Amy Boucher Pye

Tag: retreat

  • Introducing… online embodied prayer retreats

    I’m excited to announce two online retreats this autumn that Kristen Rubow and I are leading. Kristen is a mind and movement coach, and we’ve been delighted to be developing material based on the Bible and neuroscience, to help us pray with our bodies!

    The movements are gentle and can be done from standing or sitting; all movements can be modified for your body. We hope you’ll be able to join one or both of the retreats.

    Returning Home

    26 September 2026, UK: 3–6pm; US Mountain time: 8–11am

    God breathed life into us—his very breath within us giving us life. But when our first parents turned from God, our lives became disconnected and fragmented. Yet God calls us to return home to him and to ourselves. As we engage with these overarching themes from the Bible, we’ll explore how God made our brains and bodies dynamic and changeable. God will help us to reconnect what was broken.

    To pay in £ sterling: standard £25; subsidized £20; generous £30 (if you are signing up for both retreats, please choose the subsidized rate for each retreat to secure a discount)

    To pay in US dollars: Please ignore the links to my online shop (which would mean paying for conversation to £ sterling) and instead pay Kristen’s venmo: @m3kinections

    Standard $35; subsidized $30; generous $40, and $60 for both retreats. Please email me to confirm that you’ve signed up this way so that I can add you to the list.

    Changed by God

    17 October 2026, UK: 3–6pm; US Mountain time: 8–11am

    Christ dwells within those who follow him through the Holy Spirit. How might practicing the presence of Jesus deepen for us when we consider that he dwells within not only our spirits and souls but our bodies? We’ll look at how God is for us, how we can attach to God and receive his love, and how the God of love will change us as we renew our minds and deepen our pathways to him.

    To pay in £ sterling: standard £25; subsidized £20; generous £30 (if you are signing up for both retreats, please choose the subsidized rate for each retreat to secure a discount)

    To pay in US dollars: Please ignore the links to my online shop (which would mean paying for conversation to £ sterling) and instead pay Kristen’s venmo: @m3kinections

    Standard $35; subsidized $30; generous $40, and $60 for both retreats. Please email me to confirm that you’ve signed up this way so that I can add you to the list.

    Amy Boucher Pye and Kristen Rubow have been friends since they were toddlers. Amy is a London-based author, spiritual director, and retreat leader. The author of six books, she also writes devotional thoughts for publications such as Our Daily Bread and New Daylight. Her MA in Christian spirituality comes from Heythrop College, University of London. Find her at amyboucherpye.com.

    Kristen is a mind and movement coach based in Colorado. Her previous extensive music background as a professional harpist instilled in her an understanding of how God awakens our senses. She developed M3Kinections, her studio, with a movement curriculum on neuroplasticity 15 years ago and now encourages people to use movement to develop connection within themselves, creating a stronger sense of self and wholeness. Find her at www.m3kinections.com.

  • Waiting for Jesus, God with us, at Advent

    Jesus, the true light, shines into the world as he is born a baby and is God with us, Emmanuel. I invite you to enjoy two short videos I made during the Advent retreats I led at glorious settings, Waverley Abbey, the lovely house and the historic ruins of the Cistercian monastery, and Mulberry House in High Ongar, Essex.

    A nighttime blessing and considering of the wonders of Jesus, for whom we wait in Advent:

    A morning blessing from the grounds of Mulberry House:

    Missed out on my retreats? Join from the comfort of your home via YouTube and a downloadable journal. Just £15.

    May God bless you richly during this Advent and Christmas season!

  • Encounter God this Advent

    “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…” (John 1:9, NIV)

    During Advent, this time of darkness in the northern hemisphere, we wait for the True Light who vanquishes the darkness. We embrace the gift of God who came to earth as a baby, who lived among us, who died and rose again, living with us now through his Spirit.

    As you ponder the Light of Christ, I offer a poem that I’d forgotten, which someone brought to my attention last week, one I penned some years ago based on Isaiah 9:2, focusing on the True Light:

    Darkness Deep darkness Walking and stumbling Feeling our way Feet in the muck Sucking us down Helpless cries Feeling lost But then the sense A lightening of our spirit Darkness turns to dawn The light breaks through The Son appears His light not covered The secret places revealed He gives hope and health We welcome him with us That light now within In us; through us We dwell in him And our cracked clay pots Now shine forth bright What was dirty and broken Reveals patterns of light The people walking in darkness Have seen a great light On those living in darkness A light has dawned Come, Lord Jesus.

    If you can set aside some time for a retreat this Advent, I know God will bless your time with him!

    One way is for anyone who has an internet connection and just under two hours – join my Advent retreat sessions via YouTube and a downloadable journal. Just £15.

    Or I have two in-person opportunities for an Advent retreat day:

    Join me for an Advent reflection to refocus on Christ from the comfort of your home or in person at the atmospheric Waverley Abbey or beautiful Mulberry House. Through three sessions, using words and pictures, we will look at Jesus from the start, Jesus in the darkness and Jesus with us. We’ll enjoy time together as a group, and you’ll have space for your own prayer and reflection.

    Waverley Abbey, Farnham, Surrey, on 14 December. Find out more and book your place. You’ll have time to explore the ruins and enjoy a the wonderful house, decked out for Christmas.

    Mulberry House, High Ongar, Essex, on 16 December. Crazily wonderful price of £25 with a 2-course lunch (their food is hotel standard and REALLY nice). Find out more and book a place.

    Enjoy the mist and ruins of Waverley Abbey in this Advent-themed video:

  • Join me this Advent on retreat

    Plan now for a refreshing encounter with Jesus during Advent!

    “I was able to lose myself in my time with Jesus.”

    “You helped me encounter God in a new way.”

