Julian of Norwich Anglican Church is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month inviting one and all to a festival from May 4 to 10.
In 2015, the congregations of St. Michael and All Angels and St. Richard’s joined together to found Julian of Norwich Anglican Church in Ottawa. In the decade since, they have “embraced a new shared parish identity with openness and love, developing a deep sense of community, a rich blending of traditions, and a very fruitful engagement with the parish’s neighbours,” says the Rev. Karen McBride, incumbent.
The anniversary festival focuses on the parish’s namesake. Julian of Norwich was a Christian mystic and spiritual teacher in the Middle Ages. Her hopeful message of “All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well” isn’t misguided optimism, says McBride. “Rather, it’s a profound affirmation because of her divine revelations of God’s unconditional and abiding love, and of God’s active presence in our lives and in the world. That’s one of the reasons we want to offer some public events which explore Julian’s spirituality,” she added.
Here is a schedule of the planned public events (for further information consult the website at julianofnorwichottawa.ca):
Sunday, May 4
Divine Love: A Musical Meditation
1 pm – 2 pm
A time of spiritual exploration based on Julian of Norwich’s reassuring words about divine love. Through a group experience called Audio Devina, Rebecca Worden—registered psychotherapist and certified music therapist—will perform prescribed piano music to lead participants into and out of meditation. Following the music listening and meditation, participants will have a chance to express their experiences by creating images of their spiritual reflections.
Thursday, May 8
Commemorating Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Teacher
Choral Evensong
5 pm – 6 pm
Wine and Cheese Reception
6 pm – 7 pm
Hope in Tumultuous Times: Insights for Our Era from the World of Julian of Norwich
7 pm – 8:15 pm
Dr. Sarah Keeshan, theology student at Saint Paul University, and a postulate for ordination in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, will offer a talk on the connections between Julian of Norwich’s life experience and our own. “In her life, medieval mystic Julian of Norwich experienced periods of significant personal suffering against the backdrop of the cataclysmic disasters of the 14th century. She gently and steadfastly spoke of trust and hope in a world experiencing profound structural and ideological disruption. Almost 700 years later, she and the world that shaped her bear enduring witness to the power of hope in an era of change and uncertainty.” The event will be live-streamed.
Saturday, May 10
In Julian’s Footsteps:
Watch Party of BBC Documentary “The Search for the Lost Manuscript of Julian of Norwich” and Guided Labyrinth Wellness Walk
1 pm – 4:30 pm
Participate in one or both parts of this event. Enjoy an entertaining and informative film about what is known of Julian of Norwich’s life, and the inspiring saga of her ground-breaking manuscript “Revelations of Divine Love,” a book almost lost to history (1 pm – 2:30pm). Then take the opportunity to experience the spiritual enrichment and sense of wellness that the ancient practice of labyrinth walking affords. By the Middle Ages when Julian of Norwich lived, labyrinths were already well-established “paths of pilgrimage” for seekers of guidance, wholeness, and grace.
Come journey on the parish’s temporary 9-circuit indoor labyrinth (2:30pm – 4:30pm).
Gardening in step with nature