This newsletter comes to you from The Upper Room Center for Christian Spiritual Formation, an evolving offering of Upper Room resources, past and present.
Holy Ground by John S. Mogabgab
Holy ground is the place of life-giving rootedness in something larger than our own lives
Holy ground is the stable place of clarity and confidence in a turbulent human landscape of shifting values, crumbling hopes, frayed trusts, uncertain commitments. Holy ground is the place of life-giving rootedness in something larger than our own lives, something deep enough and enduring enough to keep us anchored and oriented in the storm. Holy ground is the place at once attractive and fearsome, where God speaks and we listen; the place of empowerment, transformation, and sending forth to live victoriously in a world too often disfigured by the defeat of justice, peace, and human dignity; the place where the gracious rule of God is known and the new creation becomes visible; the place where faith can move mountains (Matt. 17:20).From “Editor’s Introduction,” Weavings (September/October 1992). John S. Mogabgab was the founding editor for Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life.
Weavings "Signs of the Times Collection" (six PDF articles from Weavings) is available in The Upper Room Bookstore.
Practice: Breathing As Prayer By Daniel Wolpert
Breathing as prayer is similar to silent prayer, and it can be done at any time, for we are always breathing. The practice is simple: Take some time to notice how you breathe. Sit upright in a silent place. Draw your attention to your breath. Most of us breathe with our chest only, yet our deepest breath comes when we breathe from our abdomen, allowing our diaphragm to expand fully. As our stomach muscles expand, we breathe in, and as they contract we breathe out. Watch a baby and you’ll see this natural deep breathing in action.
Set aside some time to practice breathing like this; you might begin with ten to twenty minutes. Breathe slowly; breathing too quickly can cause you to hyperventilate. Pay attention to the sensation of completely filling your lungs and slowly releasing the air. You may find breathing differently hard at first. Ask God to fill you with the spirit of life.
From Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices.Copyright © 2003 by Daniel Wolpert. Used with permission of Upper Room Books.
Present Time
present time
is where you live your life
heart open
each moment
no past — future worry — just
loving in the now (Ann Freeman Price)
From Alive Now (January/February 2011). Used with permission of The Upper Room.
Prayer by Pam Hawkins
Spirit of the Living God, I live this day in the presence of your truth, by the power of your grace, with thanksgiving for the longing I have for you and the longing you have for me. Drench me, shape me, move me. Amen.
From The Awkward Season: Prayers for Lent. © 2009 by Pamela C. Hawkins. Used with permission of Upper Room Books.
Audio Lectio
Pray with us the gospel lessions for each Sunday of Lent. Audio Lectio is a guided meditation using each week's gospel reading from the lectionary.
Two-Year Academy
Join us on the journey -- upcoming Two-Year Academies for Spiritual Formation. California - beginning in July. Alabama - beginning in August. Learn more.
The Academy for Spiritual Formation
Two-Year Academies
Five-Day Academies/ Academy- Related Events
ACADEMY #40 English
Danville, California
San Damiano Retreat
July 29, 2018 - May 1, 2020
ACADEMY #40 English
Danville, California
San Damiano Retreat
July 29, 2018 - May 1, 2020
Session 1 July 29-Aug 3, 2018 Sunday - Friday
Session 2 October 28- Nov.2, 2018 Sunday - Friday
Session 3 February 17-22, 2019 Sunday - Friday
Session 4 May 5-10, 2019 Sunday - Friday
Session 5 July 28-Aug 2, 2019 Sunday - Friday
Session 6 November 10-15, 2019 Sunday - Friday
Session 7 February 16-21, 2020 Sunday - Friday
Session 8 April 26-May 1, 2020 Sunday - Friday
$2,600.00 -- Tuition
$5,395.00 -- Room & Board
$7,995.00 -- Total Participant Fees
(Includes $300 acceptance fee and quarterly charges of $961.88 per session)
Total cost of Academy #40 (room, board and tuition, but not books) is $7,995.00 (single occupancy). Payment is received over three years (2018-20). Scholarship and financial consultation are available, based on need.
