One of the first Petite Retreats I led was ‘Cradled’.

In the run up to Advent I had found myself musing upon the nesting instincts of pregnant women, and in particular Elizabeth and Mary. I am sure that Zechariah and Joseph must have partaken in some masculine form of preparation for the birth of their sons too: I imagine Joseph carefully shaping wooden rockers on a cradle, Zechariah blowing away the cobwebs from a family heirloom he thought he would never use. Perhaps not, as both men were so riddled with doubts that they struggled to embrace the joy of this time of preparation. Mary’s son was laid in a manger, an animal feeding trough, as we all know from the childhood carols; perhaps Joseph was able to use his word working skills for their second born?

I found myself imagining Elizabeth in her final trimester and Mary in her first, sitting together knitting, or weaving, the swaddling cloths; perhaps each for their own, or maybe they created together just one infant’s wardrobe to be worn first by John and then passed down to his cousin.

I imagine these women cradled together in their shared experiences, their hopes and fears, praying and praising together as the babes in their wombs kicked in delight.

And then I imagined God as a Mother, gently wrapping these women in a huge all-encompassing blanket of her love and protection for their ‘laying in’. I closed my eyes and envisioned God wrapping that blanket of love around me: me as a parent, me as a child, me as a woman seeking to do God’s will.

And so, ‘Cradled’ the Advent Retreat was created, and now I am inviting you to be cradled in God’s love too.

If you would like to join me for an evening this advent, you will be very welcome. We have plenty of blankets in the cosy cabin at Lopcombe Quiet Garden to wrap yourself in, or your can make yourself cosy at home and join me online.

Wednesday 7th December Online £10.

Thursday 8th December 6.30-9.30pm Lopcombe Quiet Garden, SP5 £20 to include pudding and gift.