FAITH DISCUSSION GROUP AT SANSOME'S BAR

This afternoon I get an email responding to the calling card I left at Sansome's two days ago, asking that it be passed on to whoever is running the "Faith Discussion Group" there (see blog, Mon 24 Jan). I ask (and receive) permission to post some of the content of that email here, as it may be of interest to readers.

"Just responding to your card left at Sansomes on Queens Road. As you probably gathered form the card on the bar we hold a weekly discussion group in the upper room at sansomes discussing a wide variety of spiritual and faith topics. It has its roots from Christchurch, the local Methodist & Baptist (Local Ecumenical Project) on Clarendon Park Road though. The aim is to have a place where people can discuss issues of faith and belief, we tend to get about 12 ish people each week, some strangers and some who have become regulars."

This has been going for about nine months now, so it seems pretty well established. I'm committed elsewhere on Tuesday evenings till the middle of March, but hope I can join in after that.

Photo of Sansome's bar by Toby Savage, from his blog, Queens Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester

Mindfulness and Meditation (2)

Second session in the course on Mindfulness and Meditation offered by Christians Aware at Christchurch, Clarendon Park Road. Leading the session is Ian Grayling (backed up by his colleague, Kevin Commons) from the Serene Reflection Meditation Group.

This evening's topic is "seeing". What we understand we see is more than just what enters through the eyes. The brain's need to make sense of things allows it to be tricked into seeing things that might not be what they appear. Often we don't see what is actually there, but try to represent what we think is there - or that we believe should be there. This requires us to look closely, attentively, mindfully. We're given some practical experience in this by Beatte having us do some drawing. I used to draw quite well, but am I ever out of practice! Less overtly "spiritual" content than last week, though we still do a few exercises on our breathing.

On the way to Christchurch, I stop in at Sansome's bar on Queens Road for a coffee. They have a flyer for a "Faith Discussion Group" that meets there on Tuesday evenings. "Meet some friendly people for a spiritual based discussion followed by a curry and pub quiz" it says. Right now I have another commitment Tuesday evenings, but I leave my card with the fellow behind the bar and ask if he'll pass it on to whoever organises this event.