Scholarship application deadline is June 15, 2018 for accepted enrollees.
Faculty Presenters for Academy #40
Session One: July 29 - August 3, 2018
Attentiveness to the Word - Wilkie Au
Traditions of Christian Spirituality - Roger Owens
Session Two: October 28 - November 2, 2018
Spiritual Disciplines – Marjorie Thompson
Hebrew Spirituality – Rabbi David Horowitz
Session Three: February 17-22, 2019
Roman Catholic Spirituality – Sr. Kathleen Flood
Liturgy & Spirituality – Ruth Duck
Session Four: May 5-10, 2019
Orthodox Spirituality – Fr. John Mefrige
Spirituality and Embodiment – Marilyn Chandler McEntyre
Session Five: July 28 - August 2, 2019
Prayer and the Art of Discernment – Robert Benson
New Testament Spirituality – Leticia Guardiola-Saenz
Session Six: November 10-15, 2019
Protestant Spirituality – Amy Oden
Spirituality and Ways of Healing – Hy Xuan Le
Session Seven: February 16-21, 2020
Spiritual Leadership in Local Faith Communities – Elaine Heath
Christian Spirituality in the Global Context – Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
Session Eight: April 26 - May 1, 2020
Bearing Witness to the Reign of God in the World – Ray Buckley
Sustaining Our Life in Christ – Luther Smith
Online Application Below ...
RegisterLearn MoreDownload Brochure
Danville, California
San Damiano Retreat
July 29, 2018 - May 1, 2020
Session 1 July 29-Aug 3, 2018 Sunday - Friday
Session 2 October 28- Nov.2, 2018 Sunday - Friday
Session 3 February 17-22, 2019 Sunday - Friday
Session 4 May 5-10, 2019 Sunday - Friday
Session 5 July 28-Aug 2, 2019 Sunday - Friday
Session 6 November 10-15, 2019 Sunday - Friday
Session 7 February 16-21, 2020 Sunday - Friday
Session 8 April 26-May 1, 2020 Sunday - Friday
$2,600.00 -- Tuition
$5,395.00 -- Room & Board
$7,995.00 -- Total Participant Fees
(Includes $300 acceptance fee and quarterly charges of $961.88 per session)
Total cost of Academy #40 (room, board and tuition, but not books) is $7,995.00 (single occupancy). Payment is received over three years (2018-20). Scholarship and financial consultation are available, based on need.
Scholarship application deadline is June 15, 2018 for accepted enrollees.
Faculty Presenters for Academy #40
Session One: July 29 - August 3, 2018
Attentiveness to the Word - Wilkie Au
Traditions of Christian Spirituality - Roger Owens
Session Two: October 28 - November 2, 2018
Spiritual Disciplines – Marjorie Thompson
Hebrew Spirituality – Rabbi David Horowitz
Session Three: February 17-22, 2019
Roman Catholic Spirituality – Sr. Kathleen Flood
Liturgy & Spirituality – Ruth Duck
Session Four: May 5-10, 2019
Orthodox Spirituality – Fr. John Mefrige
Spirituality and Embodiment – Marilyn Chandler McEntyre
Session Five: July 28 - August 2, 2019
Prayer and the Art of Discernment – Robert Benson
New Testament Spirituality – Leticia Guardiola-Saenz
Session Six: November 10-15, 2019
Protestant Spirituality – Amy Oden
Spirituality and Ways of Healing – Hy Xuan Le
Session Seven: February 16-21, 2020
Spiritual Leadership in Local Faith Communities – Elaine Heath
Christian Spirituality in the Global Context – Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
Session Eight: April 26 - May 1, 2020
Bearing Witness to the Reign of God in the World – Ray Buckley
Sustaining Our Life in Christ – Luther Smith
Online Application Below ...
