A Quiet Pentecost:Inviting the Spirit into Congregational Life

Individual, Committee and Congregational Calling

Dwight JudyGarrett-Evangelical Theological

Seminary

Spiritual formation is the process of becoming more like Jesus Christ for the sake of others.

-- Robert Mulholland

Disciplines of Holy LivingWesleyan Heritage

Being made perfect in love in this lifeRules of the Societies

Do no evilDo goodAttend upon the Ordinances of the Church

Sacraments (particularly Holy Communion)Searching the ScripturesPublic and Private PrayerFasting or AbstinenceHoly Conferencing

Act 3:1-8But Peter said,“I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give

you;in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

Pattern for Small Group Lectio Divina – Norvene Vest

First two readings – listen for word or phrase

Next reading – listen for sensory impression“I feel” “I see” “I sense” “I hear”

Last reading – listen for invitationPray for invitation of person on your right

Rev. Brenda Buckwell, D.Min.Birthing Lifewell Free Store through Holy Conferencing

Listening with leadership team in prayerful use of scripture for discerning mission

Reading the text for a word or phraseListening for how the text intersects with the

leadership team for the congregationListening for the invitation from God for the leadership

teamPraying for another person’s invitation

Rev. Eugenia GambleFirst Presbyterian Church

Birmingham, Alabama$2.5 million hotel/homeless shelter for women and

children

We thought we were doing the will of God.

We became a praying “whole.”

Individual missionAn attitude of “listening for

God”

Gene Turner’s mission trip to Liberia

Cindy Serio’s call to prison ministry

Spiritual Formation as Evangelism

Spiritual Life Center Congregation defines its understanding of spiritual

formation for its context Who are intended participants?

CongregationCommunitySpiritual Life Center

St. Luke’s United Methodist, Indianapolis, IN http://www.stlukesumc.com

The Spiritual Life Center First United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana http://firstmethodist.org

Spiritual Life Center Committee Structure

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana

Development of the Inner Soul Committee

External Connections Committee

Infrastructure Committee

Evangelism through Spiritual Formation

Celebrate JesusFirst United Methodist Church, Lakeland, Florida

Fifth Sunday EventsSouth Chicago District, African Methodist Episcopal

Church

Ideal Ministry of Spiritual Formation

Drop In – short-term eventsContemplative study groups – all ages!RetreatsTeaching all lay leadership spiritual disciplinesGuiding discernment processes for

mission/outreachHealing PrayerReaching out as “spiritual life center” for

community

Leaven for the Bread of Life

Spiritual formation focus provides “leaven” for the congregation

Contemplative study groupsA congregation of soul friendsTeaching all lay leadership spiritual disciplinesAllowing Jesus to Lead Us

Acts 3:4-8

What do you have to give in the Name of Jesus

Christ Acts 3:1-8