Our lives are crowded. We live in a world that demands much and gives little pause. Many people carry the hidden weight of loneliness or exhaustion. Into this noise, Christ calls us:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

In that spirit, we are beginning a new monthly Sunday evening gathering of The Magdalen Fellowship of Healing & Prayer —a space to rest, reset, and reconnect with God.

📅 The Shape of the Evening
5.30pm – Gather for fellowship: bring your supper, drink tea with us, and meet in the warmth of Christian community.
6.30pm – A short prayer leads us into a time of Christian meditation and contemplative silence. We end in stillness, leaving quietly, carrying peace into the week.

This is not another meeting to busy our diaries. It is an invitation into what the early mystics called holy leisure—a time of peace, quiet, and spiritual renewal.

🌿 The Way of Christ: Self-Emptying and Silence

At the heart of our practice together is the way of kenosis—the self-emptying love of Christ. St Paul tells us that Christ, “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2:6–7).

This kenotic path is the way of surrender, of making room for God’s presence. In meditation and contemplative prayer, we imitate Christ by letting go: letting go of words, of control, of the ego’s clamour, until only God remains.

The Christian mystics remind us that silence is not emptiness but fullness. St John of the Cross wrote: “Silence is God’s first language.”

And the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing taught that God cannot be grasped by thought, only by love. When we sit in quiet prayer, we are not achieving something—we are being drawn into the loving presence of the One who is already here.

This evening gathering will be such a place, where you can be.

🌌 A Community of Presence

While this is about stillness, it is also about fellowship. Inclusive fellowship. The early Church called this koinonia—not just friendship, but a communion of souls in Christ. We begin with supper or tea because community matters. Christian contemplation is never a solitary escape; it is the shared silence of God’s people, a silence that deepens love for one another.

In gathering monthly, we say to each other: you are not alone in your longing for God. You are not alone in your struggles. Together we can sit before God, hold one another in prayer, and leave renewed.

🕯 A Short Practice for You Now

Before you read further, pause with me.

Sit comfortably, feet grounded.
Take a slow breath in, and gently release it.
Pray quietly: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, empty me of all that is not of You, and fill me with Your peace.”
For a few moments, simply rest in that prayer.

Notice the calm that enters when we stop striving and simply allow God to be God.

✨ Come and See

This Sunday evening gathering is an open invitation to all. The Magdalen Fellowship delights in being multi denominational and St Johns is always proudly inclusive. Whether your faith is strong or fragile, whether you are used to stillness or find it unfamiliar, you are welcome. Come and sit in the candlelight. Come and taste the quiet. Come and meet God in the silence.

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” (Psalm 37:7)

In the quiet, Christ meets us. In the silence, we are healed. And in the fellowship of God’s people, no one is ever alone.

You are warmly invited. Sept 21st, Oct 19th, Nov 16th. The group also meets weekly on Mondays at 10:30 (at St John’s) with the first meeting of the month being a Eucharist, Laying of Hands and Anointing.

A multidenominational group from across Harrogate, Ripon and Masham district who meet weekly and focus themselves in contemplative prayer, silent meditations on biblical, introspective and thought provoking subjects, and friendship. The Fellowship is rooted in 1970's Ripon, and has evolved with some remarkable founding members and ultimately, unites in the Light of Christ. Members range in age, background and belief, everyone is made to feel at home within this phenomenal group.

​The Fellowship weekly holds in prayer those prayer requests left at both Ripon Cathedral and at St John’s as a part of their commitment to healing ministry. The first meeting of the month is Eucharistic with Laying of Hands/Anointing for healing.

This beautifully relaxed service is inclusive for all. Held at our sister chapel in Copt Hewick. Intimate, with usually no more than a dozen attendees. Its' a great service to meet new friends, ask questions or simply attend and walk away. We don't mind and would simply love to see you with us. There is no singing, and a beautifully simple liturgy.

Decompress, Pray & Humbly Worship
Join us for thirty minutes for a beautiful start to your weekend. Incense perfumes St John's, connecting through the centuries to early Christian Celtic worship. This candlelit service in the Quire is the peace everyone needs in our busy world. When able, there is Eucharist or Blessings within the service, but if not, we light (more) candles or bring action to our prayer. No hymns are sung and you can sneak in and sneak out of of this quiet time if you're in a hurry. This service is mostly solo-worshippers but everyone is very welcome.

The final Sunday of the month has an emphasis on being a Family Service, with lots more input from the children, but everyone is welcome at every service and children and dogs are made super welcome with free movement, toys and colouring always. The service is complete with , prayer, hymns, bible readings, a thought-provoking sermon and parish news. Presently we are without a priest and so we do not include Holy Communion often at Family Services. Services are followed by tea, biscuits and lots of friendly faces if you're able to stay.

A beautifully relaxed service at our sister chapel.. Intimate, with usually no more than a dozen attendees. Its' a great service to meet new friends, ask questions or simply attend and walk away. We don't mind and would simply love to see you with us.

On the first Sunday of the month, we have Cafe Church, where there's often yummy cake to tuck into, whilst we joyfully praise.The Lord with song, prayer and readings, as well as thoughtful discussion topics. Its a great service to make new friends.