RegisterLearn MoreDownload Brochure
726 Highland Dr.
Danville, CA 94526
Get Directions
ACADEMY #41 English
Gallant, Alabama
Sumatanga Camp & Conference Center
August 27, 2018 - April 18, 2020
SAVE THE DATES!
Session One August 27 - Sept 1, 2018 Monday - Saturday
Session Two November 12-17, 2018 Monday - Saturday
Session Three February 4-9, 2019 Monday - Saturday
Session Four May 13-18, 2019 Monday - Saturday
Session Five August 19-24, 2019 Monday - Saturday
Session Six November 18-23, 2019 Monday - Saturday
Session Seven February 3-8, 2020 Monday - Saturday
Session Eight April 13-18, 2020 Monday - Saturday
Tuition: $2,600.00
Room & Board $4,200.00
Total: $6,800.00 (includes $300 acceptance deposit and eight quarterly charges of $850 per session)
Application fee (non-refundable): $50.00
Total cost of Academy #41 (room, board and tuition, but not books) is $6,800 (single occupancy). Payment is received over three years (2018-20). Scholarship and financial consultation are available, based on need. Scholarship application deadline is June 15, 2018for accepted enrollees.
Academy #41 Faculty:
Session One: August 27 – Sept 1, 2018
Attentiveness to the Word - Roger Owens
Traditions of Christian Spirituality - Loyd Allen
Session Two: November 12-17, 2018
Spiritual Disciplines – Sr. Dawn Mills
Hebrew Spirituality – Rabbi Chava Bahle
Session Three: February 4-9, 2019
New Testament Spirituality – Luke Timothy Johnson
Liturgy & Spirituality – Melanie Ross
Session Four: May 13-18, 2019
Roman Catholic Spirituality – Sr. Kathleen Flood
Spirituality and Embodiment – Luther Smith
Session Five: August 19-24, 2019
Prayer and the Art of Discernment – Roberta Bondi
Orthodox Spirituality – Fr. John Mefrige
Session Six: November 18-23, 2019
Protestant Spirituality – Amy Oden
Spirituality and Ways of Healing – Grace Imathiu
Session Seven: February 3-8, 2020
Spiritual Leadership in Local Faith Communities – Sr. Nancy Schreck
Christian Spirituality in the Global Context – Thomas Thangaraj
Session Eight: April 13-18, 2020
Bearing Witness to the Reign of God in the World – Barbara Brown Taylor
Sustaining Our Life in Christ – Wilkie Au
Online Application Below ...
RegisterLearn MoreDownload Brochure
Sumatanga Camp & Conference Center
http://www.sumatanga.org/
3616 Sumatanga Rd.
Gallant, AL 35972
Get Directions
This occasional newsletter brings resources for your spiritual journey and updates from The Upper Room.
Blessings to you during this Lenten season.
Newsletter sign-up.
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"Lent, Day 13, Water" The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018
For the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent, we will use the writings of Rev. Trevor Hudson of South Africa, Pauses for Lent: 40 Words for 40 Days(Upper Room Books, 2015).
WATER
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
Water is one of the most powerful images that Jesus uses to describe himself. When Jesus calls himself our “living water,” he means he satisfies our deepest thirsts. Not only does this water quench our thirst but it also becomes like a spring bubbling up inside of us, filling us with the life God wants to give us.
For what do we thirst? Theologian and humanitarian Jean Vanier points out that to be thirsty in biblical language is to be “dried up inside,” “to feel totally empty and in anguish.” To be thirsty is to long for love, acceptance, and affirmation. In other words, it is to thirst for a heart-to-heart connection with the living and loving God.
Jesus invites those who thirst to come to him and drink his life-giving water. To drink from Jesus is to receive his Spirit in our lives. The water Jesus offers makes our lives new.
Daily Practice
Whenever you drink water today, say this prayer: “Lord, in my thirst for you, give me your water of life.” Every sip of water can serve as a reminder of the living water of Jesus. (Trevor Hudson, Pauses for Lent (Upper Room Books, 2015) p. 27. Used with permission.)
