A Summer with Discernment
Aligning Our Hearts with the Heart of God
"We have not ceased praying for you and asking
that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will
in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord"
Col 9-10 NRSV
Join us over the summer and dip your toe into...
Christian Discernment
Wednesday mornings @ 9:30am
Beginning June 1st, 2022
Many of us have not encountered the rich spiritual heritage and wisdom that our Christian tradition & the Scriptures have to offer in its teaching regarding spiritual discernment.
"Spiritual Discernment;
the process of paying prayerful attention
to one’s own life
in order to be clearer about
and more cooperative with God’s activity."
-Lois A. Lindbloom
Join us on the quest to discover and
encounter more of God and His life-giving ways!
THE LOGISTICS-
Date: Six Wednesday mornings beginning June 1st
Time: 9:30-11:30am
Where: In-Person at my home in Palatine (hopefully in my backyard when weather permits)
What: We'll come together to discuss the book, enjoy some fellowship, share from our own experiences and try out some discernment practices together.
Outline/Topic Schedule:
June 1st - Willing God's Way & Ways of Willing
June 15th - My Kingdom, Thy Kingdom
June 29th -Love and Will & Choosing God
July 13th - Will and Desire
July 27th - Choose the Cross
Aug. 10th -Developing a Discerning Heart
RESOURCE NEEDED:
Please purchase this book prior to class and read the Forward and Chapter 1 prior to the first class.
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David Benner's book - Desiring God's Will: Aligning Our Hearts with the Heart of God – (try and get the Special Edition, published in 2015 if you can, as it has the discussion questions)
Depending on your availability & time this summer- if you are looking for a daily devotional with reflective questions- I recommended this too:
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Optional Book / Discernment: Practicing the Holy Spirit: A 40-Day Praxis
This booklet is a wonderful contemplative daily devotional with reflection questions, quotes & scriptures to ponder - all related to discernment. (Order early as it takes about 10-14 days to arrive) This is not needed for the class.
Suggested Offering: $60 if you are able to contribute that's great.... if not still come!
Why do I ask for an offering?
We will start at the very beginning.... it's a very good place to start - says Maria von Trapp - with the foundational question of "do I really want discernment?"
“God does not want obedience as the fruit of our willful determination.
God wants surrender as the choice of the heart. For what we long for in our heart we will pursue with the totality of our being not simply with the resolve of our will.”
― David G. Benner, Desiring God's Will: Aligning Our Hearts With The Heart Of God
We'll touch on some of the basic tenants & teachings from our Christian heritage about discernment and ponder together what it is and why it's important.
1. REGISTER BELOW
2. MAKE AN OFFERING BELOW
Offerings can be made above with PayPal, or to avoid processing fees use Venmo (cecilia-whitacre), Chase Zelle QuickPay or send a check.
"Living a spiritually mature life requires listening to God's voice within and among us. The great news of God's revelation is not simply that 'I am,' but also that God is actively present in the moments of our lives at all times and places. Our God is a God who cares, heals, guides, directs, challenges, confronts, corrects. To discern means first of all to listen to God, to pay attention to God's active presence, and to obey God's prompting, direction, leadings, and guidance."
-Henri Nouwen; Discernment: Reading the Signs of the Daily Life
