Father David’s post of August 13, 2021 — You are invited to join any of three small group meetings this fall. Reflect on and experience getting to know the spiritual heart that lives and breathes in each one of us. This five-week group experience is offered three different times this fall and will introduce and renew ancient spiritual practices such as journaling, Sacred Reading, Centering Prayer, and spiritual reflection on the movement of God in our lives and in the world. The group will also be introduced to the South African way of seeing the world known as UBUNTU.

Engaging the Spiritual Heart: A Five-Week Group Experience

Each of us is created in the image of God and as a result each one of us is a beloved daughter and son of God.

Because of this love, each one of us has been endowed with what the mystics refer to as a spiritual heart. This heart is not the organ that resides in each one of us and which pumps blood throughout our bodies so that we might live. The spiritual heart is not a physical organ that beats and allows us to perform our daily tasks, but it is just as important because it is the spiritual heart which longs for a personal connection with God. Because of the demands that are placed on each one of us because of being human, the spiritual heart is often under-utilized or taken for granted.

Each Saturday for five weeks we will gather to practice slowing down from the demands of the week by practicing centering prayer and learn and experience one of the spiritual practices mentioned above. Participants will be encouraged to experience at home the practice that will be introduced each week. The power of this group will come from those who participate as we learn from one another. UBUNTU will help us to understand that we are connected to one another in our desire to know God.

This five-week course will be offered three times in the fall as we begin the process of saying goodbye at the end of the year. The first five-week course begins on Saturday, September 4 and will meet each Saturday, concluding on October 2nd. If you wish to be a part of this group but cannot participate in the first five weeks, a second group will begin on Saturday, October 9 and a third group will begin Saturday November 13.

The group will meet in person and masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. If you are interested in being in one of these groups, please use the Contact Us form on this website to contact me. When I hear from you, I will send you a brief definition about UBUNTU.

As SsAM enters this period of transition, the renewing and building of community will be vitally important as you prepare to welcome an interim Rector and begin the work to call and welcome the third Rector of SsAM. I hope members of all ages will join me for one of these three five-week group experiences. May each of us enter the journey to unlock the power of the spiritual heart through spiritual practice and prayer.

Peace,
Fr. David+, OA