***
***
Danville, CA 94526
Get Directions
ACADEMY #41 English
Sumatanga Camp & Conference Center
August 27, 2018 - April 18, 2020
SAVE THE DATES!
Session One August 27 - Sept 1, 2018 Monday - Saturday
Session Two November 12-17, 2018 Monday - Saturday
Session Three February 4-9, 2019 Monday - Saturday
Session Four May 13-18, 2019 Monday - Saturday
Session Five August 19-24, 2019 Monday - Saturday
Session Six November 18-23, 2019 Monday - Saturday
Session Seven February 3-8, 2020 Monday - Saturday
Session Eight April 13-18, 2020 Monday - Saturday
Tuition: $2,600.00
Room & Board $4,200.00
Total: $6,800.00 (includes $300 acceptance deposit and eight quarterly charges of $850 per session)
Application fee (non-refundable): $50.00
Total cost of Academy #41 (room, board and tuition, but not books) is $6,800 (single occupancy). Payment is received over three years (2018-20). Scholarship and financial consultation are available, based on need. Scholarship application deadline is June 15, 2018for accepted enrollees.
Academy #41 Faculty:
Session One: August 27 – Sept 1, 2018
Attentiveness to the Word - Roger Owens
Traditions of Christian Spirituality - Loyd Allen
Session Two: November 12-17, 2018
Spiritual Disciplines – Sr. Dawn Mills
Hebrew Spirituality – Rabbi Chava Bahle
Session Three: February 4-9, 2019
New Testament Spirituality – Luke Timothy Johnson
Liturgy & Spirituality – Melanie Ross
Session Four: May 13-18, 2019
Roman Catholic Spirituality – Sr. Kathleen Flood
Spirituality and Embodiment – Luther Smith
Session Five: August 19-24, 2019
Prayer and the Art of Discernment – Roberta Bondi
Orthodox Spirituality – Fr. John Mefrige
Session Six: November 18-23, 2019
Protestant Spirituality – Amy Oden
Spirituality and Ways of Healing – Grace Imathiu
Session Seven: February 3-8, 2020
Spiritual Leadership in Local Faith Communities – Sr. Nancy Schreck
Christian Spirituality in the Global Context – Thomas Thangaraj
Session Eight: April 13-18, 2020
Bearing Witness to the Reign of God in the World – Barbara Brown Taylor
Sustaining Our Life in Christ – Wilkie Au
Online Application Below ...
RegisterLearn MoreDownload Brochure
Sumatanga Camp & Conference Centerhttp://www.sumatanga.org/
3616 Sumatanga Rd.
Gallant, AL 35972
Get Directions
Blessings to you during this Lenten season.
Newsletter sign-up.
"Lent, Day 13, Water" The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States
For the remaining Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent, we will use the writings of Rev. Trevor Hudson of South Africa, Pauses for Lent: 40 Words for 40 Days(Upper Room Books, 2015).
WATER
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
Water is one of the most powerful images that Jesus uses to describe himself. When Jesus calls himself our “living water,” he means he satisfies our deepest thirsts. Not only does this water quench our thirst but it also becomes like a spring bubbling up inside of us, filling us with the life God wants to give us.
For what do we thirst? Theologian and humanitarian Jean Vanier points out that to be thirsty in biblical language is to be “dried up inside,” “to feel totally empty and in anguish.” To be thirsty is to long for love, acceptance, and affirmation. In other words, it is to thirst for a heart-to-heart connection with the living and loving God.
Jesus invites those who thirst to come to him and drink his life-giving water. To drink from Jesus is to receive his Spirit in our lives. The water Jesus offers makes our lives new.
Daily Practice
Whenever you drink water today, say this prayer: “Lord, in my thirst for you, give me your water of life.” Every sip of water can serve as a reminder of the living water of Jesus. (Trevor Hudson, Pauses for Lent (Upper Room Books, 2015) p. 27. Used with permission.)
***
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