February 2014
Dear Friends,
Spiritual direction is a time-honored practice among Christians. It provides the opportunity to look at our living in the light of God's loving presence and action with us and among us. We are happy to offer two group spiritual direction opportunities during the upcoming season of Lent. One of these is dedicated to the participation of laity and the other to clergy. Details are below. Please consider giving yourself this gift for Lent.
Lenten Group Spiritual Direction for Laity
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
During the season of Lent we will be offering a weekly Spiritual Direction Group that will meet on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at the Mercer School of Theology in Garden City, beginning on March 11 and continuing for the following five (5) Tuesday evenings. The goal will be to discern God’s actions in our lives in the here-and-now and share that journey with others. Most of us tend to learn more effectively with one or a few persons present. The presence of others supports us as we realize that, although God deals uniquely with each individual, there are often similar concerns and challenges that face us all. During the weeks of Lent as we journey through the Paschal Mystery we will share dreams, hopes, spiritual urgings, questions and doubts as we walk with Jesus through His Saving Death-Resurrection. The format will be a meeting of about 1.5 hours which will be interspersed with limited reflection presentation, quiet, and shared thoughts. The work is, of course, done by the Holy Spirit and our job will be to listen and try to discern what God is trying to do within each of us. The Director’s job is to “get out of the way” so that God can work within us. There are, however, tried and true methods and techniques which may place us in a more receptive mode to God’s urgings. If you are a person who believes that you can share with others and help support others in their journey, this will be a wonderful opportunity to experience a community in Christ. If there is an expressed need, the meetings could continue past Lent.
Lenten Group Spiritual Direction for Clergy “nemo dat quod not habet” (One cannot give what they do not have.)
As clergy persons, we are called to the service of God’s people. The variety and scope of this call and its attendant demands can be bewildering, exhausting, and often can lead to burn out and negativity. Lent is a time for us as clergy to readjust our sights and re-experience God’s workings in us. In most groups, the cleric is the leader to whom everyone looks, either consciously or unconsciously and we often respond to that expectation. But in a group of our peers, there is an opportunity to relinquish the demands of leading and reacquaint ourselves with sharing our values, attitudes, needs and expectations as they have shifted, been birthed or diminished during the past year. God NEVER stops calling and speaking to us as well as working within us. Often, when God knocks, we are so busy being helpful to someone that we don’t give a fitting response. The weeks of Lent can provide us with some time to share and reflect our awareness of God’s abundant presence in our lives as well as our own need to “be still and know that I am God.” Come aside each week at the Mercer School of Theology on Wednesdays at 10:30 am to walk together into the Saving Mystery of Easter. The first session will take place on March 12 and continue on the following five (5) Wednesday mornings These groups will be led by Professor Samuel M. Natale, D. Phil. (Oxon.) of Adelphi University. You can learn more about him here: http://tinyurl.com/SamuelNatale
Interested? Email to merceroffice@dioceseli.org to register or to get more information; or phone to 516.248.4800, extension 140.
Dear Friends,
Spiritual direction is a time-honored practice among Christians. It provides the opportunity to look at our living in the light of God's loving presence and action with us and among us. We are happy to offer two group spiritual direction opportunities during the upcoming season of Lent. One of these is dedicated to the participation of laity and the other to clergy. Details are below. Please consider giving yourself this gift for Lent.
Lenten Group Spiritual Direction for Laity
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
During the season of Lent we will be offering a weekly Spiritual Direction Group that will meet on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at the Mercer School of Theology in Garden City, beginning on March 11 and continuing for the following five (5) Tuesday evenings. The goal will be to discern God’s actions in our lives in the here-and-now and share that journey with others. Most of us tend to learn more effectively with one or a few persons present. The presence of others supports us as we realize that, although God deals uniquely with each individual, there are often similar concerns and challenges that face us all. During the weeks of Lent as we journey through the Paschal Mystery we will share dreams, hopes, spiritual urgings, questions and doubts as we walk with Jesus through His Saving Death-Resurrection. The format will be a meeting of about 1.5 hours which will be interspersed with limited reflection presentation, quiet, and shared thoughts. The work is, of course, done by the Holy Spirit and our job will be to listen and try to discern what God is trying to do within each of us. The Director’s job is to “get out of the way” so that God can work within us. There are, however, tried and true methods and techniques which may place us in a more receptive mode to God’s urgings. If you are a person who believes that you can share with others and help support others in their journey, this will be a wonderful opportunity to experience a community in Christ. If there is an expressed need, the meetings could continue past Lent.
Lenten Group Spiritual Direction for Clergy “nemo dat quod not habet” (One cannot give what they do not have.)
As clergy persons, we are called to the service of God’s people. The variety and scope of this call and its attendant demands can be bewildering, exhausting, and often can lead to burn out and negativity. Lent is a time for us as clergy to readjust our sights and re-experience God’s workings in us. In most groups, the cleric is the leader to whom everyone looks, either consciously or unconsciously and we often respond to that expectation. But in a group of our peers, there is an opportunity to relinquish the demands of leading and reacquaint ourselves with sharing our values, attitudes, needs and expectations as they have shifted, been birthed or diminished during the past year. God NEVER stops calling and speaking to us as well as working within us. Often, when God knocks, we are so busy being helpful to someone that we don’t give a fitting response. The weeks of Lent can provide us with some time to share and reflect our awareness of God’s abundant presence in our lives as well as our own need to “be still and know that I am God.” Come aside each week at the Mercer School of Theology on Wednesdays at 10:30 am to walk together into the Saving Mystery of Easter. The first session will take place on March 12 and continue on the following five (5) Wednesday mornings These groups will be led by Professor Samuel M. Natale, D. Phil. (Oxon.) of Adelphi University. You can learn more about him here: http://tinyurl.com/SamuelNatale
Interested? Email to merceroffice@dioceseli.org to register or to get more information; or phone to 516.248.4800, extension 140.
Blessings,
John McGinty+
Canon for Formation
Diocese of Long Island
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