Contemplative Arts

9:30am on Fridays

Echoing the life of a Christian monastery, we believe Iona House ought to be a place that produces / makes things, especially things we need for our life together.

Friday mornings are a time for us to focus on tactile art forms that have contemplative value. We use this time to make things such as candles, prayer beads, paper, illuminated manuscript, icons, dried fruit, canned fruits and veggies, and more. This time is not merely “arts and crafts” time at Iona House, it is a time set aside to collectively produce something of value for our common life together.

Part 1: Workshop

We start by learning the craft / skill together with an instructor assisting. Sometimes this lasts a very short time; in other cases, it takes a while to get the hang of something and requires more hands-on instruction.

Part 2: Contemplative practice

In the second part of our contemplative arts time, we work in silence - often listening to Taize choruses that we will sing later at Evensong. This practice of silence allows us to attune our hearts to the Lord as we have our hands occupied.

Please RSVP so that we can prepare enough materials for all participants.