“School of the Spirit”
Posted on May. 02, 2009 | Tagged as: Clerk's Blog
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Marian Van Dellan of Rochester Monthly Meeting sent us a copy of a brochure from THE SCHOOL OF THE SPIRIT.
I was impressed enough that I have pasted the contents below. (The text was formatted for a traditional tri-fold sheet of paper, so it loses something in the translation, but you can get the basic information.)
But first, Marian’s cover note:
Northern Yearly Meeting Contacts and Clerk:
Attached is a brochure from A Quaker Ministry of Prayer and learning devoted
to the SCHOOL OF THE SPIRIT giving information on their programs and
retreats for 2009. I especially want to make F/friends in NYM aware of the
fact that a new class of the program ” On Being a Spiritual Nurturer” is
forming to begin in the fall of 2009. This two year program of prayer and
study is a unique opportunity for those in your meeting who may be longing
to deepen their understanding of traditional Quaker practice, nurture their
own spiritual life, as well a sensing a call to nurture others in their
faith community.
I am asking if you you would be willing to pass on this information to
anyone in your Meeting whom you think might be interested in this. If you
give me names of those whom you think might have interest, I will follow-up
with a contact. I plan to offer an interest group about this ministry at
the Yearly Meeting session.
If you are not familiar with the “School of the Spirit” I will give a brief
explanation. This ministry was begun around 1990 by three women in the
Philadelphia area (Sandra Cronk, Kathryn Damiano, Fran Tabor) who felt a
call to help Quakers deepen their understanding of their faith tradition,
help individuals be more faithful responders to the Guide, and nurture a
capacity to lead others to a deeper connection with the Spirit. There is
now new leadership for this ministry, but the mission remains the same. The
ministry is under the care of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The residencies
for this program are held in North Carolina.
Marian Van Dellen
——————–
A Quaker Ministry of Prayer and Learning devoted to
t h e S c h o o l
o f t h e
S p i r i t
On Being a Spiritual Nurturer
Sept. 2009 – May 2011
Testing the Waters Retreats
May 16, 2009
Gwynedd Friends Meeting, PA
Retreats at Powell House, NY
June 19-22, 2009
A Ministry of the Standing Committee on Worship and Care of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends
———————–
On Being A Spiritual Nurturer, 2009 – 2011
a two-year program of prayer and study
Spiritual nurturers are persons led to pay particular attention to God’s transforming, guiding, and healing work. They are called on to love others toward wholeness and faithfulness through listening and prayer. Nurturers help persons follow a path of deepening relationship with God.
The program is grounded in the traditional Quaker practices of deep listening and of individual formation within community. Through an intentional two-year journey that welcomes the Inward Teacher, the participant is invited into radical transformation. The participant moves from times of solitary prayer to times of corporate worship, from living in the world at home to being on retreat at the residencies, from learning with the mind to listening with the heart. Experiencing these rhythms, participants are challenged to allow the Holy Spirit to change them and give them an authentic presence and voice in their faith communities and the wider world.
The program is designed to accommodate persons who wish to continue active involvement in work, family, and meeting/ church activities while fully engaged in the program. The program has attracted people from all over the U.S. and Canada, and is open to persons from all faith traditions.
In this program, you will join others who are:
- called to nurture their faith communities and in particular the Religious Society of Friends.
- in transition and are sensing a nudge from God to service.
- desiring a more grounded contemplative life.
- seeking a deeper spiritual root to their witness in the world.
You are ready for the program, if you wish to:
- grow spiritually, deepening your life in God through greater understanding of how God works in our lives and through an expansion of love and compassion for others.
- gain a greater understanding of spiritual practices and faith journeys of others, particularly those of the Judeo-Christian and Quaker traditions.
- develop gifts for spiritual nurture and discern how these gifts can best be used to serve individuals, meetings, churches and the wider world.
You will commit to and benefit from:
- eight 3-5 day residencies (32 days in all) at the Avila Retreat Center, just north of Durham, NC (Sept. 2009 – May 2011).
- meeting monthly with a Care Committee.
- daily spiritual practice.
- assigned readings.
- self-chosen integrative projects.
At a residency you will experience:
- teaching by the core staff and visitors.
- corporate worship.
- small (koinonia) groups for reflection, discernment, and accountability.
- spiritual friendships.
- personal prayer and free time.
After the program, you will be better prepared to:
- nurture your faith community.
- foster small groups and one-to-one companionships.
- encourage spiritual gifts in others.
- offer hospitality and prayerful presence.
- teach and lead retreats.
- attend divinity school or seminary.
- re-enter the workplace with a new sense of calling.
————————-
Interested?
Attend a Testing the Waters retreat:
Gwynedd Friends Meeting,
Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, May 16, 2009
To register, email info@schoolofthespirit.org
————————-
For more information, including the program prospectus, application form, and details about our needs-based scholarships, visit www.schoolofthespirit.org
Application deadline: May 25, 2009
Late applications considered on an individual basis
Cost: $6,100
————————-
A Quaker Ministry of
Prayer and Learning devoted to
the School of the Spirit
is dedicated to helping all who wish to be more faithful listeners and responders to the inward work of Christ.
Within the Religious Society of Friends, the traditional meetings of ministers and elders were sometimes referred to as a “school of the Spirit.” In gathered worship Friends learned to discern the movement of the Inward Teacher and test their discernment with one another. This practiced listening extended into every aspect of their lives. Living into this way of being is not easy; we often resist, preferring to ignore God’s promptings into an ever-deepening union. But the still, quiet voice will not be silent, and with discipline and the support of others we can find ourselves becoming more faithful.
This ministry offers several programs to deepen our faithfulness:
- the two-year program of prayer and study On Being a Spiritual Nurturer, first offered in 1990 and in the midst of its seventh class;
- the new one-year program The Way of Ministry, for those with a specific call to gospel, traveling, or public ministry; and
- silent and contemplative retreats, begun almost a decade ago at Powell House, NY.
In all these settings we have the opportunity to reflect upon the presence of God in our lives and our willingness to deepen our commitment to God’s guidance. Nurturing and practicing our capacity for listening and prayer is essential for our inward preparation for ministry.
————————-
Core Teachers
On Being a Spiritual Nurturer
Michael Green (Chapel Hill Mtg, NC)
Patty Levering (Davidson Mtg, NC)
Carole Treadway (Friendship Mtg, NC)
The Way of Ministry
Marcelle Martin (Chestnut Hill Mtg, PA)
Laura Melly (Chestnut Hill Mtg, PA)
Beckey Phipps (Fresh Pond Mtg, MA)
————————-
2009 PROGRAMS AND RETREATS
May 16 Testing the Waters Retreat
Gwynedd Meeting, PA, VA
To register, see Contact Information below
May 21-25 The Way of Ministry Residency
Pendle Hill, Philadelphia, PA
June 19-22 Contemplative Retreat
Led by Linda Chidsey and Carolyn Moon
Powell House, Old Chatham, NY
To register, visit www.powellhouse.org
Sept. 16-21 Spiritual Nurturer Residency
Avila Retreat Center, Durham, NC
Nov. 19-22 Spiritual Nurturer Residency
Avila Retreat Center, Durham, NC
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