Pleshey: Retreat, icon and poem

It's always great to be at the Diocesan Retreat House in Pleshey. I have many special memories from past retreats and the House retains the special atmosphere originally developed by Evelyn Underhill, who we remember on Friday. New memories have been added through a short retreat with Area Deans led by the Archdeacon of Southend with reflections from Revd Ann Coleman.

In the Chapel is an icon of Jesus the Vine based on John 15, which was written by Kjellaug Nordsjö. 

Nordsjö was a Swedish-Norwegian artist, who is considered one of the Nordic countries' foremost icon painters. Her icons can be found in the Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt, as well as churches in Rome, London and New York City. I had the pleasure of meeting Nordsjö at her home in Arvika during a trip to Sweden as part of my curacy at St Margaret's Barking and of bringing back an icon written by her for the Youth Chapel at St Margaret's.

Here is a poem that I wrote today:

Pleshey

The Archdeacon bows before the altar,
the ending of a Eucharist
that concludes our short retreat
as Area Deans at Pleshey.
A blaze of colour and fire of movement
on the altar frontal animates this
simple, calm and holy space that
resonates and reverberates with
memories of training retreats,
preparations for ordinations
and cell group support in ministry.
I am here to the glory of God
says the plaque in memory of
Friend of Pleshey, Evelyn Underhill.
You are the salt of the earth,
The light of the world, says Jesus
in our Gospel reading.
We are to bring out the different
flavours in our communities
and illuminate the good
that is hidden and under-appreciated.
As Evelyn Underhill once said
God is always coming to you.
So, meet and receive him
with gratitude.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael McDermott - Where The Light Gets In.