Pilgrimage of the Soul –
Meeting God in the Wilderness, Mountaintop, and Waterside
Lancashire MWiB Conference at the Glendower Hotel
It was a privilege to be asked to lead the Conference this year as the Lancashire Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB) gathered once again in the beautiful coastal town of St Annes by the Sea nestled within the wider county of Lancashire. Hosted at the welcoming Glendower Hotel, the conference brought together women from across the region for what I hoped would be a deeply reflective and spiritually nourishing weekend centred on “Pilgrimage of the Soul: Meeting God in the Wilderness, Mountaintop, and Waterside.” This was an invitation to journey inward.
A Sacred Theme for a Sacred Time
The theme invited us to explore three profound spiritual landscapes: the wilderness, the mountaintop, and the waterside. Each has long been a biblical symbol of encounter, challenge, and renewal. Over the weekend, these landscapes framed worship, reflection, storytelling, and shared prayer.
Meeting God in the Wilderness
The wilderness is never comfortable—yet it is often where transformation begins.
In Scripture, the wilderness is: A place of testing; a place of clarity; a place where distractions fall away; a place where God speaks in surprising ways
During the conference, we reflected on our own wilderness experiences—periods of uncertainty, loss, transition, or waiting. Through guided devotions and shared testimony, we were reminded that God does His deepest work in desolate places.
The wilderness doesn’t mean God is absent; rather, it’s often where he becomes most real.
Meeting God on the Mountaintop
Mountaintop moments are those precious, awe-filled experiences when God feels close and unmistakably present.
Like Moses on Sinai or the disciples at the Transfiguration, mountaintop encounters: Renew our strength; deepen our faith; give us perspective and remind us of God’s majesty
Meeting God at the Waterside
Just steps away from the seafront, the conference’s location offered the perfect backdrop for contemplating the waterside.
The waterside is a symbol of: refreshment; restoration; new beginnings and the washing away of fear and heaviness
Many attendees enjoyed quiet walks along the promenade, listening to the rhythm of the waves—reminders of God’s constancy and peace. Devotional times encouraged us to imagine Jesus by the Sea of Galilee, calling disciples, performing miracles, and offering breakfast on the beach to weary friends.
Here, in the gentle hush of sea and sky, the soul finds rest.
Our final session was to go on a pilgrimage using the image of the Labyrinth from Reims Cathedral. We packed our small bags with items we needed on the way.
We shared in:
- 3 guided meditations;
- Reflected on how God moulds us?
- Listening to the heart of God;
- Who is journeying with us?
- Where do we go for spiritual first aid?
- What does our faith cost us
- Wrote a letter to ourselves which I will post over the next few months
Fellowship, Food, and the Gift of Community
No MWiB event would be complete without rich fellowship.
Conversations flowed over meals, laughter filled the lounges, and new friendships blossomed. The Glendower Hotel provided a warm and hospitable atmosphere, allowing women to relax, reflect, and enjoy being together.
Workshops and sessions created space not only for spiritual exploration but also for creativity, discussion, and mutual encouragement. As always, the sense of community was one of the greatest blessings of the weekend.
Leaving Renewed, Strengthened, and Sent
By the end of the conference, hopefully everyone left with:
- New insights
- Renewed hope
- Strength for the journey ahead
- A deeper awareness of God’s presence in all seasons of life
The pilgrimage of the soul continues long after the suitcases are packed.
Whether we find ourselves in wilderness, on a mountaintop, or by quiet waters, the message of the weekend remains:
God is already there—waiting to meet us.
Leonora Wassell
