Ray Simpson's Blog
October 7, 2020
CELTIC CHRISTIANITY AND CLIMATE CRISIS: TWELVE KEYS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH
Dear friends,
You might be interested to hear about my brand new book. It is so relevant to a post-Covid world that I thought you would not want to miss it!
Faced with the impending climate crisis and significant and irreparable damage being done to the earth, and climate campaigners who believe Christianity is not earth-friendly, this book offers a Christian spirituality of creation.
The book is called “Celtic Christianity and Climate Crisis” and is available to order direct from the publisher (Sacristy Press) or from my web site www.raysimpson.org. It can also be downloaded as an e-book on Kindle, Kobo, iTunes and Google Play.
Since my first book on Celtic spirituality was written twenty-five years ago, I have examined all serious criticisms raised against Celtic Christianity. I boil these down to twelve, and liken this work to mining. Much dross is indeed discarded, but gold is also quarried. I highlight twelve golden keys not only for the future of the Church but for the whole planet.
Twelve chapters. Twelve criticisms. Twelve keys.
Available now for just £12.99. I very much hope you will enjoy reading it!
nal Community of Aidan and Hilda
www.aidanandhilda.org
You might be interested to hear about my brand new book. It is so relevant to a post-Covid world that I thought you would not want to miss it!
Faced with the impending climate crisis and significant and irreparable damage being done to the earth, and climate campaigners who believe Christianity is not earth-friendly, this book offers a Christian spirituality of creation.
The book is called “Celtic Christianity and Climate Crisis” and is available to order direct from the publisher (Sacristy Press) or from my web site www.raysimpson.org. It can also be downloaded as an e-book on Kindle, Kobo, iTunes and Google Play.
Since my first book on Celtic spirituality was written twenty-five years ago, I have examined all serious criticisms raised against Celtic Christianity. I boil these down to twelve, and liken this work to mining. Much dross is indeed discarded, but gold is also quarried. I highlight twelve golden keys not only for the future of the Church but for the whole planet.
Twelve chapters. Twelve criticisms. Twelve keys.
Available now for just £12.99. I very much hope you will enjoy reading it!
nal Community of Aidan and Hilda
www.aidanandhilda.org
January 4, 2019
QUESTIONS ABOUT ST. AIDAN
I also receive questions about the background to Saint Aidan, who is growing in popularity. My book ‘The Saint Aidan Way of Mission: Celtic insights for a post-Christian world’ (BRF) contains everything that the monk historian Bede writes about Aidan. Its eight chapters pursue eight pathways of mission and practice that flow out of his spirituality as lived today.
‘Aidan of Lindisfarne: Irish Flame warms a new world’ (Wipf & Stock) is a historical novel, but is based on extensive research and contains extended historical notes. Although some story lines are fictional, it contains everything that we know about Aidan, and much that we know about the Ireland he came from (Part One), the Iona Monastery which sent him (Part Two) and the Northumbria to which he brought his Irish Mission (Part Three).
Although the storyline contains some fiction, it takes Aidan through every stage of Joseph a Campbell's template of the Hero's Journey:
1) It starts with mundane everyday life. 2) The hero is faced with a challenge: to become a monk. 3) He attempts to refuse the call because of fear and infatuation with a girl. 4) He meets with a mentor (spiritual foster mother) who advises and helps him.
5) He crosses the threshold into adventure.
6) He learns the rules of his new world. During this time, he endures tests of strength of will, meets friends, and comes face to face with foes.
7) Setbacks occur, sometimes causing the hero to try a new approach. He experiences a major hurdle or obstacle - a mid-life crisis.
8) After surviving and overcoming he begins his journey back to his ordinary life a deeper and wiser person.
9) He enters into his supreme vocation
10) - The hero faces a final test where everything is at stake and he must use everything he has learned to experience a kind of resurrection.
11) He brings his knowledge or the "elixir" back to the ordinary world, where he applies it to help all who remain there.
‘Aidan of Lindisfarne: Irish Flame warms a new world’ (Wipf & Stock) is a historical novel, but is based on extensive research and contains extended historical notes. Although some story lines are fictional, it contains everything that we know about Aidan, and much that we know about the Ireland he came from (Part One), the Iona Monastery which sent him (Part Two) and the Northumbria to which he brought his Irish Mission (Part Three).
Although the storyline contains some fiction, it takes Aidan through every stage of Joseph a Campbell's template of the Hero's Journey:
1) It starts with mundane everyday life. 2) The hero is faced with a challenge: to become a monk. 3) He attempts to refuse the call because of fear and infatuation with a girl. 4) He meets with a mentor (spiritual foster mother) who advises and helps him.
5) He crosses the threshold into adventure.
6) He learns the rules of his new world. During this time, he endures tests of strength of will, meets friends, and comes face to face with foes.
7) Setbacks occur, sometimes causing the hero to try a new approach. He experiences a major hurdle or obstacle - a mid-life crisis.
8) After surviving and overcoming he begins his journey back to his ordinary life a deeper and wiser person.
9) He enters into his supreme vocation
10) - The hero faces a final test where everything is at stake and he must use everything he has learned to experience a kind of resurrection.
11) He brings his knowledge or the "elixir" back to the ordinary world, where he applies it to help all who remain there.
January 1, 2019
A Celtic Communion?
I receive questions about Celtic Holy Communion services.
If you belong to a church with bishops, only an ordained person can preside at a Eucharist. You may, however, hold a Celtic Agape. 'The Celtic Prayer Book volume 3: Healing the Land: natural seasons, sacraments and special services' has an Agape on page 174.
If you are ordained or belong to a Free or Independent church in which you are recognized as a responsible person in leadership you may lead a Celtic Communion Service. There are three services from page 135.
If you belong to a church with bishops, only an ordained person can preside at a Eucharist. You may, however, hold a Celtic Agape. 'The Celtic Prayer Book volume 3: Healing the Land: natural seasons, sacraments and special services' has an Agape on page 174.
If you are ordained or belong to a Free or Independent church in which you are recognized as a responsible person in leadership you may lead a Celtic Communion Service. There are three services from page 135.
