WEEK 4: Grief – Listening to suffering
Hosted by Archdeacon Catherine Pickford, with guest speaker Revd Tosin Oladipu
Tosin Odalipo is the Rector of St Margaret Lothbury. Prior to his current post he spent nearly five years as chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He has served on the board of trustees for the Reconciling Leaders Network (RLN) since March 2022. Before training for ministry, Tosin worked for 15 years in digital and video tech start-ups across London. After being ordained, Tosin ministered in the parish of St Mary’s Leyton and held responsibility for outreach, prayer, and the development of interns and ordinands.
This Lent, join us on a journey of discipleship shaped by listening. Through reflections, stories and communal practices, we will explore what it means to listen deeply to God, one another and the world around us.
Together, we will discover how attentive presence and honest conversation can nurture communities where faith grows, relationships deepen and we become more open to the movement of the Spirit.
This offering is a partnership between London Diocese and the London Centre for Spiritual Direction.
Session Structure
Online (60 minutes)
- Welcome and opening liturgy
- Opening question
- Reflection by the guest speaker
- Conversation with the hosting bishop
- Embodied prayer practice
- Introduction to a listening skill
- Notices and closing liturgy
In parish (30 minutes)
- Group reflection with listening practices
Ways to Participate
- Join live on Tuesday evening: Watch as a church group or individually, then gather for small group reflection using the provided handouts.
- Watch the recording later: Recordings will be available on this page by 4:00 pm each Wednesday. You can either play the full recording for your group or use the PDF resource to lead your own liturgy and contemplative practice with just the talk and Q&A.
Who is this for?
This offering is ideal for entire parishes, small groups, teams, or individuals (who need to join or create their own small groups for reflection). While sessions are aimed at those connected to the London Diocese, everyone is welcome.