Harehills may not be the most obvious place for a spiritual retreat, but on Wednesday 24 September, a group of Christians engaged in mission in the city will be walking the streets as part of a monthly urban reflective retreat which they’re calling ‘Four Seasons’.
Dr Helen Reid, Director of Leeds Church Institute, explains how it began: “A small group of us wanted to do an urban retreat with some theological input, an outdoors and experiential element and for it to be a regular event, so it wasn’t a token gesture.
“We’ve made the retreat twice now, and would love others to join us. We begin at 10am with prayer and theological engagement (at Trinity United Church), then we spend time out and about in Harehills, leaving our usual ‘props’ behind. Having no bag, no phone and nowhere to go, felt strange, but freeing. Then at 12.30pm we meet up to eat and reflect together.
“It feels like quite a commitment to give a whole morning once a month, and as we started it in the summer, an hour and a half outdoors in February will be quite different!
“The theology is based on the book Faith in Dark Places. In July we focused on the experience of Sacrament of Failure.”
If you plan to come please email events@leedschurchinstitute.org or call 0113 391 7928.