Monday, March 30, 2009
Lenten Retreat
The Rev. Jonathan Bryan led a great retreat at SPOTH on Saturday March 21. Sharing stories from his own life, he helped us understand movements in our lives as being incarnational, crucifixional, and resurrectional. We had small group time to share with each other - being with each other, knowing each other better, and connecting our stories to the saving "story" of Jesus' life, was just what was needed by many. We concluded are time with the Holy Eucharist designed to bring our thoughts and discussions during the morning into focus through the lens of scripture and communion. Thanks Jonathan for a great retreat.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Group Spiritual Direction
Today we had the third meeting of the people taking part in group spiritual direction. There are five people in this group, plus me and I'm there as the facilitator. Next Tuesday our second group of five will begin to meet. Spiritual direction can be done as a one-one-one experience or as a group experience. In the group setting, everyone listens prayerfully to what one of the group decides to share about his or her life and understanding of God's action in his or her life. There is a lot of silence as we hold what is shared reverently. When a person feels call to ask a question in order to help the person move more deeply into relationship with God, she or he does so. Everyone in the group takes turns sharing.
There are many different reasons that people decide to attend a church. And churches have many functions in the lives of individuals and in the life of the wider community. For me, the most important thing that churches do, and the primary reason that we exist, is to help every person, and our community as a whole, grow closer to God. As individuals and communities of faith grow in the knowledge and love of God, the individuals benefit, the church matures, and the wider community is blessed. This can happen in many ways, and at different times in a person's life it can happen in different ways --it can happen through fellowship, outreach (helping others), worshipping, Bible study, singing in a choir - the list goes on and on. Sharing our spiritual journeys as we do in group spiritual direction is one way that God works through us to help each other notice the movements of God in our lives.
There are many different reasons that people decide to attend a church. And churches have many functions in the lives of individuals and in the life of the wider community. For me, the most important thing that churches do, and the primary reason that we exist, is to help every person, and our community as a whole, grow closer to God. As individuals and communities of faith grow in the knowledge and love of God, the individuals benefit, the church matures, and the wider community is blessed. This can happen in many ways, and at different times in a person's life it can happen in different ways --it can happen through fellowship, outreach (helping others), worshipping, Bible study, singing in a choir - the list goes on and on. Sharing our spiritual journeys as we do in group spiritual direction is one way that God works through us to help each other notice the movements of God in our lives.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
What is Lent?
No, I have not given up the blog for Lent. :) We have had a lot happening at SPOTH - the Shrove Tuesday dinner on Feb. 24 was a fun time of fellowship; about 60 people attended. The next day, Ash Wednesday, we began the historic journey through Lent to Easter. Easter is on April 12 this year, so we are about half way there. For me the most important part of Lent is the focus we have on the grace of God. We give things up or take things on so as to deepen our relationship with God. Lent is what we call a "penitential" time - meaning that especially during Lent we take the time to consider the ways that we distance ourselves from God by what do or what we choose not to do. "Sin" is defined as action or inaction on our part that damages our relationship with God. But as I said, the most important part of this Lenten time of self-examination is the fact of God's love for us that never waivers and is always reaching out to embrace us. During Lent, we make a special effort to focus on our spiritual lives and the ways that God calls us into communion and community as we prepare to celebrate Easter.
It is not too late to attend our Wednesday night program for Lent, which is about spiritual practices. We are considering different ways of praying and connecting with God. This weekend, on Saturday March 21, we are delighted that the Rev. Jonathan Bryan will lead a retreat at SPOTH. Jonathan wrote that cool and creative book about what his dog taught him about God, so you know that the retreat will be creative too. He is going to help us reflect upon the ways our life experiences enable us understand the incarnation, the crucifixion, and the resurrection - and conversely, how those events in Jesus' life help us understand and frame our experiences. Check back next week and I'll let you know how it went.
It is not too late to attend our Wednesday night program for Lent, which is about spiritual practices. We are considering different ways of praying and connecting with God. This weekend, on Saturday March 21, we are delighted that the Rev. Jonathan Bryan will lead a retreat at SPOTH. Jonathan wrote that cool and creative book about what his dog taught him about God, so you know that the retreat will be creative too. He is going to help us reflect upon the ways our life experiences enable us understand the incarnation, the crucifixion, and the resurrection - and conversely, how those events in Jesus' life help us understand and frame our experiences. Check back next week and I'll let you know how it went.
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