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From the Revd Jassica Castillo-Burley August 2025
 Come away with me
I have just come back from a retreat in Ilam, which is a small village in the Staffordshire Peak District. I spent 4 days with my prayer triplet from Ridley Hall. This is the establishment where we did our theological training 7 years ago and we have managed to meet once a year since that time to share the ups and downs of priestly ministry and to focus on the days ahead
My journey this time was so much longer. Rather than driving for an hour through Lichfield diocese it turned out to be an initial two and a half hours to Wellingborough then a further two hours to Derby. Ilam is a National Trust Park, and we stayed in the bungalow at Dovedale House. The views from there are absolutely breathtaking
So, what is a Retreat?
It’s a period of seclusion for spiritual reflection, a physical withdrawal from a challenging situation, or a place of seclusion for relaxation and rejuvenation
Going away can also feel like a Sabbath, a time of rest as shown in Genesis chapter 1. From this scripture we can see a designated day of rest and worship. It's a time to cease from regular work, enjoy God's creation, spend time with loved ones, and engage in activities that bring joy and refreshment, engage in spiritual reflection, and find renewal in God's presence. The core idea is to stop working and find physical and mental rest. This allows for physical recuperation and a break from the demands of daily lifetime for connecting with God through prayer, scripture reading, and communal worship. it’s a time to focus on God and spiritual matters, rather than being consumed by the usual busyness of life
As I reflect on my time away, I hear these words “Come away with me...”
Two scriptures come to mind. The first is in Mark 6:31 which says ‘And he (Jesus) said unto them, “come away into a deserted place, and rest a while”’. Jesus and his disciples had been so busy, they had no leisure but just enough time to eat
Sometimes life can seem overwhelming, and we need to be able to take time out to ‘check in’ on ourselves and make sure that we are still fulfilling the purpose for which we have been called. It is always good to step back and reevaluate
My second scripture is Song of Solomon 2:10 which says “My beloved speaks, and says to me, arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Sometimes we need to be encouraged to take time out - to laugh a lot, to cry a bit, to eat too much, to watch movies
But most of all to be able to spend time in prayer, to listen to what God is saying and to leave with a word that will take us through the next phase of our lives, whatever that may look like...
Revd Jassica
courtesy of Parish Life
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