Interfaith Mission & Eco Spirituality Chaplaincy to the:
* Anglo American 1st Nations prisoner Association
* XATS Society's 1st Nations prisoner outreach
* The Juno Project. In 1982 the XAT Society & Anglo American Society for Native American Prisoners, asked our founder, Norma Saunders, to set up a UK interfaith chaplaincy supporting Native American prisoners. XAT felt that a chaplaincy in the U
K, a country without the death penalty, could bring a different perspective to groups working in the USA. We are proud of our work with death row prisoners. The Chaplaincy took its name from Black Elks famous lines:
“The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize at the centre of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that its centre is really everywhere, it is within each of us.”
We have expanded the reach of First Peace Chaplaincy. We now work in the wider communities of interest wherever we are needed. The chaplaincy ministers to people who are unable to attend the usual spiritual community activities, by being present or in a position to communicate. We listen, respond and offer appropriate care and general ministry. We empower users to nurture there own spiritual coping strategies. As well as spiritual ministry, the chaplaincy delivers moral and religious education, pastoral support, community and cultural activities and compassionate and humanitarian projects. We work with the spirit whatever the faith. We are committed to co-operation in the diverse society in which we all live, through:
1.Interfaith dialogue between people of different religious traditions and by sharing goals of understanding the varied traditions and web of world religions. One way of doing this is to learning about the histories & beliefs of others, whilst celebrating our own named festivals.
2. Multifaith affinity with aspects of the group of beliefs and range of philosophy that follow: Pagan, Heathen, 1st. Nations, African Animism, Celtic & Saxon Christian, Spiritualism. We offer expertise in spiritual ecology & wider well being programmes, alongside traditional ministry, worship & mysticism. We have found ourselves more in demand than ever, as people report feeling anxious about the social & political turmoil, fighting & war around the world & lack of action on climate change, nature loss, human & animal suffering. Mission Points:
1.Our Chaplaincy will provide a writing ministry for First Nations in the USA ( first facilitated in co-operation with the Anglo-American prison support association UK & XAT Medicine Society in the USA
2.Our Chaplaincy will provide a writing ministry & justice campaign for animal rights, environmental campaigners & political prisoners in the UK
3.Our chaplaincy raises awareness of Eco-spirituality within communities of interest. Our Eco-spirituality ministry supports those with anxiety from climate, nature & biodiversity collapse, through prayer, practical actions, education, spiritual practice & the healing of relationships with nature.
4.We seek to heal the heart of people and communities & enhance life therein & encourage well balanced free will & well being & within communities, people, the animal kingdom & all of nature, ministering to each soul & divine spirit & fostering thoughtful, mindful, compassionate attitudes, connections & potential. Names & issues can be submitted for our Lyfjaberg healing book.
5.Our chaplaincy supports social justice, animal & environmental welfare & works to create co-operation & understanding through interfaith projects & multi-faith inclusion; working with the spirit whatever the faith: pagan, heathen, US 1st. Nation & African animism, Celtic & Saxon Christian, Spiritualism…the web of world religions.
6.Our ministry uses prayer, spiritual, magical & psychic mysteries & works with nature & the divine to create positive change & display gratitude, joy & nurture & enhance all life.
7.Our chaplaincy maintains it’s liminal position, it’s awareness of spirit, it’s willingness to learn & act responsibly. We work with other chaplaincies, ministries & circles that harmonise with our own. At First Peace Chaplaincy, Tuesday mornings, 10:30-11:30 is Spiritual Ecology Hour. Our volunteers choose from the topics: 1.Prayer. 2.Small practical actions. 3. Earth healing Path walking. 4. Nature & well being visualisation. 5. Magical Battle of Middle Earth. 6. Positive spiritual ecology affirmations. 7. Building awareness of how spiritual principles can influence our approach to thinking about & engaging in ecological matters. 8.How best to support animist or divine concepts when perceiving & speaking about ecology. 9. Talk in the community, about the sacred value of Earth 10. Mindfully & thoughtfully reading an item of relevance to nature and spirituality. Small Circles Group is our group to support those working with children.
