We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's Glory, are being transformed into His Image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:18
The Abbey of The Way Community helps leaders and followers of Jesus to discern, learn, and live in His Way: to behold the Vision of God, to grow in the Virtue of Jesus, and to practice this in life.
The Abbey House offers a peaceful refuge for doing so.
You are invited to enjoy a transformative experience with Jesus and with us!
The “Of”
We welcome indviduals and groups,
and sponsor several Religious Societies
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The Way
The Abbey of The Way is grounded in the Way of Jesus in a time-tested fashion, what we call a Way of Virtue. READ MORE
Who runs the Abbey?
It is directed by Father Len Cowan, is overseen by a Board of Directors, is staffed by a Community that shares its vision for ministry and lives its Way of Life, and is supported by all who believe in its ministry. It is in partnership with the Anglican Diocese in New England.
Len and his late wife, Hallie, have been pursuing and promoting a deeper life in Christ ever since they first met in college. Len served as an Episcopal priest for 37 years in three parishes, a summer camp, and regional and national renewal ministries. Hallie served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 28 years, first as campus staff at three women’s colleges, then as Coordinator for Prayer and Spiritual Formation for staff in New England. While serving in their last parish, Len and Hallie developed and The Refuge, a parish-based center for renewal, retreat, and refreshment at the church building.
Len stepped down from parish ministry in 2015 to develop The Abbey of The Way, situated in his childhood home in Worcester, Massachusetts. Conceived as a center for prayer and spiritual formation for Christian leaders, The Abbey is grounded in a life of prayer and service. Key to its life and ministry is a Way of Virtue, a disciplined guide for living in the Vision of God such that the Holy Spirit replicates the Virtues of Jesus in real life.
Len is an experienced Spiritual Director/Mentor, and promotes prayer and spiritual formation in various Kingdom-focused networks throughout New England. He is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, and assists the Bishop of New England in fostering intercession and deep formation. He is part of The Journey, an evangelical church start, and Emmaus City Church, a Christian Reformed church start, both located in Worcester. Len and The Abbey are in fellowship with the breadth of the faithful church, embracing its evangelical, charismatic, catholic, contemplative, and justice streams of renewal.
Len is blessed with two grown daughters who share in The Life in Christ with their husbands, and three grandchildren who are growing in Christ.
Who can be a part of the Abbey and its ministry?
Though the Abbey’s particular focus is for building up Christian leaders, anyone seeking to follow Jesus is welcome to find refuge here.
How do I receive more information?
Please call us at 508-799-5011
or email us at fatherlen@abbeyoftheway.us
The Program
Spiritual Formation Offerings
Groups, meeting online or on-site for parents, leaders, revivalists, and others interested in pursuing, training, or leading out of The Way of Virtue.
Seasonal Days of Reflection: guided retreats with a theme and time for reflection, offered both onsite, for those vaccinated or who are willing to practice virus social guidelines, and simultaneously online through Zoom
Spiritual direction/mentoring: meetings onsite or online with individuals or groups to reflect on life with God the Holy Trinity, to grow in His Virtues, and to practice a Way of Life for focusing all of life on Him.
Sacramental confession: an opportunity to be reconciled with God through using a Prayer Book Rite, offered privately with the Abbot
Prayer Gatherings
Weekday prayer: morning, noonday, evening and compline prayer, from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, with a hymn or song, a brief reflection, and time for group prayer, offered at 8AM, Noon, 7PM, and 9PM, online (visit www.tinyurl.com/zoomtheabbey or join Zoom Meeting #5087995011), by phone (call 929-205-6099, then enter 5087995011, followed by the # sign) or onsite by request (fatherlen@abbeyoftheway.us).
Contemplative prayer: space for quiet reflection and prayer alone or in a group
Healing prayer: appointments for individuals or families with a prayer ministry team
Soaking prayer: an extended time of healing prayer in silence
Retreats
The Abbey is pleased to offer opportunities for people to respond to Jesus’ invitation to His disciples, ‘come away with Me; let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.’ (Mark 6:31). It’s in dedicated times like this that participants are able to get in touch with God, themselves, and each other in ways that aren’t normally possible in the normal pace and places of life.
The Abbey house, though within a mile of the city center, is a remarkably quiet and peaceful place for a day, overnight, or multi-day Retreats, for those who are willing to practice current COVID guidelines. We are also fully able to lead Retreats online, or at a site of your choice.
