Journey the Psalms with me in 2024…
***Introducing a new series with accompanying journal***
How do the Psalms speak into our lives? How can they help us get in touch with our deeper emotions, and to better understand ourselves? How can they lead us to live fuller, more honest, more authentic lives? What can they show us about who God is and who we’re invited to be in the world?
Starting in early January 2024, I’ll be going through - in numerical order - the 44 Psalms I’ve arranged and recorded with my dear friends the McGraths (Celtic Psalms). Each week I will share reflections on a Psalm of the week, with accompanying journal pages (see the cover above) to enhance your personal journey. In addition, I’ll be doing a weekly short-form podcast with a song and reflections.
The journal pages and podcast will include an introduction to the music and theme of each Psalm; connections to other writings and wisdom; helpful links to the Psalms for the Spirit podcast; reflection questions for you to explore through journaling or other forms of expression; a prayer and an invitation.
The journal eBook/PDF (180 pages!) will be included for all Psalms for the Spirit paid subscribers, or you will be able to purchase it on my website. Each week, paid subscribers will also receive a downloadable mp3 of the featured song to accompany your reflection journey.
The journal will come in Full Digital Format (an ebook/interactive PDF), downloadable on iPads, phones and computers, with embedded links for your convenience and text boxes for your own writing. There will also be a simplified printable version for you to write on by hand, or you can choose a notebook of your own to accompany this process.
The journey will begin in early January and will continue through to November. That’s 44 weeks!
I know that sounds like a long time - who knows what life will bring between now and November. Feel free to dip in and out of it, or to return later to Psalms you might miss. Other than me showing up each week with a Psalm and some reflections, this will be a free-flowing, spacious, gracious space with plenty of room for flexibility. These are resources I’ll be providing that you can take advantage of if it’s helpful to you - or, you can save it for a time when you need it. I will arrange periodic Zoom gatherings so that we can share parts of this journey together.
I believe this is going to be a rich and transformative journey. If you’ve been wondering whether to become a paid subscriber, now might be a great time to hop aboard. Or if there’s a reflective soul in your life, consider inviting them along. If you’d like to support someone who can’t pay at the moment, there’s the option of donating a subscription.
[This episode first aired in December 2021]
Today’s guest is Ruth Patterson – Presbyterian minister, writer, retreat leader - recognized internationally for her deep spiritual insight and her gently powerful work in peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
When I first heard about Ruth Patterson, it was with a certain sense of awe, as she was the very first woman – in any denomination – to be ordained in Ireland (well, perhaps since St. Brigit in the 5th century). Not only that, but she speaks with clarity and eloquence, and shows a steady kindness towards everyone she encounters. Ruth is one of those people for whom poetry and meaningful quotations roll off the tongue effortlessly, and whose reflections are profound while also being accessible and applicable to daily life.
The organisation she founded and led for 30 years, Restoration Ministries brings people together across community divides in Ireland around their shared spirituality, and draws on the image of restoration depicted in the Psalms. In this conversation, which we had in the heart of Advent, we talk about the link between the Psalms and the history of Ireland, about the importance of hospitality – towards ourselves, God, others – in moving into a future of restoration, about the journey towards becoming our full selves, and about how awakening to our belovedness is the starting point for healing and wholeness in this world.
So whatever it is that brought you here, I’m glad you’re with us.
More about Ruth:
Ruth Patterson is a Presbyterian minister, and for the last 33 years has been Director of Restoration Ministries (https://restorationministries.co.uk), a non- denominational, Christian organisation committed to peace and reconciliation. In 1976 she was the first woman to be ordained in Ireland. She was the recipient of the Alumna of the Year 2000 award (Edinburgh University / Royal Bank of Scotland), in 2001 an honorary doctorate from the Presbyterian Theology Faculty of Ireland, and in 2003 was awarded an OBE for her efforts in reconciliation. She has authored five books and numerous articles stemming from her commitment to unity and peace. She produces annual scripture guidelines for Faith and Friendship. She is one of four church representatives to L’Arche International and holds the post of Ecumenical Canon in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. She is on the Board of Oneings, a bi-annual publication of the Centre for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
FEATURED MUSIC
Come, Spirit, Come (Psalm 144) - intro/outro by Celtic Psalms
You Have Searched Me (Psalm 139)
Love and Mercy (Psalm 85 - Forthcoming Album)
You can find our published scores, CDs and mp3s through GIA Music
We're also on YouTube, Spotify, and Amazon
There’s a really wonderful opportunity coming up in April 2024 – the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage to Ireland.
Consider taking 11 days to come to Ireland to explore what brings us joy, strength, hope – resilience – to our lives. We’ll begin with six days at the beautiful Corrymeela residential centre in Ballycastle, on the north coast, which alone will take your breath away, but on top of that we have a program throughout our stay that’s geared toward helping you find resilience within yourself and to develop practices and wisdom that you can take back home with you.
Resilience expert Sara Cook will be our first guest facilitator, followed by the brilliant reflective practitioner Paul Hutchinson. I’ll be leading a retreat day with Celtic Psalms music and space for silence and sharing, and then we’ll have a session on Zoom with the one and only poet/theologian/ Poetry Unbound creator/member and former leader of the Corrymeela community Pádraig Ó Tuama.
Pilgrimage participants will then head a few hours south to the stunning hills and ancient monastery of Glendalough, where we’ll spend a few days connecting with the beauty of nature and the wisdom of Celtic Spirituality, before spending a day exploring the vibrant city of Dublin.
This is going to be a transformative, uplifting, joyful and inspiring experience… Come join us on the beautiful north coast of Ireland at the Corrymeela Centre for the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage in April 2024. If you’re interested, you can find more information in the episode notes.
See Progressive Pilgrimage’s webpage for more details at https://progressivepilgrimage.com/corrymeela24/
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