Home  Opening Times  Praise & Prayer  Weekly Meditations  Bulletins  About Us  Support  Contact Us		The SPA Friday meetings take place in the church from 1.00pm to 1.30pm, we look forward to welcoming you. WHAT IS SPA? SPA (Scripture, Prayer & Action) – a fellowship for spiritual refreshment and renewal, committed to times of silent corporate prayer, issuing from a programme of bible study and leading to action, witness and service. It is the strong conviction of the SPA ministry that such a cell of men and women in all the churches can make a difference at a time of crisis, both for the church as well as for society. Open churches need open hearts – hearts open to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit at work in the heart of cities and communities everywhere. BIBLE STUDY - with a difference! ‘The Holy Spirit inspired those who wrote the scriptures. The Holy Spirit is also in our hearts inspiring us and teaching us how to read and to listen’ to the words of scripture. (Thomas Keating: Introduction to Contemplative Christianity) Bible study is not only a process of the mind – important though that is in uncovering the literal and contextual meaning of a particular passage. That approach is fine as far as it goes. The trouble is that it does not go far enough! Reading Holy Scripture should enlighten the mind, but it should also warm the heart and fire the will. When the Risen Christ taught the scriptures to the disciples after his resurrection, we read that ‘he opened their minds to the scriptures.’ (Luke 24:45). However, we also read how Jesus ‘warmed the hearts’ of those two disciples on the road to Emmaus and turned their lives around. (Luke24:32) In preparation for times of silent contemplative prayer, whether in a group or alone, it is a good and helpful practice, after invoking the Holy Spirit, to read slowly a passage of scripture, - preferably aloud and even two or three times. In this way, quite frequently a phrase or even just a word seems to lift off the page and speak to us with a particular and immediate significance. In turn, this can carry us into the time of silent prayer, recollected and resting in the presence of Christ. SILENCE - A ‘SUPERHIGHWAY’ OF THE SPIRIT. We live in an age when we are all bombarded by noise, words and information. Throughout the ages, but perhaps especially today and not least in our crowded and noisy cities, men and women have sought retreat into spaces and places of quiet - away from the ‘city’s crowded clangour’ - for what is sometimes called a ‘quiet time,’ when they can access the deeper well-springs of life, beneath the superficialities of busy and demanding lives. Undertaken as a daily commitment for twenty minutes or half-an- hour, such a practice of bible reading, leading to ‘centring prayer’ and contemplative prayer can and does transform lives. For days begun in this way, are no longer just ‘one damned thing after another’ but rather are overtaken by direction and purpose as part of God’s loving providence for us. Gregory the Great explained this whole Christian contemplative tradition as simply “resting in God,” or as the psalmist puts it: ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ (Psalm 46) A SUPPORTIVE MINISTRY With the encouragement of the parish priest, the churchwardens and the PCC of the Church of the Annunciation Marble Arch, the ministry of SPA from the beginning of 2009 is committed to keeping the church building open throughout the working week (click on "Opening Times"), in this way enabling the many thousands of people working or shopping in the area to find an oasis and space for quiet, reflection and prayer. Furthermore, each Friday, between 1.00 and 1.30pm there is a time of prayer, praise, biblical reflection and silent corporate prayer along the lines explained above. This is open to people of all traditions who are seeking a deeper spirituality. SPA is also anxious to be available to clergy who might wish to explore or to teach this alternative tradition of experiencing God and who might wish to commend the Friday lunchtime SPA events to members of their congregation who work or shop in the area of the Annunciation during the week. For details of how to be on the mailing list of SPA, to become a Friend or to receive the monthly bulletin, click on "Support". Bishop Michael Marshall Soon Han Choi		The Church of the Annunciation Bryanston Street Marble Arch LONDON W1H 7AH GOOD NEWS! The many people who have experienced over the past years the ministry of Soon Han Choi, will be delighted to know that his calling to the ministry has now been recognised and authorised by the Bishop of London who has agreed to ordain Soon to the Diaconate at the Ordination in St. Paul's Cathedral at Petertide, July 3rd, 2010. Soon has exercised a greatly blessed ministry in service and pastoral care over many years, at St. Luke's Redcliffe Gardens, St Cuthbert's Philbeach Gardens, St Mary Abbots Kensington, Holy Trinity Sloane Square and presently as Lay Pastoral Assistant at the Church of the Annunciation, Marble Arch where the ministry of SPA is presently based. Some years ago Soon achieved an MA in Biblical & Theological Studies. More recently, he has exercised a remarkable music ministry. Keep Soon in your prayers in these months of further study leading up to his ordination. Links: The Church of the Annunciation All Saints Margaret Street The Oxford Street Oasis of Churches
The work of SPA is with the encouragement of the parish priest, the church wardens and PCC of the Annunciation.