Friday 8 to Sunday 10 March was SEI’s fourth residential weekend at St Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull, Perth, for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
Lent IV is also called ‘Laetare’ Sunday, ‘Mothering’ Sunday and ‘Refreshment’ Sunday. Each of those monikers is founded on the day’s readings: Gal. 4.21–31 and Jn 6.1-14, and the introit from Isa. 66.10–11 – ‘Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.’
SEI students organised a bespoke ‘Way of the Cross’ for Midday Prayer on Saturday with the refrain ‘We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee. Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world!’ The turn of phrase is attributed to St Francis of Assisi; it’s often heard in the Season of Lent and in ‘Stations of the Cross’.
SEI’s teaching schedule across the weekend included ‘Reflective Practice in Context’ and ‘Sustaining the World: Christian Faith and the Environment.’ A special feature of the residential was Friday evening’s ‘Bravetalk’ presentation by first-year ordinand Lana Woolford on iconography. The photo (above) features icons written, that is, drawn/painted by Lana.
SEI’s residentials are an integral part of supporting ordinands and candidates for Lay Readership in their vocational formation and training. Please keep SEI’s students in your prayers.
Photo courtesy of Ross Stirling-Young
