Jesus’ invitation to spend quiet time with him is a recurring theme in the Gospels, and reminds us of the need for intimacy, rest and renewal. The most direct invitation is found in Mark 6:31 where Jesus tells his disciples “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”.
The invitation is for us today, just as much as it was for the first disciples. The invitation is personal and relational – it is a call to be with him, to be quiet, to reflect and to listen to his voice, to nourish our souls and prevent spiritual dryness.
There are many ways to do this, but one that we offer at Midhurst Parish Church is the Reflective Eucharist, held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 5pm. It is a quiet, less formal service, without hymns, but with a selection of music to aid reflection and meditation. The church is lit with candles; we arrive in silence and leave in silence and instead of a sermon we have a time to sit in quiet, to just ‘be’ and to reflect. It is a grace-filled opportunity to be loved and sustained by our God.