The Beloved podcast

During Holy Week we follow Jesus' passion through the eyes of the women who were there at the time in Jerusalem. Today we are with Mary’s kinswoman at the foot of the cross.

Invitation to Prayer

As you reflect on this episode, we invite you to pray with the following scripture. 

John 19: 25 – 37

Read the passage slowly and thoughtfully.  There may be a character that you particularly identify with.  Or you may like to imagine yourself in the scene: What do you see?  What do you feel?  How might you react?  What might you say? 

If a particular word or phrase stands out for you, just stay with that word.  Repeat it slowly  in prayer.

Let the Spirit lead you.

During Holy Week we follow Jesus' passion through the eyes of the women who were there at the time in Jerusalem. Today we are with Veronica.

Invitation to Prayer

As you reflect on this episode, we invite you to pray with the following scripture. 

Isaiah 53: 2 – 7,

Psalm 27 (26): 8 - 9

Read the passage slowly and thoughtfully.  There may be a character that you particularly identify with.  Or you may like to imagine yourself in the scene: What do you see?  What do you feel?  How might you react?  What might you say? 

If a particular word or phrase stands out for you, just stay with that word.  Repeat it slowly  in prayer.

Let the Spirit lead you.

During Holy Week we follow Jesus' passion through the eyes of the women who were there at the time in Jerusalem. Today we are with the wife of Pilate.

Invitation to Prayer

As you reflect on this episode, we invite you to pray with the following scripture. 

Matthew 27: 11 – 26

Read the passage slowly and thoughtfully.  There may be a character that you particularly identify with.  Or you may like to imagine yourself in the scene: What do you see?  What do you feel?  How might you react?  What might you say? 

If a particular word or phrase stands out for you, just stay with that word.  Repeat it slowly  in prayer.

Let the Spirit lead you.

During Holy Week we follow Jesus' passion through the eyes of the women who were there at the time in Jerusalem. Today we are with the servant girl in the Sanhedrin courtyard.

Invitation to Prayer

As you reflect on this episode, we invite you to pray with the following scripture. 

Matthew 26: 69 – 75

Read the passage slowly and thoughtfully.  There may be a character that you particularly identify with.  Or you may like to imagine yourself in the scene: What do you see?  What do you feel?  How might you react?  What might you say? 

If a particular word or phrase stands out for you, just stay with that word.  Repeat it slowly  in prayer.

Let the Spirit lead you.

During Holy Week we follow Jesus' passion through the eyes of the women who were there at the time in Jerusalem. Today we are with Mary of Bethany.

Invitation to Prayer

As you reflect on this episode, we invite you to pray with the following scripture. 

John 12: 1 – 11

Read the passage slowly and thoughtfully.  There may be a character that you particularly identify with.  Or you may like to imagine yourself in the scene: What do you see?  What do you feel?  How might you react?  What might you say? 

If a particular word or phrase stands out for you, just stay with that word.  Repeat it slowly  in prayer.

Let the Spirit lead you.

In this episode Iffa Willis is joined by Pippa Baker and Anna Bailey as we ask: “can we meet His gaze?”

Scripture

Luke 22: 54-62

Image

In our conversation we reflected on two images:

Denial of Peter by Carl Bloch

https://moastore.byu.edu/product/the-denial-of-peter/

and

Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dali

https://www.dalipaintings.com/christ-of-saint-john-of-the-cross.jsp

Journaling Prompts

PAUSE to GAZE

Have a look at the two images linked in today’s show notes. Gaze upon them as you pray. What do you see? What do you notice? If you were to be painted into the scenes, where would you be?

GAZED UPON

Can you recall times when you have felt guilt or shame and have not been able to look someone in the eye? Who in your life has gazed on you and loved you even when they know the truth about your weaknesses and failings?

GAZING ON THE WORD Spend some time reflecting on the accounts from Holy Week that you have heard in the podcast today (Luke 22: 54-62 and John 19:25). What word or phrase stands out to you in particularly? What might God be trying to say to you through this word or phrase or these Scriptures as a whole?

