A Quiet Pentecost: Inviting the Spirit into Congregational Life Individual, Committee and Congregational Calling Dwight Judy Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

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

Disciplines of Holy Living Wesleyan Heritage Being made perfect in love in this life Rules of the Societies Do no evil Do good Attend upon the Ordinances of the Church Sacraments (particularly Holy Communion) Searching the Scriptures Public and Private Prayer Fasting or Abstinence Holy Conferencing

Act 3:1-8 But 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 invitation Pray 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 phrase Listening for how the text intersects with the leadership team for the congregation Listening for the invitation from God for the leadership team Praying for another person’s invitation

Rev. Eugenia Gamble First 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 mission An 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? Congregation Community Spiritual Life Center St. Luke’s United Methodist, Indianapolis, IN The Spiritual Life Center First United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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 Jesus First United Methodist Church, Lakeland, Florida Fifth Sunday Events South Chicago District, African Methodist Episcopal Church

Ideal Ministry of Spiritual Formation Drop In – short-term events Contemplative study groups – all ages! Retreats Teaching all lay leadership spiritual disciplines Guiding discernment processes for mission/outreach Healing Prayer Reaching out as “spiritual life center” for community

Leaven for the Bread of Life Spiritual formation focus provides “leaven” for the congregation Contemplative study groups A congregation of soul friends Teaching all lay leadership spiritual disciplines Allowing Jesus to Lead Us

Acts 3:4-8

What do you have to give in the Name of Jesus Christ Acts 3:1-8