Information Regarding the “Igniting the Flame” Course:

The following information relative to the “Igniting the Flame” (ItF) course may be helpful in making your decision to enroll:

Enrollment: Fees and Pertinent Information …

• All tuition fees will flow into a specific fund to be used for ItF scholarships and ItF retreats.
• The course builds on readings from the course set book: “New Celtic Monasticism.” It is highly recommended that applicants read this book prior to the start of the course.
• The ItF Course is open to all interested individuals, whether or not they are vowed members of CA&H. In addition, it is NOT a prerequisite for any vowed level of CA&H.

Curriculum Information …

• The course start date is January 1, 2020 and will run for approximately one year.
• The course material will be emailed to each student by unit. There are a total of ten units. Each unit takes approximately two to three weeks to complete.
• There are four assignments which need to be submitted to your Tutor on set dates. As detailed in the course material, each assignment may take the form of music, craft or art work, in addition to a written response.

Tutor/Mentor …

• Prior to the beginning of the course, a Tutor will be selected for each student. The Tutor is not there to “grade” or critique – but rather to receive your assignments, give you feedback, and suggest avenues to explore.
• If for any reason the relationship between Student/Tutor or Student/Mentor is not compatible, contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible and we will do our best to pair you with someone with whom you can more easily relate.

Communication …

• Community Zoom Account information will be provided for Student-to-Student Group meetings where Students will have the opportunity to interact with each other and discuss course material, especially when assignments are due.
• All assignments will be submitted by email, unless other arrangements are made with your Tutor. Tutors will also have the opportunity of Zooming directly with their Students.
• There will be occasional gatherings that bring the entire community of Students and Tutors together as we get to know each other as family.

For further information, contact the Course Coordinator: Cheryl May at
pudelmomfpr@gmail.com

Registration Form for 1 year course beginning January 2020
Name: ___________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
City: ____________________________________________________
State: ___________________ Zip Code: ___________________
Email: __________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________________________

Please circle as appropriate:

• I am/I am not a member of the Community of Aidan and Hilda.
• I have/ I do not have a Soul Friend (Spiritual Companion) willing to accompany me through this course. A Spiritual Director can be an equivalent. If you do not, we will assist you by connecting you to a Mentor within the Community.
• I need/do not need scholarship assistance.
• I have/do not have a copy of ‘New Celtic Monasticism’ by Ray Simpson – the course book.

The cost of the course is $50. You may purchase copies of the book from the Community for $33. You may pay through Paypal by sending to treasurer@aidanandhilda.us. Bill Jolitz will confirm your payment.

Please scan & return this form by email to Cheryl May, pudelmomfpr@gmail.com

The information is ONLY shared with the members of the US ItF Tutor Group. These are Cynthia Helton, Leanne Johnson, Tom Johnson, and Cheryl May.

9th February 2016

This time of year we often face that inconvenient confusion about fasting. By and large we are relieved of it all by a culture that says that it is far better to be positive, take something up, rather than deny ourselves what is good or lovely or essential and, quite frankly, be a bit of a misery.

I wonder if this helps? Imagine you are in need of car and I just happen to have a spare one so offer it to you. You could receive it with joy and use it happily, carefully and gratefully making it known that you are have received this gift from a good and generous person. There is nothing wrong with that at all, in fact it is all as it should be. But now add this into the scenario: you offer the car back to me in generosity, saying that you would love me to be able to use it too; you don’t wish to hang on to it as your own; you recognise that you are entirely entitled to use it as your own for that is how I have given it to but you would love to share it. The car then becomes a means of deepening our relationship.

In life we recognise that all that is, all things, are there by the love and grace of God and we may receive them. We can receive the things we need with joy; we can receive the things that simply give us pleasure with joy. We can use things with care and love, we can cherish all creation. But how about if we relinquish our hold on them and return them in love to God whether they are essential or for pleasure. Of course God does not need them in the way we do, but the act of returning them in this way then makes the thing itself a means of a deepening relationship between us in the same way as that useful car was between us. Then the fast becomes something generous, beautiful and creative. I can begin to understand the joy of the desert fathers and mothers and the Celtic saints when I look at simplicity (the way of living with open hands) and fasting in this light.

May this Lent be a time of great joy and healing.

Penny Warren – UK Guardian, Community of Aidan and Hilda

(Reprinted with permission)

We give you thanks that you led our forbears in the Faith through a cloud by day and a fire by night; we give you thanks, kindly Light, that the torch of faith was brought to this land, and that you ever lead your people on. Light up our dark hearts by the light of your Christ; may his Word illumine our way, for you pour forth loving kindness upon your whole creation, Father, Son and radiant Spirit.

• May the Light of lights come to my dark heart;
• May the Spirit’s wisdom come to me from my Saviour.
• May the peace of the Spirit be mine this night,
• The peace of the Son be mine this night,
• The peace of the Father be mine this night,
• The peace of all peace be mine this night,
• Each morning and evening of my life.

(From this evening’s prayer aidanandhilda.uk.org)

-Timothy Bonney, Prayer Chaplain