    “I’m very visual, and am learning that the Spirit really speaks to me through beautiful art… Leo’s lovely paintings really blessed me. The journal was beautifully presented.”

    Advent can be an intense time of the year – the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas can overtake our intentions to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus. But however busy we are, we can trust that God is with us. He is Emmanuel – the One who always with us.

    Join me for an Advent reflection to refocus on Christ from the comfort of your home or in person at the atmospheric Waverley Abbey. Through three sessions, using words and pictures, we will look at Jesus from the start, Jesus in the darkness and Jesus with us. We’ll enjoy time together as a group, and you’ll have space for your own prayer and reflection.

    Together, let’s cut through the frenetic pace of the season and make space for Jesus this Advent.

    Please note that I will be sharing much of the same content as for the Advent 2023 retreat.

    When: 7 December online from 3 to 5.30pm UK (check your timezone)

    What: Three sessions for you retreat, receive, renew

    Downloadable prayer journal, either for printing or to use digitally through a PDF

    Schedule:

    3pm           Introduction and session 1: Jesus from the start

    3.50pm      Session 2: Jesus in our darkness

    4.30pm      Break

    4.45pm      Session 3: Jesus with us

    5.30pm      End

    Sign up now!

    Or join in person at Waverley Abbey, Farnham, Surrey, on 14 December. Find out more and book your place for an engaging day.

  • Join me this Advent on retreat

    Haven’t had time to book an Advent retreat? Now you can access my Advent retreat online, at a time that suits you!

    Just set aside an hour and 45 minutes (you can spread it out however you wish) and prepare to experience God’s loving affirmation as you ponder Jesus from the start, Jesus in our darkness, and Jesus, God with us. Each session has not only teaching but time for prayer exercises, including guided times.

    I hope you can join me and be refreshed by God during a busy season.

    Comments from some participants:

    “I was able to lose myself in my time with Jesus.”

    “You helped me encounter God in a new way.”

    “I’m very visual, and am learning that the Spirit really speaks to me through beautiful art… Leo’s lovely paintings really blessed me. The journal was beautifully presented.”

    Buy now!

  • Meeting the Living Christ in the Holy Land

    I welcome you to a pilgrimage/retreat in the Holy Land in February to encounter the living Christ. We’ll have a knowledgable local guide, and I’ll be there fostering the spiritual experience, as I lead prayer practices and times of encounter with God. We’re keen that as we walk where Jesus walked, we also have time and space to encounter Jesus who lives today.

    You can find details on the McCabe Pilgrimages website – a full brochure along with the booking form. My first trip this year was an enriching and wonderful time. I’d love to see you there!

    The wilderness where Jesus went for 40 days and 40 nights.
    So moving to visit the Western Wall.
    Glorious spices and food!
    One of the gates to the Old City of Jerusalem.
    The view from the hotel room in Tiberias.

  • Join me in the Holy Land?

    How would you like to join me and Nicholas on a trip to the Holy Land in February? We’ll have a knowledgable local guide, and I’ll be there fostering the spiritual experience, as I lead prayer practices and times of encounter with God. We’re keen that as we walk where Jesus walked, we also have time and space to encounter the Risen Christ.

    You can find details on the McCabe Pilgrimages website – a full brochure along with the booking form. Nicholas and I went in January and had such an enriching and wonderful time. We would love to see you there!

    The wilderness where Jesus went for 40 days and 40 nights.
    So moving to visit the Western Wall.
    Glorious spices and food!
    One of the gates to the Old City of Jerusalem.
    The view from the hotel room in Tiberias.
    We take a boat ride similar to this one on the Sea of Galilee.

  • Welcoming you to Penhurst Retreat Centre in Sussex

    Last week I lead a retreat on the content of my new book, Transforming Love, in the glorious setting of Penhurst Retreat Centre. See my Insta and Facebook pages for amazing photos that I took in and around that place. We had sunshine and long days, with so much time to explore and enjoy.

    Too far to travel? I created several reels for shorter times of prayer, and I have the Penhurst prayer exercise playlist on my YouTube channel if you have time for a mini-retreat.

    If you want to see when you might be able to book into your own experience there, here’s the link to the website.

  • Join me at Lee Abbey, Devon?

    Not too long now and I’ll be in Devon leading a retreat at Lee Abbey (13-17 March)! We’re going to be delving into the gospel stories of Mary, Martha and Lazarus to experience how Jesus transformed them – and how through friendship with him he changes us.

    This is a very special place right on the coast, with plenty of time for coastal walks, a dip in the sea (!), explorations in the countryside, rest, fellowship and fun. I highly recommend it.

    At £340, including all meals, it’s on the more affordable side of things (but yes, I know we’re in a cost-of-living crisis, and for many of you the flight to the UK would be very expensive!).

    To give you a taste of this amazing place, here is a playlist of Prayer Moments at Lee Abbey, including leaving your burdens at the cross, morning blessings, and streams of living water. Below, have a look at the amazing cove, a short walk from the house at Lee Abbey. Following the video, some lovely photos – and yes, one year it snowed in March!

  • Join me in praying from Penhurst Retreat Centre

    This week I’m leading a 7 Ways to Pray retreat from the lovely Penhurst Retreat Centre near Battle, East Sussex (on the south coast of England). I welcome you to experience some of the wonder of this place, and more so, our amazing God who loves to meet us in prayer.

    I’ll be adding short videos each day to my YouTube channel – wifi permitting! (It’s very slow here out in the countryside.) You can also enjoy the videos I created back in March from Lee Abbey, Devon, if you want to jump in now. We won’t have the seaside this week, but amazing English gardens.

    The first video I created last night shortly after arriving while sitting in the sun-soaked garden by the labyrinth. How to prepare for a retreat? I give some pointers, and some silence to enjoy the birdsong.

    How do you best prepare for a retreat?