Continuous Creation: the ceaseless arrival of God within

Sat 24th Oct, 10am – 1pm, online workshop

Event description

We often think of creation as something that happened in the past. Perhaps 13.8 billion years ago for the universe. Perhaps at the moment of our conception for each of us.

But what if creation is continuous? What if we and all things are ceaselessly being created by God’s ceaseless gift of himself?

This ancient and beautiful Christian understanding does not claim that we are God, but rather that God is our being.

As the philosopher and scholar of religion David Bentley Hart put it, “I’m just me. I’m just a finite being. But the ground of all I am, the essence of all I am, the existence of all I am, is not my own. Considered in terms of my source and end…I’m God…there is nothing other than God that gives being.”

If we could be aware of God’s ceaseless influx into us and all creation as the gift of being, said my teacher at Prinknash Abbey, Sylvester Houedard, then we would see God reflected in everything, see that everything is a manifestation of God, theophany (“God appearing”).

“When we come to see that creation is continuous, we come to see that our creativity is not just simply a continuation of God’s creativity, as though that stopped at a certain point and we took over. Rather, we come to see that all that we do is part of God’s creative act.”

How might this understanding help transform how we live, how we see ourselves, our relationships, and our care of each other and our precious world?

Drawing on teachings from David Bentley Hart, Sylvester Houedard, Julian of Norwich and others, we will explore:

• the classical Christian understanding of continuous creation as an important and liberating message for today;
• how many contemporary ways of speaking about God and creation arise from a forgetfulness of classical Christian theology and reinforce the illusion that we are separate from God;
• how meditation (silent prayer) can help us open to the ceaseless arrival of God within us and all creation.

As we step into a new year, this workshop offers an opportunity to lay a new foundation and refresh your intention to open to the ceaseless arrival of God within.

Abba Moses asked Abba Silvanus: “Can a person lay a new foundation every day? The old man replied: “If one works hard, one can lay a new foundation at every moment.”

Following the workshop, all participants will be invited to an optional online discussion evening, where people can join small break-out groups of 5–6 people to continue exploring the ideas raised.

Who is this for?

The event has been carefully crafted to be inclusive and accessible, welcoming anyone seeking truth, peace, and spiritual renewal, regardless of their faith, beliefs or previous experience of meditation.

What to expect

The workshop will include a flow of two talks, times of conversation, a period of silent meditation and a break.

Following the workshop, all participants will be invited to an optional online discussion evening, where people can join small break-out groups of 5-6 people to continue exploring the ideas raised. Three dates will be offered and we’ll proceed with the most popular one.

Practical information

• The event will be hosted on Zoom.
• The talks will be recorded and shared with anyone who has bought a ticket. The recordings will be available for 30 days.
• Tickets cost £20 or £30 with a £10 donation.
• If you are on a low income and finding it hard to make ends meet, please get in touch to request a bursary.

Event leader

Chris Whittington is the Founder of The School of Contemplative Life. He was introduced to contemplative practice during several years of formation when he lived at the Benedictine monastery of Prinknash Abbey in England. Chris’ monastic teachers taught meditation as a universal wisdom found within all the great spiritual traditions, a pathway to peace and solidarity with people of all faiths and none. Following an introduction by the Abbot of the Prinknash community, Chris subsequently studied at the Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamshala, India.

Chris regularly delivers talks, workshops and retreats and has introduced the practice of meditation in the Christian tradition to thousands of people in the UK and abroad. He is known for his ability to communicate the subtleties of the practice and complex spiritual texts in simple, practical ways, resonant with the challenges of daily life.

Chris is the author of The Missing Peace – Meditation as a Spiritual Path to Peace, Community and Oneness published by Canterbury Press.

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