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(Lay Academy-2004) 
Personal Spiritual Formation

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Personal Spiritual Formation

January 30/31,2004
Rev. Dr. Barbara Anne Keely, Presenter
Rev. Betty Weidert, Responder

Course Description: To be a spiritual leader, one needs to have an intentional and vibrant spiritual life. This course will explore how to cultivate and deepen one's relationship with God through spiritual patterns and spiritual friendships.

Pre-gathering reading material and assignment:

1. Read the following texts:

• Marjorie Thompson. Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life, 1995. Westminster John Knox, 1995.
• Ben Campbell Johnson and Andrew Dreitcer, Beyond the Ordinary: Spirituality for Church Leaders. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

2. Chose three of the following disciplines, and practice them at least 4 times:

also on http://www.congregationalspirituality.org/alonewithGod.htm

a. lectio divina ("holy reading"): Thompson, chapter 2

b. centering prayer: Thompson, chapter 3

c. fasting: Thompson, chapter 5

d. self-examination: Thompson, chapter 6

Take one discipline per week, practice it at least four times, then write a one-page reflection for each discipline (for example, were you familiar with this discipline or was it new? was it helpful? what did you learn? might it be helpful to include as a "regular” practice in your spiritual life?)

3. Drawing on Thompson, Johnson and Dreitcer, and your spiritual practices, write a

three to four page introductory paper reflecting on your own spiritual life at this point, including how you define 'the spiritual life’ and how you nurture it.

Post-reading material and assignment:

1. You may chose to focus on prayer or Sabbath, so chose one of the following texts Richard Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1992

Bill Hybels, Too Busy Not to Pray: Slowing Down to Be with God. (Revised and Expanded) Downer's Grove: Inter-varsity Press, 1998

Wayne Muller, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives. New York: Bantam Books, 1999

2. Building on the pre-course paper, the readings, and the course weekend, develop a paper that describes

a. understanding of the spiritual life ‘essentials,' drawing on readings & class

b. how you would describe those 'essentials' to a spiritual friend

c. how you assess yourself at this point of the journey, and

d. a realistic plan to strengthen what is strong and to develop those that are weak.

This paper should show the use of the pre/post reading assignments, and be 8-10 pages in length. (Typed; double-spaced; 12 font)

Contact information:

Dr. Barbara Anne Keely,

Associate professor of Christian education and congregational spirituality

3000 5th Street Northwest, New Brighton, MN 55112-2598 www.congregationalspirituality.org office: 651-255-6125 fax: 651-633-4315 bakeely@unitedseminary-mn.org

Biographical:

Dr. Barbara Anne Keely is associate professor of Christian education and congregational spirituality at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, MN. A Minister of Word and Sacrament, Barbara Anne is also parish associate at Presbyterian Church of the Way, Shoreview, MN. Trained in spiritual direction, she is an Oblate of the Order of St. Benedict and works to integrate the classical traditions with our Reformed heritage. She is also in the process of developing a website of resources, www.congregationalspirituality.org.