayBe and the people - but I think that some brilliant things will emerge in and around mayBe as a result of this.

We know there will be big challenges, but are really excited about the possibilities. I will blog the change process. The pic was taken on a beach near our house - I hope to do more of this! - and I imagine that going 'to the edge' may produce some really helpful stuff for us to share with people...