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. We will be sharing the images for each episode on our social media. It’s also a way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it.

https://instagram.com/i_am.he_is.beloved?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Support

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk and clicking the donate button.

The next Beloved retreat is taking place 22nd-24th April. At the time of writing places are still available. Bookings for the follow up Desired retreat in June are now open too, for those who have already attended a Beloved Weekend. Visit https://sioncommunity.org.uk/adults/ for more information and to register.

In this episode Anna is joined by Esther and Iffa as we enter into lent, and explore whose gaze is important to us, through the story of the haemorrhaging woman.

Scripture

Mark 5:25-34

Image

During our prayer we focused on this image:

Mary at Jesus' feet by Nicole Joiner

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/957021347

https://instagram.com/nicole_joiner_art?utm_medium=copy_link

Music

We have a Spotify playlist to accompany the podcast. This will grow with each episode. Check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/46HvR2rtPn1TwP6QPvDc8o?dl_branch=1&si=PIZ_r5jyQMup6Ril5h8O-A

You can also now buy the Beloved Album, by downloading it from here: https://sioncommunity.org.uk/shop/

Quote from St John of the Cross

In the first place it should be known that if a person is seeking God, his Beloved is seeking him much more.

Journaling Prompts

PAUSE to GAZE

Can you make time this Lent to go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to gaze upon the Lord? Or perhaps you have a crucifix you can use as a focus your prayer at home. In that place of intimacy with the Lord, like the woman in the Gospel, take time to tell Jesus ‘the whole truth’, knowing that His gaze and His response to you will always be full of love.

GAZED UPON

What are some of the situations you find yourself in where you feel very self conscious and concerned about the judgement of others? Take time to speak to the Lord about these situations.

GAZING ON THE WORD

Spend some time reflecting on the account of Jesus’ Encounter with the Haemorrhaging Woman (Mark 5:25-34). What word or phrase stands out to you in particularly? What might God be trying to say to you through this word or phrase or this Scripture as a whole?

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. We will be sharing the images for each episode on our social media. It’s also a way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it.

https://instagram.com/i_am.he_is.beloved?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Support

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk and clicking the donate button.

The next Beloved retreat is taking place 22nd-24th April. At the time of writing places are still available. Bookings for the follow up Desired retreat in June are now open too, for those who have already attended a Beloved Weekend. Visit https://sioncommunity.org.uk/adults/ for more information and to register.

A special Valentine’s Day treat! Today is the release of the Beloved Album. In this bonus episode Iffa talks to Alice and Fran about each of the tracks. To purchase your copy of the Beloved Album please visit https://sioncommunity.org.uk/product/the-beloved-album/

In this episode Iffa Willis is joined by Sian Short and Alice Hall as we discuss the idea of fascination, and the story of the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple.

Scripture

Luke 2:22-40

Image

In our conversation we reflected on two images:

Anna & Simeon by Jan Van’t Hoff

http://www.atelierjanvanthoff.nl/wp-content/gallery/bijbels/15591-001.jpg

Simeon’s Moment by Ron Dicanni

https://www.tapestryproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Ron-DiCianni-Simeons-Moment-1.jpg

Music

We have a Spotify playlist to accompany the podcast. This will grow with each episode. Check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/46HvR2rtPn1TwP6QPvDc8o?dl_branch=1&si=PIZ_r5jyQMup6Ril5h8O-A

Quotes from Popes

https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2009/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20091121_artisti.html

“Beauty can become a path towards the transcendent, towards the ultimate mystery; towards God” Pope Benedict 16 2009

“Too often the beauty thrust upon us is illusory and deceitful, it imprisons man within himself and further enslaves him; depriving him of hope & joy” Pope Benedict 16 2009

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2020/documents/papa-francesco_20200201_omelia-vitaconsacrata.html

“There is always the temptation to have a worldly gaze, one devoid of hope. But let us look to the Gospel and see Simeon and Anna: they were elderly, alone, yet they had not lost hope, because they remained in communion with the Lord. Anna “did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day” (v. 37). Here is the secret: never to alienate oneself from the Lord, who is the source of hope. We become blind if we do not look to the Lord every day, if we do not adore him. To adore the Lord.

