The LCSD Book Club is returning this autumn with a book pick that will help us engage with what is often cited as one of the earliest examples of Spiritual Direction: the Desert Mothers and Fathers.
Together, we will read Lisa Colón Delay’s wonderful book, published earlier this year: The Way of the Desert Elders: How the Wisdom of Ancient Christians Sustains Us Today. This book is described as “a spiritual expedition into the stories and wisdom of ancient, desert-dwelling Christians, who show us how to forge faith at the edges of empire. For all that bewilders and bedevils us, the desert mothers and fathers can help us face our circumstances and ourselves. In The Way of the Desert Elders, Lisa Colón DeLay asks, What if desert elders from more than a millennium ago could walk beside us and nourish our spirits now?”
We’ll meet for three sessions over six weeks. You’ll be given guides for engaging with the content, in a way that we hope will truly form our practice, rather than just being an intellectual exercise.
The book club will be co-hosted by David Towns and Fiona Koefoed-Jespersen. We are hopeful that author Lisa Colón DeLay will also be able to join us for our final session!
Date: Monday 19 October, 2 November, 16 November
When: 19:00- 20:30 GMT
Where: Online
Cost: £50 for all three sessions
About the Author
Lisa Colón DeLay
Lisa Colón DeLay is the author of The Way of the Desert Elders (2026) and The Wild Land Within (2021) and has an MA in spiritual formation. She writes, teaches, and creates products and resources related to spiritual formation. Since 2015, she has hosted Spark My Muse, a top-rated religion and spirituality podcast with guests such as Krista Tippett, James Martin, Parker J. Palmer, Mark Nepo, Lisa Feldman Barrett, Seth Godin, and Ibram Kendi. DeLay grew up in Pittsburgh, having left her native country of Puerto Rico, and now resides near the Appalachian Trail in a small town in Pennsylvania.
Faciliators
David Towns
David was raised within the Baptist and Evangelical traditions of the Church and continues to hold a deep respect for both, while finding himself increasingly drawn towards quieter and more contemplative expressions of faith. His background includes a BA in Applied Theology with Community and Family Studies, ecumenical church-based community work, fifteen years in teaching and school leadership, and communications and design within the charity sector. He lives in Surrey with his life partner and their son and is in the third year of the Encounter course.
Fiona Koefoed-Jespersen
Fiona works for LCSD as Head of Learning and Development. She is a spiritual companion, supervisor and lead tutor on the third year of the Encounter course, training new spiritual directors. She is passionate about seeking the sacred in the ordinary and, through her work, hopes to facilitate ever-deeper connection with God, our most authentic selves, and all of creation. Previously, she worked in communications and leadership in the NGO sector. She lives in Denmark with her husband and two children.
FAQ
-
After booking your event you’ll receive an automatic confirmation email that contains your unique Zoom link. Please check your inbox (and spam folder, just in case) for this email.
You will also receive a reminder email 48 hours before the event and one hour before.
You do not need a Zoom account to join. On the day of the event, simply click the Zoom link in your confirmation email. This will open the Zoom app or website, where you’ll be able to join the event. Be sure to log in a few minutes early to make sure everything is set up!
-
Handouts, if provided, will be shared with you via a link in both your confirmation and reminder emails. The link will direct you to a folder in Google Drive where you can download the materials. To download the handouts:
Click the link in your email to access the folder.
Once in the folder, find the documents listed.
Click on the document you want to download and look for the "Download" option (usually in the top-right corner of the screen).
Select Download, and the file will be saved to your device.
Any handouts made available after the event will be added to this folder.
We strive to provide handouts for each event that it is appropriate for, but please note that some speakers may not provide them. If handouts are available, they will be uploaded to the folder at least 48 hours before the event. Be sure to check the folder ahead of time to ensure you have everything you need!
-
Yes, you can reschedule your booking through the confirmation email. Just click the "Reschedule" link and choose a new time. Please note that rescheduling is subject to availability.
To cancel your booking, simply follow the link in your confirmation email and you’ll find an option to cancel your appointment. Cancellations and refunds are only available before the event starts.
-
If you’re having trouble joining the event, first try checking your internet connection or restarting your Zoom app. If issues persist, please contact us immediately via email at info@lcsd.org.uk, and we’ll try to help troubleshoot or provide an alternative solution.
-
Click on the “Book” button on the page.
Enter your personal information (name, email, etc.) and click “Continue to Payment” button.
On the payment page, fill in your payment details.
Under “Order Summary” you’ll see a field labelled “Package, gift, or coupon code”
Enter your code and click Apply.
Once applied, you should see your 20% member discount reflected in the total amount.
Follow the prompts to finalise your payment and booking. You’ll receive a confirmation email with all the details of your event.