First Peace Chaplaincy - our vision

  

Above: the Chaplaincy logo.

1^st. Peace Chaplaincy; Interfaith Mission and Eco Spirituality Chaplaincy celebrated 40 years of service in 2022. The Ministry benefits co-operative communities, encouraging an increase in thoughtful, mindful and compassionate attitudes. In the diverse society in which we all live, understanding of citizenship and democracy is offered. We work with the spirit whatever the faith. We foster interfaith dialogue between people of different religious traditions and multifaith affinity. We focus on the beliefs and philosophies of Pagan, Heathen, Druid, 1st. Nations (US), African Animist, Celtic and Saxon Christian and Spiritualist paths. The Chaplaincy offers expertise in spiritual ecology and wider well being programmes, alongside traditional ministry, worship and mysticism. We have found ourselves more in demand than ever, as people report feeling anxious about the social and political turmoil, fighting and war around the world and lack of action on climate change, nature loss, human and animal suffering.

1^st. Peace Chaplaincy is the Interfaith Mission & Eco Spirituality Chaplaincy to the:
* Anglo American 1st Nations prisoner Association
* XATS Society's 1st Nations prisoner outreach
* Juno Project 

1^st. Peace Chaplaincy Interfaith and Eco Spirituality Ministry: our communities feed back to us that our interfaith and eco-spirituality work, is much valued. People report an enhanced appreciation of and increase in: thoughtful, mindful and compassionate attitudes; peacefulness; understanding and feelings of justice, opportunity and potential; the reassurance of multi level community connection and connection with nature.  We offer a big welcome to our caring, vibrant and compassionate community. Members practice prayer, belief ritual, reflection on spirituality and learning in divinity. Community connection and comparative understanding can increase awareness of and insight into the diverse religious belief in our communities. Regardless of beliefs, pastoral support is provided to anyone who needs it.

Our welcoming space nurtures the connectedness of our interfaith community where members can explore their own paths, and richness of dialogue is shared. People can speak openly about anything on their minds, be it beliefs, identity anxieties or vision. Everyone deserves to feel heard and respected.     

1^st. Peace Chaplaincy Interfaith and Eco Spirituality Ministry, celebrated 40 years of service to the Anglo American community in 2022. We published a 40 year report in 2024.

In 1982 Chief Frank Chilcote, a Crow Medicine Man who had set up the XAT Society and Prison-Ashram project (based in Seattle) and The Anglo American Support Society for Native American Prisoners (based in Camelford, UK), both asked Norma Saunders, to set up a UK interfaith chaplaincy supporting Native American prisoners. XAT felt that a chaplaincy in the UK, a country without the death penalty, could bring a different perspective to that of groups working in the USA. First Peace Chaplaincy is proud of the organisations ministry for death row prisoners. 

The Chaplaincy took its name from Black Elks famous lines: “The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize at the centre of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that its centre is really everywhere, it is within each of us.”

At First Peace Chaplaincy we expanded our reach in 2011. We now work in the wider communities of interest wherever we are needed. The chaplaincy ministers to people who are unable to attend the usual spiritual community activities, by being present or in a position to communicate. We listen, respond and offer appropriate care and general ministry. We aim to empower users to nurture there own spiritual coping strategies. 

We work cooperatively with other groups, towards common interests.

As well as spiritual ministry, the chaplaincy delivers moral and religious education, pastoral support, community and cultural activities and compassionate and humanitarian projects. We work with the spirit whatever the faith.

Above: The tranquil fountain at Nostell Priory.

The ministry is committed to co-operation in the diverse society in which we all live, through:

1.Interfaith dialogue between people of different religious traditions, shares the goals of understanding varied traditions and the web of world religions. One way of doing this is to learn about the histories and beliefs of others, whilst celebrating our own named festivals.

2. Multifaith affinity with aspects of the group of beliefs and the philosophical range, that follows: Pagan, Heathen, 1st. Nations, African Animism, Celtic & Saxon Christian, Spiritualism.

We offer expertise in spiritual ecology and wider well being programmes, alongside traditional ministry, worship and mysticism. We have found ourselves more in demand than ever, as people report feeling anxious about the social and political turmoil, fighting and war around the world and lack of action on climate change, nature loss, human and animal suffering.

Our Lyfjaberg initiative, is our wellbeing, healing and peace initiative, it challenges eco-anxiety, racism and bullying. Our community much appreciates our work with physical wellbeing, mindfulness, peace and spiritual healing. Our Lyfjaberg sanctuary book, spring wildflower walks and autumn press-fests celebrations are in demand.

The "Tranquil Thoughtfulness" resource on our Pinterest board is popular. 

Below: the lake at Compton Verney. 

1st Peace Chaplaincy manages the Juno Programme, this programme is: inspired by concepts associated with Juno: iuvenescendo - to rejuvenate, to aid and benefit; leading to our idea “Educate to Rejuvenate: to aid and benefit our communities”. 

