{"id":19209,"date":"2026-02-08T08:48:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T08:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwib.org.uk\/?p=19209"},"modified":"2026-02-08T08:48:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T08:48:29","slug":"cochair-blog-8th-february-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mwib.org.uk\/index.php\/2026\/02\/08\/cochair-blog-8th-february-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"CoChair Blog – 8th February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pilgrimage of the Soul \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meeting God in the Wilderness, Mountaintop, and Waterside<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lancashire MWiB Conference at the\u00a0Glendower Hotel<\/strong><\/p>\n

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 \u201cPilgrimage of the Soul: Meeting God in the Wilderness, Mountaintop, and Waterside.\u201d This was an invitation to journey inward.<\/p>\n

A Sacred Theme for a Sacred Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Meeting God in the Wilderness<\/strong><\/p>\n

The wilderness is never comfortable\u2014yet it is often where transformation begins.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

During the conference, we reflected on our own wilderness experiences\u2014periods of uncertainty, loss, transition, or waiting. Through guided devotions and shared testimony, we were reminded that God does His deepest work in desolate places.<\/p>\n

The wilderness doesn\u2019t mean God is absent; rather, it\u2019s often where he becomes most real.<\/p>\n

Meeting God on the Mountaintop<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mountaintop moments are those precious, awe-filled experiences when God feels close and unmistakably present.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s majesty<\/p>\n

Meeting God at the Waterside<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just steps away from the seafront, the conference\u2019s location offered the perfect backdrop for contemplating the waterside.<\/p>\n

The waterside is a symbol of: refreshment; restoration; new beginnings and the washing away of fear and heaviness<\/p>\n

Many attendees enjoyed quiet walks along the promenade, listening to the rhythm of the waves\u2014reminders of God\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Here, in the gentle hush of sea and sky, the soul finds rest.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

We shared in:<\/p>\n