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 and we work with the spirit whatever the faith. We foster interfaith dialogue between people of different religious traditions and multifaith affinity with aspects of the beliefs and philosophies of Pagan, Heathen, Druid, 1st. Nations, 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 & 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 feeling 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 & compassionate community. Members practice prayer, belief ritual, reflection on spirituality and learning in divinity. In comparative understanding, this can increase awareness and understanding of 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 & 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) & 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 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. 

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 and by sharing goals of understanding the varied traditions and web of world religions. One way of doing this is to learning about the histories & beliefs of others, whilst celebrating our own named festivals.

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

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

Our Lyfjaberg initiative, is our wellbeing, healing & peace initiative, it challenges eco-anxiety, racism & 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 popular.

Below: the lake at Compton Verney; the "Tranquil Thoughtfulness" resource on our Pinterest board is popular. 

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 & 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 & learning. key areas for the project include: welfare, well-being, quality of life, happiness & enjoyment; equality, equity & ethical communities; social, environmental & economic welfare, the arts & cultural heritage, landscape and natural heritage, wildlife & animal welfare, responsible, compassionate & sustainable lifestyles, climate change & eco-philosophy. We offer resources, publications & 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 & social media delivery & 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 & XAT Medicine Society in the USA

2.Our Chaplaincy will provide a writing ministry & justice campaign for animal rights, environmental campaigners & political prisoners in the UK

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

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

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

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

7.Our chaplaincy maintains it’s liminal position, it’s awareness of spirit, it’s willingness to learn & act responsibly. We work with other chaplaincies, ministries & circles 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 & 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 & engaging in ecological matters. 8.How best to support animist or divine concepts when perceiving & speaking about ecology. 9. Talk in the community, about the sacred value of Earth 10. Mindfully & 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. Fires are the greatest concern, not only scaring special sited 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 

valuing 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-