Small Listening Groups with Father David; and,
“Entering the Same Door, Differently”.
Father David’s post of July 9, 2021 — This past week I have been participating in the second year of a two-year residency program created by the Shalem Spiritual Institute in Washington, DC. I am away this week at a retreat center on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in order to allow me time to participate in a full schedule of plenary sessions, small groups, and prayer. I am grateful to Canon Casson and Emily Gibson who will be with you this Sunday, July 11, so I might learn and reconnect with a small group of clergy who I have grown close to the last year.
A good bit of the week will be spent reflecting upon our ministry this past year during COVID. We will have time to share the lessons we have learned about ourselves and our leadership during this time of pandemic. I have truly valued this program this past year as I met with a small peer group every month since last September to reflect upon the assigned reading, how our prayer life has deepened (or not), and to support one another in prayer.
This monthly listening session has been such an important part of my own spiritual growth this year, I want to offer you a similar experience. My hope is that folks will be a part of one of the three Listening Groups that will begin early in September for the purpose of drawing closer to God and one another through prayer, sharing our stories, and reflecting on God’s presence in our lives. Click here to learn more about these Listening Groups.
Another opportunity is the “Entering the Same Door, Differently” retreat next Saturday led by Christina Lee and me. This will be a chance to support one another and to reflect how God was present and active in our lives this past year. Please let me know by this weekend if you plan to attend on Saturday, July 17, from 9:00AM to 1:00PM at the church. Click here to learn more about the “Entering the Same Door, Differently” retreat.
Peace,
Fr. David+, OA
