Wilderness
"Returning to the wilderness to find and deepen faith became part of the religious consciousness of the Hebrew nation."
Welcome to your tasters for July.
'By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?'
Wilderness has often been an important part of the story of God's people. Whether it be the people of Israel in the desert for 40 years; Elijah hiding in the wilderness in fear of his life; or Jesus in the desert tempted by God. Those empty and desolate places provided an opportunity to hear God speaking in new ways.
So, time to begin:
Experiencing a month in the wilderness:
'A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God"' Isaiah 40.3
This month we are invited to enter into the experience of wilderness. To find places where we can connect with God in new ways. Download and print the monthly guidelines using the button below:
Don't forget to book your place on this month's 'Meet the Chefs' session on 17th July, 2025. This session will be led by Ven Becky Waring, Associate Archdeacon of Bristol
Doing - Get stuck in
In this section you can download simple, clear instructions on how to get started:
Watching - Learning from others
We've asked people to try out some of the practices and to share their experiences of how they have helped them to connect with God in new ways:
Further resources and links
Biblical Fasting - Why, when, how and how not to fast a helpful blog looking at the biblical basis for fasting, the reasons why Christians fast and some good guidelines for how to practise fasting.
Download some guidelines to help you prepare a day of fasting and prayer