Inclusion, involvement and communication are key to The Juno Project, as they are to the Chaplaincy. We deliver the project through a range of creative and imaginative applications, that share best practice and learning. key areas for the project include: welfare, well-being, quality of life, happiness and enjoyment; equality, equity and ethical communities; social, environmental and economic welfare, the arts and cultural heritage, landscape and natural heritage, wildlife and animal welfare, responsible, compassionate and sustainable lifestyles, climate change and eco-philosophy. We offer resources, publications and tools for traditional crafting and growing.

Above: 1) Our Vegan Kozy Kitchen Project was started in 2000, to celebrate the millennium, it remains as popular as ever. 2) Our Organic Heritage Trials Gardens help us to connect to the community by sharing heritage plants and learning.

Our Learning Communities of Interest Networks: operate at community level, at academic level and co-operate internationally and locally to share best practice. Activities are organised by academic term. Lessons learned in lock down, have been built upon, to create significant online and social media delivery and engagement tools...supporters love to get involved.

First Peace Chaplaincy Mission Points:

1.Our Chaplaincy will provide a writing ministry for First Nations in the USA (first facilitated in co-operation with the Anglo-American prison support association UK and XAT Medicine Society in the USA

2.Our Chaplaincy will provide a writing ministry and justice campaign for animal rights activists, environmental campaigners and political prisoners.

3.Our chaplaincy raises awareness of Eco-spirituality issues within communities of interest. Our Eco-spirituality ministry supports those with anxiety from climate, nature and biodiversity collapse, through prayer, practical actions, education, spiritual practice and the healing of relationships with nature.

4.We seek to heal the heart of people and communities and enhance life therein. We encourage well balanced free will and well being within communities. We work for people, the animal kingdom and all of nature, ministering to each soul and divine spirit, fostering thoughtful, mindful, compassionate attitudes, connections and potential. Names and issues can be submitted for our Lyfjaberg healing book.

5.Our chaplaincy supports social justice, animal and environmental welfare. We work to create co-operation and understanding through interfaith projects and multi-faith inclusion; working with the spirit whatever the faith: pagan and heathen, US 1st. Nation and African animism, Celtic and Saxon Christian, Spiritualism and the web of world religions.

6.Our ministry uses prayer, spiritual, magical and psychic mysteries. We work with nature and the divine to create positive change and display gratitude, joy and nurture and enhance all life.

7.Our chaplaincy maintains it’s liminal position, it’s awareness of spirit, it’s willingness to learn and act responsibly. We work with other chaplaincies, ministries, circles, harrows and hearths that harmonise with our own. 

8. Promoting justice and peace is paramount in our work

9. At First Peace Chaplaincy, Tuesday mornings, 10:30-11:30 is Spiritual Ecology Hour.

Above: seeds for the future. Photographed by a supporter

First Peace Chaplaincy volunteers: choose from the topics: 

1.Prayer. 2.Small practical actions. 3. Earth healing-path walking. 4. Nature and well being visualisation. 5. Magical Battle of Middle Earth. 6. Positive spiritual ecology affirmations. 7. Building awareness of how spiritual principles can influence our approach to thinking about and engaging in ecological matters. 8.How best to support animist or divine concepts when perceiving and speaking about ecology. 9. Talk in the community, about the sacred value of Earth 10. Mindfully and thoughtfully reading an item of relevance to nature and spirituality. 11. The Small Circles Group is our group to support those working with children.12. Promoting equality.

Above: natural weofod. Offerings should be a few berries, such as the rowans shown here, that the birds will eat, or a few drops of water. Never leave a footprint in nature. Clouties, especially on trees at wells where wildlife accesses water, can trap and kill birds. Piled up stones detract from the heritage landscape and destroy habitats for insects, animals and birds. introducing offerings to rivers can cause pollution. Fires are the greatest concern, not only scaring special sites, as can often be seen at Nine Ladies, but posing a potentially huge risk if they get out of control. 

The Chaplaincy implements it's vision through:

our responsive, accessible approach, made possible because we are a small orgnisation. We 

value the community involvement, collaboration and co-operation on which we rely. 

We deliver a service that is quality assured by our extensive expertise and experience and by measuring impact and demonstrating our accountability and success.

Our Our logo features a Jacobean composite roundel with acanthus leaves enfolding a pomegranate: the acanthus motif became popular in 5th. Century BC Greek architecture. A notable example is the temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens, where they symbolised growth, victory, immortality, resilience and enduring connection to nature. Later they came to symbolise overcoming Sin. Christians associate them with the crown of thorns. Pomegranates are filled with seeds and symbolise fertility, abundance, prosperity and the contrast of life over death. The fruits hard shell is protective of the potential life inside and the Rosy red colour offers vibrant vitality.

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Newsletter of the XAT Society and Prison-Ashram project chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://humankindness.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/web_1981-