The God of Unchanging Love: who never changes his mind about us

“God never changes his mind about you. He is simply in love with you. What he does again and again is change your mind about him.” — Herbert McCabe OP

Many of us have been taught to imagine God as capable of changing his mind.

The idea that God is changeable (like us) can cause a great deal of unnecessary worry. People might wonder: how to win God’s favour? How to avoid displeasing God? How to be in ’the right place’ with God?

The classical understanding of God in Christianity (and across the great theistic traditions) affirms that God is unchanging. In this view, God never changes his mind; rather, through grace, our minds are changed — about God, about ourselves, about everything.

God is the unchanging source of all that changes, the eternal ground of all creation. And this is profoundly good news.

If God is unchanging, eternal love, then there is no beginning and end to God’s love. In the classical vision, there is no wrath or anger in God to be managed or overcome. No process was ever needed to reconcile God to us, because God has never ceased to be for us.

We might then ask, ‘What about prayer, especially petitionary prayer?’ If God is unchanging love, then prayer — even our most fervent petitions — cannot be about persuading God at all. Instead, prayer becomes the place where our own minds, hearts, lives and relationships are gently reshaped.

Drawing on the wisdom of a host of teachers from across the centuries, this half-day workshop will explore:

• the classical understanding of God as unchanging - and its liberating message for today
• how certain images of God can generate fear and confusion — and can be released
• how prayer can help us come to know the unconditional, unchanging love of God for us and for all creation

Who is this for?

The event has been carefully crafted to be inclusive and accessible, welcoming anyone seeking truth, peace, and spiritual renewal, regardless of their faith, beliefs or previous experience of meditation.

What to expect

The workshop will include a flow of two talks, times of conversation, a period of silent meditation and a break.

Following the workshop, all participants will be invited to an optional online discussion evening, where people can join small break-out groups of 5-6 people to continue exploring the ideas raised. Three dates will be offered and we'll proceed with the most popular one.

Practical information

• Tickets cost £20 or £30 with a £10 donation.
  
• The event will be hosted on Zoom. Please make sure you have a free Zoom account before joining.
• If you are on a low income and finding it hard to make ends meet, please get in touch to request a bursary.

Event leader

Chris Whittington is the Founder of The School of Contemplative Life. He was introduced to contemplative practice during several years of formation when he lived at the Benedictine monastery of Prinknash Abbey in England. Chris’ monastic teachers taught meditation as a universal wisdom found within all the great spiritual traditions, a pathway to peace and solidarity with people of all faiths and none. Following an introduction by the Abbot of the Prinknash community, Chris subsequently studied at the Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamshala, India.

Chris regularly delivers talks, workshops and retreats and has introduced the practice of meditation in the Christian tradition to thousands of people in the UK and abroad. He is known for his ability to communicate the subtleties of the practice and complex spiritual texts in simple, practical ways, resonant with the challenges of daily life.

Chris is the author of The Missing Peace - Meditation as a Spiritual Path to Peace, Community and Oneness published by Canterbury Press.

Terms

Please refer to our Event Terms and Conditions here. All income from ticket sales and donations will support The School of Contemplative Life - a UK registered charity.