New Monasticism and New Friars

Lisa’s going to Myanmar tomorrow for two weeks of living with a Servants team there and a time of discernment about her future.

It’s made me think about Servants and Northumbria Community, about the New Friars and the New Monasticism.

My understanding is that there is a move of the Spirit calling us to rediscover some of the ‘old’ – and ever new – characteristics of community and mission.

Living here at The Old Friary is a step to being part of the New Monasticism and forming our lives around the rhythm of prayer, and being in intentional community to share life together and offer hospitality to others. As Lisa’s last blog says – it’s challenging us enough so we've written no blogs for a while!
And even more challenging are the New Friars. “These communities of men and women have voluntarily removed themselves from the status quo in order to seek justice and mercy with the poorest of the world’s poor.” (Wikipedia) 
Yesterday when Mac became a Franciscan he was asked what he thought Francis would say if he was here today. He said "Speak for those who have no voice."
Servants to Asia’s Urban Poor choose to live in the slums to befriend and share life there, and to speak for those who have no voice. So Lisa’s going to check it out while we live the prayer rhythm back here. It reminds me of the call to live incarnationally and my longing is to respond.