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In the testimony that Jane Ashton gave for the diocesan Invited mission, she said that Taketimemeditations had been really important in her faith journey.

‍Taketimemeditations are a space for encounter and for deepening faith. They are inspired by the tradition of St Ignatius. Each meditation is based on a Gospel story written in a form which allows the listener to move through it in their imagination. There are then spaces for conversation where the listener moves from passively imagining the story through to actively (and silently) talking to and then listening to Jesus. In Ignatian terms, this is called the “colloquy”. The first space allows the listener to share with Jesus whatever is on their mind, whatever is in their heart. In the second space, the listener opens themself to anything that Jesus might be trying to communicate to them, whether it be in actions, or as a feeling, or an image or through words.

There is something very special about doing these meditations in a group setting and then sharing our experience of encounter with one another. At Our Lady of Lourdes, Thames Ditton, we moved our Taketime group online during the lockdowns. This has enabled people to zoom in from anywhere, including Paris! The sharing is always gentle and loving and often a space where God takes our encounters even deeper.

Taketime meditations are also used in schools. It is wonderful using Taketime with children, they meet Jesus through their imagination and always describe how amazing and affirming this experience is for them. As one Year 6 boy said, with awe and wonder in his voice, ‘I don’t even go to church and Jesus talked to me!’

Click here to find out more about Taketime and to try a meditation. You can also find out more about running a Taketime group or using the meditations in schools.  

If you would like to try a meditation in a group setting via zoom, please E:meditations@olchurch.org.uk for the link. All are welcome wherever they are!

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With thanks to Jane Bishop for sharing this article with us.

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