We live in challenging times. The church has moved from being central within our communities and national life to the edge. As Christians we sometimes feel like strangers in unfamiliar territory. But this is not the first time the church has been through this kind of experience. It can be seen in the life of God’s people in the scriptures and throughout church history. In this retreat, we will dig into the rich legacy of the Celtic Saints and find insights and wisdom for the present day.
When the Celtic Saints came to Scotland’s shores, they carried with them a culture of mission and innovation as a ‘Way of Life’. They were rooted in rhythms of prayer, had a deep reverence for scripture and a profound compassion for others. They worked in teams and lived and communicated the gospel in ways that connected with the pagan peoples they encountered. During this retreat we will learn about the lives of Celtic saints and what we might learn from their ways of mission for our own day.
The retreat will be led by Scott Brennan, an experienced church planter and leader who has found his personal faith and mission to be enriched and expanded by learning from our Celtic predecessors.
As well as teaching from Scott, there will be plenty of time and space for prayer and personal reflection. Participants will be offered optional activities to encourage prayerful contemplation. These might involve exploring the hills, coastline and ancient woodland around Kilmalieu, using the art room or other facilities.
Kilmalieu occupies a stunning position on the shore of Loch Linnhe. It is a renovated eighteenth-century hunting lodge with a mixture of comfortable single, twin and family bedrooms. Some bedrooms are en suite, others have dedicated or shared toilets and showers. Food is home-made and consistently praised for its quality. Guests have access to the chapel, a small library, art room, lounge, sports hall, games room and gym and are free to explore the 3000 acre estate, where otters, dolphins, and an amazing variety of birds, butterflies, lichens, ferns and many other aspects of nature can be enjoyed.
