Retreat on the Street
"Seek the peace of the city...and pray to the Lord for it: for in its peace, you will have peace." Jeremiah 29.7
Retreat on the Street is a powerful activity that enables you to spend a day on the streets with just 50p in your pocket and freedom from your usual preoccupations and busyness. The purpose is to experience what's going on, observe the people and patterns of the city and to pray and reflect.
Cities are often described as '24-hour', and can be diverse and vibrant places to be. But, alongside the apparent wealth and success, many people endure the extremes of social exclusion, finding themselves with limited choices or resources.
In partnership with Nigel Greenwood (One City Projects, Leeds) and David Rhodes (best-selling Christian author), we have put together a five-week programme for churches, individuals and home or cell groups, encouraging reflection on and engagement with poverty and marginalisation in England.
You can use the Lent course as a basis for individual prayer or in small groups. The course also prepares you to take part in one of our Retreat on the Street events (see below for more details) or for a Walk of Awareness, which you can do on your own or with a group.
Organised Retreats on the Street
Each event starts with a gathering for prayer at a city church, where you will be given 50p, a small wooden cross, emergency contact details and a map of the area. You'll then take off on your own prayer walk before meeting up at the church at the end of the day for a light supper and a chance to pray and share your thoughts on the experience.
How to take part in a Retreat on the Street
- Download the Lent course in preparation for the event.
- Download the leaflet for more information.
- Sign-up online or complete the sign-up form on the leaflet and send it to us.
- Alternatively, you can e-mail Hilary with your details, or call 0207 898 1648.
Taking part in a Walk of Awareness
If you're not able to join us for a Retreat on the Street you can still experience your town or city in a new way through a Walk of Awareness. This is something that you can either do alone, or with others, and you can adapt it to suit your location. We have prepared a Walk of Awareness sheet which you may find useful in stimulating thought and prayer.
- Download the Lent course in to use in preparation.
- Download the Walk of Awareness sheet.
Lent collecting boxes
You can also support us during Lent by taking a collecting box, or by volunteering to distribute and collect boxes for others in your area or church congregation.