Lecture series: The Contented Life
Macclesfield - 19/09/2012
Speaking on topics raised in his recent book, Bishop Robert will explore how the years of retirement can give us opportunity to bring inner coherence to our lives and healing to fragmented relationships.
As the years pass and the accent falls increasingly on being rather than doing it gives us tools for reflection and engagement with the big questions we face. (Copies of his book will be on sale.)
Robert Atwell, formerly a Benedictine monk and now bishop of Stockport, is author of ‘The Contented Life – Spirituality and the Gift of Years’ which is an exploration of how the years of retirement can be used to discover the essence of life, not merely its accessories. He is also the complier of three other books, ‘Love’, ‘Gift’ and ‘Remember’ which celebrate marriage & friendship, the gift of a child and for those in grief.
Lecture Format
Each afternoon session will be as follows:
2.30pm – Talk (up to 30 minutes)
3.00pm – Questions and answers
3.30pm – Light afternoon tea and informal conversation
4.00pm – Close
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: St Michael’s Church, Market Place, Macclesfield, SK10 1HW
Parking: Available in local multi-storey carparks
Cost: Free
You do not need to book but if you have any queries please contact David Wightman
This lecture is part of a series which looks to explore the theme of ageing with its threats and opportunities.
How do we continue a rewarding life when we are no longer able to enjoy some of the pastimes of our younger years? What challenges does the church have to face up to in all of this? How do we support those with illnesses such as dementia to live well?
In her book ‘Borrowing from the Future’, community theologian Ann Morisy points out that we have traditionally accepted that there are three phases to life: birth to youth, the working years and then old age. But as life expectancy increases there are now four stages. There is an extra phase of about twenty years before old age when people are generally still active, but retired from work. These are often called the ‘Third Age’ (60-80 yrs). The opportunities and threats of this new Third Age are the subject of our autumn lecture series this year.