Leadership & Learning

Spiritual Formation

 
As the deer longs
for flowing streams
so my soul longs for you,
O God.  
    --Psalm 42:1 NRSV

Fresh Air     Training Events    Retreats    Resources



Daily Spiritual Guides from the Upper Room: 

Devotional       Reflection        Sight Psalms
What is Spiritual Formation?
"Spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ by the gracious working of God's spirit, for the transformation of the world."  (Adapted and expanded from Robert Mulholland's work Invitation to a Journey from Companions in Christ training, 2004)
 
So what does that mean?  Read more at the Companions in Christ Website
Fresh Air - Breathe New Life into Your Congregation!

The New England Conference Spiritual Formation Initiative is pleased to offer a series of three-hour programs, called Fresh Air, which can be held in local churches to promote spiritual formation. A trained retreat leader will come to your church at a time convenient for you. Each module has an experiential component to help deepen spiritual practices.

The first of these modules is available now: Deepening the Congregation's Prayer Life. Experience and learn about Breath Prayer, Daily Prayer, Prayer Groups, and more! Other programs in development are Nurturing the Faith of  Children and Church and Home and Spirituality and Worship.

Click here for a brochure with details.

Training and Workshops

Nurturing Passionate Spirituality: Wednesday, March 6 at Rolling Ridge Conference & Retreat Center. Bishop Devadharwill join us for the morning and will deliver the keynote address. Worship and music led by Rick McKinley, morning and afternoon workshops, fine food and fellowship! Click here for details on the workshops, schedule, and registration.

Please join us - nurture your spiritual journey and transform the congregation.

For Lay and Clergy

  • Basic and Advanced Retreat Leaders Training events are offered each year and are led by Dr. Susan MacKenzie. A Basic training was offered in June 2012. Dates for future trainings have not yet been established. 
  • Gateways to God - Training in spiritual direction and formation. This two-year program instructs and forms participants in the art of spiritual direction for individuals and congregational spiritual formation. The leader for Gateways to God is the Rev. Wendy Miller and the retreats are held at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center in North Andover, MA.  A progam is currently underway. Applications for the next offering will be accepted in the summer of 2013.

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Retreats

For Clergy:

Each year during the week after Easter, a retreat is offered for clergy which offers guided spiritual exploration with a retreat leader as well as ample time for personal reflection and rest. The retreat is usually held at the Marie Joseph Retreat center on the Atlantic Ocean in Biddeford, Maine.
Living Mindfully through the Hours of the Day: Retreat leaders for the 2013 retreat (April 2 - 4) will be the Reverends Susan Morrison and Cynthia Good. They invite us join them as we learn to take time to pause and live mindfully through the hours of the day. Click here for the brochure with details and registration information.
Retreat Centers

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Small Group Resources
Other Resources and Information
Links

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