Explore and Experience Celtic Spirituality as a Lenten Practice
Longmeadow, Massachusetts – February 21, 2023
As an enhancement to its monthly Celtic Candlelight and Communion Service, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Longmeadow is offering a Lenten spiritual series that will incorporate contemplative prayer, teaching on the history and vision of Celtic Christianity, and a simple communal meal.
The program is intended to offer participants a fuller understanding of Christian history and the impact of Celtic spirituality on the growth of the Church.
The series will take place every Tuesday evening in Lent, running between February 28 and April 4. Each session will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a short contemplative service that draws upon Celtic poetry and liturgy. Following the service, participants will share a simple meal of soup, salad, and bread. The final segment of the program will be a lecture and discussion of various aspects of Celtic Christianity.
The topics to be covered over the course of the series will include a history of the early Celtic Church in Ireland, Scotland, and England, including Druids and pagan culture; an exploration of the main aspects of Celtic spirituality; an introduction to Celtic saints between 400 – 650 CE, including an extended look at the saints of Scotland and England; a presentation of Celtic poetry, music, prayers, and liturgy; and an examination of what emerged as the first written Irish language.
“What is so fascinating about the Celtic Church is how rapidly it grew in its first two hundred years when it was as far away as one could get from what was considered the ‘known world’ and from Rome,” explains Peter Prewandowski, the leader of the program. “Celtic writing and traditions contributed so much to the spiritual development of Christianity,” Prewandowski continues. “In addition, because of our own heritage as the church of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, Celtic spirituality is of particular importance to our understanding of our Christian history.”
All members of the community are invited to participate. It is not necessary to attend every session.
For more information contact:
Peter Prewandowski
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
335 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106
413-567-5901
st-andrews-longmeadow.org