This year, the Diocese of St Albans warmly invites you to join a transformative Year of Spiritual Renewal and Wellbeing. As we reflect on the challenges of recent years, including the lasting impact of Covid, this initiative seeks to help us reconnect with our faith and embrace the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit.
This year-long journey is designed to help us lift our hearts and minds and centres on three key themes:
- Lifting our eyes to God
- Enhancing spiritual and personal wellbeing
- Enabling spiritual growth to foster numerical growth.
This year draws inspiration from the Emmaus story in Luke’s Gospel, where the risen Christ walks alongside two disciples, listens to their concerns, and renews them in hope and love. Just as they rediscovered joy in their journey with Christ, we are invited to open our hearts to God, embrace the Holy Spirit’s renewing power, and find joy in journeying with him.
Opportunities
There’s a wide selection of retreats, courses, and other events available for booking through the website. The site also features recommendations for venues suited to church away days and retreats, alongside valuable resources for individual reflection and group sessions. New suggestions will be added throughout the year. If there are resources or activities you feel would help you or your church, please do let us know.
Visit the dedicated website for the Year of Spiritual Renewal and Wellbeing.
Wellbeing
God invites us to embrace healthy rhythms of prayer, work, and rest – essential foundations for our wellbeing. Flourishing in body, mind, and spirit enables us to live out our ministries and daily lives, reflecting Jesus’ promise of abundant life.
Each month, we will be featuring a new short film, gaining insights into how a variety of people maintain and invest time in their wellbeing. The first film in our series features Archdeacon Dave, reflecting on wellbeing as he walks through his local park in Luton:
In the Diocese of St Albans, we offer various resources to support this flourishing, such as spiritual direction and counselling. We are committed to encouraging wellbeing, so that all may experience the fullness of life God intends. Find wellbeing links here.
Prayers
Download prayers to support your journey on the Year of Spiritual Renewal and Wellbeing website.
God of life and love,
pour out your blessing on our diocese
as we journey to your kingdom on the Emmaus Road:
where there is uncertainty, build us up in faith;
where there is fear, establish us in love;
where there is discord, bring reconciliation and healing;
that together we may be renewed in hope by your Spirit
and be ambassadors of your risen Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Bishop Alan