Newcastle upon Tyne District Retreat, Spring 2026
Our retreat took place across the last weekend of March at Minsteracres Passionists Monastery in beautiful countryside near Consett. We were told by our retreat secretary that we would be abundantly blessed in our time of praise, worship and sharing together. This became very clear as we were led through our programme, under the title, ‘Unnamed but not unknown’ by local preacher, Alison McLeod, from our East Durham circuit.
Using paintings by Rembrandt and Sieger Koder as well as monologues and accounts from the Old and New Testaments, Alison guided us as we discovered more about the unnamed characters from familiar Bible stories.
We were challenged and surprised as well as sometimes being brought to tears or filled with laughter, as we learned more of the characters and, indeed, more about ourselves and our faith in our loving and forgiving God.
On our free afternoon some chose to go on a prayer walk, often prompted to pray blessings on so much of God’s world, never forgetting the situations in the world. We hugged some of the magnificent trees which reminded us of the faithful souls who had walked the same paths we trod.
Some took the opportunity to get to know new friends and exchange news with old ones, while knitting or crocheting. Others prepared their sketches, poems, songs or stories for entertainment in the ‘President’s Hour’!
We returned home feeling richly blessed by our awesome God.
Judy Tasker
