Spiritual Formation

Filtering by: Spiritual Formation
Nurturing Human-ness in Anxious Times: A Mini-Retreat
May
19
2:00 PM14:00

Nurturing Human-ness in Anxious Times: A Mini-Retreat

A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PASTORS, SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS, THERAPISTS AND OTHER CARE GIVERS

How do I keep emotionally and spiritually healthy amidst the social tumult around me? Can I be fully human when dehumanizing forces prevail? Under duress, we often live and act as a traumatized species, prone to hurt each other until we can find better ways of engaging our pain and transforming it as both individuals and communities. As a therapist and spiritual director, my approach is to create spaces where people can cultivate connections across divides (whether perceived or real) to nurture our capacity for 'full humanity' as Christ models and makes possible for those who walk closely with Him. This workshop offers an invitation and an opportunity for pastors, spiritual directors, therapists and all who care forthe anxious, to share our gifts and vulnerabilities, lament our losses, and disarm dehumanizing forces, to promote post-traumatic healing, wholeness and healthy community - for ourselves and those we love and serve.

Registration: General $35/ Reduced $15/ Students Free

Location: First Presbyterian Church Berkeley, 94704

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Group Spiritual Direction / Sept 2024-May 2025
Sep
10
to May 20

Group Spiritual Direction / Sept 2024-May 2025

Instructors: Spiritual directors supervised by Susan Phillips, PhD*

An incredible opportunity for spiritual direction in small groups committed to spiritual friendship, contemplative listening, and prayer. Groups of four directees meet monthly for nine months throughout the Bay Area under the guidance of an experienced spiritual director. Other groups grow out of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius program. Meetings will be held in person and/or online (TBD with group members).

“Group spiritual direction helps individuals grow in their faith, love others more fully, and participate in the mission of the church more effectively.” Alice Fryling, 2009

NOTE: Dates and Times
September 2024-May 2025, 2-hour meetings, day & time TBD with group members

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Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius /  GROUP Format / 2024-2025
Sep
12
to May 8

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius / GROUP Format / 2024-2025

Led by Susan Phillips, PhD & Sharon Henthorn-Iwane

The Spiritual Exercises were developed by Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century. They offer a structure to daily living which elicits and encourages experiences of an ongoing relationship with God. The Exercises include learning to pray with our imagination and how to enter into the stories of Jesus so they intersect with our own lives.

The commitment includes weekly sessions of group spiritual direction (Thursdays, 9:30-11:30am) and monthly individual spiritual direction (30 min sessions), as well as attendance at two optional retreats. Retreatants will also commit to daily prayer.

General Program Tuition $1500 / "Living Lightly" Reduced Tuition $1100 / September 2024 - May 2025

If you are interested in this program, please email Susan Phillips at susansandersphillips@gmail.com to arrange a preliminary interview.

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Can Depolarization Happen? Restorative Conversations in the Heart Zone
Apr
4
to Apr 18

Can Depolarization Happen? Restorative Conversations in the Heart Zone

Course runs over 3 consecutive Thursdays.

April 4th 5:30-7pm / April 11th 5:30-7pm / April 18th 5:30-7pm

with Ted Lewis

Church communities are increasingly being challenged by polarizing issues. Meanwhile, new stresses and strains are causing micro-harms and conflicts between church members, resulting in atmospheres of avoidance and mistrust. This workshop is one of four (each can be attended as a standalone) that tap into biblical narratives to offer rich wisdom for how people in church settings can hold space for hard but healing conversations. The power of people telling their own stories and being heard well by others is vital, but this work often requires the help of third-party facilitators. Participants receive an introductory foundation for facilitating conversations that help people move from a defensive “head-zone” to an open “heart-zone” so that new life can rise up.

LOCATION: Online

FEE: General: $75 / Living Lightly: $30 / Students: Free

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Forming a Collective Spirituality
Feb
17
1:00 PM13:00

Forming a Collective Spirituality

What Non-western Cultural Orientations and Wisdom Traditions Teach Us About a Holistic Collective Spirituality.

with Cindy S. Lee

Christian spiritual formation resources and teachings have primarily come from Western spiritual traditions. Our current approach to formation comes out of that way of thinking and being, communicating that the white experience of God is the norm and authority. This workshop facilitates a communal listening and imagination for what non-western cultural orientations and wisdom traditions teach us about a holistic collective spirituality.  It will combine instruction, conversation and guided spiritual exercises in a contemplative-friendly space. 

LOCATION: A Bay Area location TBD

FEE: $40 general admission.  There is a "living lightly" option of $15, and all students are free.

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Series RECAP: Restorative Practices for Church Communities
Jan
18
4:30 PM16:30

Series RECAP: Restorative Practices for Church Communities

with Ted Lewis

In this series recap session, Ted Lewis will review the material of his series on "Restorative Practices for Congregations: Balancing Truth-telling with Trust-building" (see description below) including the following topics:

  • A Genesis Journey from Rivalry to Reconciliation

  • The First Half of Acts from Clash to Coexistence

  • Matthew 18 Conversations from Fear to Forgiveness

  • Philemon and Facilitation from the Head to the Heart

Participants do NOT have to have attended all of the sessions to participate in this recap. You are invited to join even if you have only attended one of the series' sessions.

LOCATION: Online on Zoom

FEE: Free

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A Contemplative Advent Retreat / Prayer, Reflection and Readying for Pilgrimage with Christ
Dec
9
9:30 AM09:30

A Contemplative Advent Retreat / Prayer, Reflection and Readying for Pilgrimage with Christ

Led by Susan Phillips, PhD

Christians are called people of the Way (Acts 9:2): We follow the Way, live with the Way, and prepare the Way. Advent is an opportunity to reflect on this adventure into which God invites us. Carve out time in the press toward Christmas to prepare your hearts for walking the Way in the year ahead. Join us for a morning of prayer, reflection, and readying ourselves to continue our great pilgrimage with Christ.

Co-sponsored by New College Berkeley and First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley

Registration Fee: General $25/ Reduced $10/ Student Free

Location: Online/zoom

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Group Spiritual Direction
Sep
5
to Apr 5

Group Spiritual Direction

An incredible opportunity for spiritual direction in small groups committed to spiritual friendship, contemplative listening, and prayer. Groups of four directees meet monthly for nine months throughout the Bay Area under the guidance of an experienced spiritual director. (Meetings will begin virtually due to COVID-19.)

$60/month per person (total of $540 for the 9-meeting program).

  • September – May

  • Time and location TBD by group members

    *Spiritual direction groups for undergraduate, graduate students, and seminary students are available.

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A Contemplative Lenten Retreat
Mar
4
9:30 AM09:30

A Contemplative Lenten Retreat

Led by Susan Phillips, PhD

Co-sponsored by New College Berkeley and First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley

The word “Lent” is related to Latin cognates meaning long and slow (“lente,” “lento”). Like Advent, Lent is a speed bump in the church year, inviting us into reflection, confession, and prayer as we approach Holy Week and Easter, a time when we remember the profound costliness of God’s abundant love for us. We enter the retreat this year following a long year of seeking God’s Light in the darkness of the ongoing pandemic, war on other shores, political elections, and social turmoil. Join us for a morning of contemplating God's great love for us and our aching world.

General fee $30 / Student fee $10

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