Guided Retreat: We are able to offer a sanctified setting with specific guidance from the Scriptures and from experience on how to Retreat with Jesus. This can be done in a partial day, day, or multi-day experience. On our third floor, we offer a space for an individual our couple to stay for up to two weeks on Retreat, on Pilgrimage, or on assignment for writing or discernment.
Hosted Retreat: We are able to take care of the details of hospitality, onsite or online, so that you or your group can enter into a Retreat of your own design, either for a day, an overnight, or multi-day experience.
Home Retreat: We would be glad to prepare materials for your personal use at home or the location of your choice, so that you can receive assistance in entering into the Presence of the Lord. For a sample of what we offer in this regard, please click HERE.
We ask for a donation of $40 for a day’s stay, or overnight, $12 for dinner, $10 for lunch, and $8 for breakfast. We receive cash, checks payable to “The Abbey of The Way”, Credit Card, Venmo, or donations made through the blue Paypal button on the bottom of this page,
As was the case with Peter and John, we pray that our Retreats will mean that those who meet you after your experience with us will “recognize that (you have) been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13
In-person participants must be willing to observe current COVID guidelines.
Lead me in the way everlasting. ~Psalm 139:24
I Am The Way, and The Truth and The Life. ~John 14:6
I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way.~Acts 24:14
UPCOMING
Weekday Prayer Gatherings, Mondays through Fridays
These online gatherings of 15-20 minutes feature a hymn or song, prayers from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, a Scripture reading, and time to reflect and pray together. Using the Daily Office 2019 website (www.dailyoffice2019.com), we come together to pray the classic monastic hours of prayer. Morning Prayer is prayed at 8AM, Midday Prayer at Noon, Evening Prayer at 7PM, Compline at 9PM. Morning Prayer offers a powerful way to dedicate one’s day to The Lord. Midday Prayer interrupts our work and plans, reminding us of Who is in charge. Evening Prayer is designed particularly to be accessible to children, in case families wish to use this gathering as part of bedtime practices. Compline Prayer is especially helpful to prepare oneself for rest and sleep. All of these will provide a gentle and reassuring practice for centering on Jesus throughout the day and night. To participate online by Zoom, please visit the following link, which connects to the account of The Abbey: www.tinyurl.com/zoomtheabbey. Those with a Zoom account can join Zoom Meeting # 508 799 5011 ((The Abbey‘s phone number). Clear instructions will appear, and you will be held in a “waiting room” until you are welcomed aboard by the host. Those without computer access can call 929-205-6099, and enter the meeting code 508 799 5011, followed by the # sign. No Bible, prayer book or songbook is required for those online, as everything needed is presented on your screen. You are welcome to “audit” without praying aloud or making yourself visible online. Those wishing to join The Abbot onsite for any of the offices are welcome to do so, but should contact him by text/phone (508-579-3442) or by email (fatherlen@abbeyoftheway.us) prior so that he is prepared to welcome you. NOTE: in-person participants will be asked to observe current COVID guidelines.
More Upcoming Events HERE
The Hermitage
The Abbey welcomes you to The Hermitage, a center for prayer.
We now welcome guests to our outdoor prayer center in the Abbey’s back yard. Consisting of a biblical stations of the cross, a Way of The Cross Labyrinth, a Prayer Gazebo, a waterfall pond, as well as The Abbey’s patio, gardens, and grounds, this dedicated space offers a safe, socially-distant opportunity to meet with Jesus. This would be a very timely offering to leaders, followers, and seekers of Jesus at a time when few sacred spaces specifically dedicated to Him are available for reflection and prayer. To visit, either stop by, ringing one of The Abbey’s doorbells to let The Abbot know you’re onsite, or contact him by text or phone at 508-579-3442, or by emailing him at fatherlen@abbeyoftheway.us.
After assessing the region’s need and interest, we hope to open an indoor Hermitage prayer center located in the Abbey basement. It will feature three separate spaces for prayer: a large room for group prayer (Phase 1), a smaller room for personal prayer and the arts (Phase 2), and a study room (Phase 3) for those wishing to explore God’s Word and world in a prayerful environment. A 5-minute promotional video describing the extent of the indoor project can be viewed here . Those wishing additional information about this aspect of the Hermitage can contact us at the email address at the bottom of this page.
For an overview of the entire project, an 11-minute video, describing the background and rationale for the Prayer Center, can be found here:
Please join us in praying that The Hermitage, both presently outdoors and possibly indoors, will provide a space for believers, particularly leaders, and non-believers, to encounter the Presence of The Living God.