Pope Francis 24th Day for Consecrated life 2020

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_23041999_artists.html

https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/speeches/1965/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19651208_epilogo-concilio-artisti.html

Journaling Prompts

PAUSE to GAZE

What are you fascinated by? What am I giving my attention to? What takes your gaze away from the Lord? What helps you to gaze upon the Lord? Why is my gaze on this thing that fascinates me?

GAZED UPON

When people encounter you, what do you think they’ll notice about what you’re fascinated by?

GAZING ON THE WORD

Spend some time reflecting on the account of Jesus’ Presentation at the Temple (Luke 2:22-40).

What word or phrase stands out to you in particularly? What might God be trying to say to you through this word or phrase or this Scripture as a whole?

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. We will be sharing the images for each episode on our social media. It’s also a way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it.

https://instagram.com/i_am.he_is.beloved?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Support

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk and clicking the donate button.

The next Beloved retreat is taking place 11th-13th February. At the time of writing places are still available. Bookings for the follow up Desired retreat in June are now open too, for those who have already attended a Beloved Weekend. Visit https://sioncommunity.org.uk/adults/ for more information and to register.

In this Christmas episode Jenny Lochner, Fiona Whitehead and Alice Hall focus on encountering the gaze of the infant Jesus, and ponder the gaze of wonder in those we meet in the Nativity story.

Scripture

Luke 2:13-20, Matthew 6:6

Image

In our conversation we reflected on three images:

Adoration - Nicole Joiner:

https://www.facebook.com/110312407540767/posts/182566303648710/

The Adoration of the Shepherds - Guido Reni: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/guido-reni-the-adoration-of-the-shepherds

Adoration of the Magi - 17th Century Ethiopian Art: https://art.thewalters.org/detail/90659/adoration-of-the-magi/0

Music

We have a Spotify playlist to accompany the podcast. This will grow with each episode. Check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/46HvR2rtPn1TwP6QPvDc8o?dl_branch=1&si=PIZ_r5jyQMup6Ril5h8O-A

Quoted antiphon from Christmas Matins

Latin text

O magnum mysterium,

et admirabile sacramentum,

ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,

iacentem in praesepio!

Beata Virgo, cujus viscera

meruerunt portare

Dominum Iesum Christum.

Alleluia!

English translation

O great mystery,

and wonderful sacrament,

that animals should see the newborn Lord,

lying in a manger!

Blessed is the virgin whose womb

was worthy to bear

the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

See our Spotify playlist for two different settings of this antiphon to listen to.

Journaling Prompts

PAUSE to GAZE

Have you had a moment to gaze at the nativity scene this Christmas? Take some time to pause and gaze, whether that’s at the crib at your church or in your home, or simply on a Christmas card you’ve received or one of the images in the show notes.

GAZED UPON

In the podcast The Five Love Languages we’re discussed. Do you know what your Love Language is? (You can find out more here - *insert website*)

Is this one of the ways that you experience God loving you? If not, perhaps consider what it might look like for God to speak your Love Language. Take time to reflect on the times when you have felt most loved by the people in your life. What Love Language were they ‘speaking’?

GAZING ON THE WORD

Spend some time reflecting on the account of Jesus’ nativity in the Gospels of Luke (2:1-20) and Matthew (2:1-12) What word or phrase stands out to you in particularly? What might God be trying to say to you through this word or phrase or this Scripture as a whole?

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]

We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. We will be sharing the images for each episode on our social media. It’s also a way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it.

https://instagram.com/i_am.he_is.beloved?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share

Support

If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk/ and clicking the donate button.

Bookings are now open for our next Beloved Retreat, visit https://sioncommunity.org.uk/adults/ for more information and to register