Pastor Eric goes on spirituality retreat
Between April 12-17 I experienced something new. I spent 5 days with a bunch of Methodists, and it was wonderful.
The 5-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation has been hosted by the Nebraska United Methodist Church for 25 years. The depth of tradition and spirituality in this retreat was evident as we all were invited into prayer, worship, study, silence, rest, and fellowship.
We met at the St. Benedict Retreat Center north of Schuyler, NE. This is an amazing place to retreat, grow Christian community, and feel the presence of God. The rhythm of the day follows the rhythm of morning prayer, afternoon Eucharist, and prayer at the close of the day. Enhancing this rhythm are two teaching times, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Following each teaching time is one hour of silent reflection to pray, write, walk, or rest.
The two teachers were Wendy Wright, religion professor from Creighton, and Grace Imathiu, a UMC pastor from Illinois. Wendy taught us about the spirituality, traditions, and images of the Virgin Mary and made a case for the spiritual blessings Mary can offer the Protestant faith traditions. Grace shared her gift for biblical storytelling and invited us deep inside Bible stories to hear, see, feel, and think new things.
Every evening we gathered into listening circles to share reflections on our learning and experiences of God through the day. My listening circle was a lively group with freedom to share thoughts and feelings. They were also eager and patient to listen. I was especially blessed by my time in the listening circle.
After our evening worship and prayer for the close of the day, we entered the Great Silence. This is a time when no one speaks to each other. Instead, in peace and silence we prepared our minds, bodies, and souls for sleep. We keep this Great Silence until morning worship when the cantor sings out, “O, Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
This retreat helped me feel centered, less scattered, rested, and more aware of the life and Spirit of Christ in my life and the world. So, how does this experience sound to you? Is the Spirit stirring in your heart for an experience like this? Please contact me if you would like to learn more about this retreat.
Pastor Eric