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Abbey Way of Life & Services
Followers of the Way – Key reading that explains the thinking behind the Abbey waymarks (Simon Reed)
Ignatian Spirituality – a central resource for Ignatian spirituality including prayers, summaries and historical background.
Order of Aidan and Hilda – the inspiration behind the Abbey waymarks. A dispersed community offering a retreat centre on Holy Island, courses and reflections.
Service Sheets – materials for the Abbey services
Rethinking Christianity
Abbey provides a space to ask questions and to grapple with challenging aspects of faith. The resources listed below may be helpful and challenging at the same time. They shouldn’t be regarded as the gospel according to Abbey!
Centre for Action and Contemplation – aims to provide spiritual grounding for a movement of contemplative activists, prophetic leaders, and spiritual seekers. In the tradition of Jesus, St. Francis, and all mystics, the role of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is to provide spiritual wisdom and guidance to support both inner and outer transformation. Founded by Richard Rohr, the CAC offers insightful daily meditations, podcasts, online education and a bookstore. CAC’s initiatives include The Universal Christ – an exploration of the contention that Christ is not just Jesus’ last name but is to be found in every thing, leading to a sacred wholeness and seeing Christ in every thing. A ground-breaking book, podcast, videos and study guide are all available. More recently CAC launched Learning how to see – a podcast with Brian McLaren. The first and second series look at how we transform and transcend our biases, whilst the third explores sections from his new book Do I Stay Christian? Brian helps listeners at a spiritual crossroads to honestly examine their evolving faith.
Rob Bell – is an influential, controversial and gifted communicator who has written a number of books that provide real insight into the character of God. He also produces a weekly podcast and an excellent video entitled ‘Everything is Spiritual‘. Books include Love Wins – a critique of standard evangelical Amercian Christianity that makes a case for a different mindset based on love. What do we Talk About When we Talk about God rethinks how we experience God, whilst Everything is Spiritual asks who we are and what we’re doing here.
Nomad – is a twice-monthly podcast from people who have gone through the process of deconstructing and reconstructing their faith. Paying members also have access to devotionals and contemplations.
How to understand the Bible
The Bible for Normal People – stories about a messy Bible and what it means to read it with both eyes open to its problems and challenges, and to its promises and possibilities. Materials include a podcast and books to deepen understanding of the bible with Pete Enns. The podcasts originally took the form of quirky videos and are still available on Youtube.
What is the Bible – a Rob Bell book book providing characteristically approachable insight into how to read the bible and how ‘an ancient library of poems, stories and letters can transform the way you think and feel about everything’.
Celtic Christianity
Abbey is heavily influenced by Celtic Christianity which has been the inspiration behind several current communities. These include the Iona Community, Northumbria Community and Aidan and Hilda.
John O Donohue was an influential poet and writer whose writings are both exquisitely beautiful and insightful.
God in Nature
Beyond The View – a mystical book that combines evocative photographs of wild nature with prose, poetry and personal story; providing reflection and insight on how to ‘see beyond the view’ – to connect with all things at the deepest level, aware that everything is connected to everything else.
