Essence

The Essence Course was produced by Rob Frost in response to what he perceived as a growing hunger for spirituality in a society which has a declining hunger for church and religion.

Unlike Alpha and Emmaus, which are courses devoted largely to doctrine (what Christians believe), Essence explores spirituality, or to put it another way, ‘how we experience God.’

The 6 sessions are a mixture of activities, meditation, reflection and sharing with one another. There is a strong ecological focus in one session and an excellent session on our ‘Spiritual Journey’ which includes a labyrinth.

I have led a number of Essence Courses across the district and on each occasion, I have worked alongside others in the leadership in the hope that they will take on the leadership themselves later.

Although it is often run to a Christian audience in church buildings, Rob Frost encourages us to use it outside of church in, say a leisure centre, to a non-Christian audience.

The course is a testimony to the journey which Ron Frost has taken over the years that he has been an evangelist in the Methodist Church and founder of Easter People. Again, this course recognises that Christian Faith is a journey, not a final destination.

Reaction:

I found Essence to be interesting, quite stimulating at times, and it's always fun to pick up a colouring pen again. It did help me to look at questions from angles I had not previously considered, and made some beliefs firmer, and others less so. The Essence CD was for me a weakness of the course, it gave it a slightly trite feeling and prevented that personal connection with the subject matter. That said I often found myself mulling over the subject matter for the next day or so. I especially enjoyed the labyrinth- it was amazing (badoom, tish). Krish (Kapoor)

Course led by Andi Proffitt:Chaplain NTU