Contemplative Living

 Contemplative living invites us to study in ways that are more than merely cognitive. They invite us to slow down and listen for God’s voice within us. If your group is interested in one of our Contemplative offerings we have people experienced in these areas who will come to your small group to provide guidance and to get you started. Then the groups continues on its own with the chosen resource for the duration of the study.

Following are some of the frustrations aspiring journal-ers voice…

    The blank pages intimidate me.

    I can’t write and I don’t have any deep thoughts worth recording.

    Journal writing is boring and leads to self-absorption.

    I’m too busy to journal.

 

What…	Centering Prayer 8-week small group resource
Week 1 Introduction by…	Jen Yukl and/or Tim Yukl
Contact Number…	(319) 362-3534
Synopsis…	Learn how to enter into the spiritual discipline of Centering Prayer to help facilitate the development of Contemplative Prayer by preparing our spirit to receive this gift.  Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other forms of prayer:  rather it casts a new light and depth of meaning on them.  It is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.  The long-range fruits of centering prayer are greater peace, humility, and charity.  Through deep interior silence, participants often begin to relate to others beyond the superficial aspects of social status, race, nationality, religion, and personal characteristics.  To know God in this way is to perceive a new dimension to all reality—the awareness of the presence of God in all of life.
Study Resource…	Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating Week 1    Explanation of method and practice of                Centering Prayer facilitated by Jen and/or Tim Yukl Weeks 2-8:  A group facilitator may be chosen or participants may take turns facilitating.  Participants practice Centering Prayer and read according to the following schedule during the week.  Each meeting begins with a 20-minute “Sit” followed by discussion of the reading and sharing of experiences. Week 2    Chapters 1-2     Week 3    Chapter 3 Week 4    Chapters 4-5 Week 5    Chapter 6 Week 6    Chapters 7-8 Week 7    Chapter 9 Week 8    Chapter 10
Additional Resource…	Centering Prayer Group First and third Thursdays of the month, 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church Chapel

 

What…	How to Pray 6-week small group resource
Week 1 Introduction by…	Marcie Watson, Director of Spiritual Formation
Contact Number…	(319) 365-1494, extension 280
Synopsis…	St. Augustine begins one of his prayers in this way:  “Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you…”  In his book How to Pray, John Pritchard tells us, “If that’s true, if our lives cannot be fulfilled outside a relationship with the beauty and mystery we call God, then prayer becomes not a religious bolt-on to a ‘pretty-good’ life, but an essential ingredient of being fully human.”  This essential ingredient of prayer will be the focus of our six-week session.  Prayers of petition, intercession, sacred reading, and contemplation will be examined and experienced by participants.  If you are a group seeking to deepen your relationship with God, this Session is a MUST!
Study Resource…	How to Pray, A Practical Handbook by John Pritchard Week 1    Introduction to a Life of Prayer facilitated by                Marcie Watson Weeks 2-6:  A group facilitator may be chosen or participants may take turns facilitating.  Group members read the chapters according to the following reading schedule, do the “Try This” sections and prayer practices, and bring their prayer experiences to the group for shared growth in a life of prayer. Week 2    Part One:  Watch this Space      Week 3    Part Two:  Day by Day Week 4    Part Three:  Good Practice Week 5    Part Four:  Praying with All We’ve Got Week 6    Part Five:  Darkness and Light
Additional Resources…	Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home by Richard J. Foster Praying for Friends and Enemies by Jane E. Vennard Paths to Prayer by Patricia D. Brown

  

What…	Lectio Divina 6-week small group resource
Week 1 Introduction by…	Valerie Preston
Contact Number…	(319) 377-2336
Synopsis…	Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading) is an ancient method of reading and praying the scriptures.  It has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God and deepening our relationship with the Beloved.  We live in a society that values activity and views time spent in solitude as laziness.  If your group holds this view, argue a case for yourselves!  Tell one another: “We need this for our re-creation.  Our families can’t stand to live with us if we don’t do this!  How can God transform us if we’re too busy to listen for that still, small voice of God?”  Class participants will practice group lectio divina and learn how to incorporate this time-tested spiritual practice into their daily lives.
Study Resource…	Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina  by Thelma Hall Week 1    Explanation of method and practice of                Lectio Divina facilitated by Valerie Preston Weeks 2-6:  A group facilitator may be chosen or participants may take turns facilitating.  Participants practice Lectio Divina and read according to the following schedule during the week.  Each meeting begins with a group 20-minute sacred reading practice followed by discussion of the week’s reading and sharing of experiences. Week 2    Chapter 1, The Rediscovery of Contemplation   Week 3    Chapter 2, Dying to Live: Resolving the Paradox Week 4    Chapter 3, The Deepening of an                                       Interpersonal Relationship Week 5    Chapter 4, Lectio Divina Week 6    Part 2, On Using the Scripture Themes
Additional Resources…	Psalms for Praying, An Invitation to Wholeness by Nan C. Merrill Handout of Scripture Passages for Lectio Divina

  

What…	What is Humility and How Do I Get It? 8-week small group resource
Week 1 Introduction by…	Marcie Watson, Director of Spiritual Formation
Contact Number…	(319) 365-1494
Synopsis…	Humility has been defined as not thinking too highly—or too lowly—of oneself, but understanding and living the truth that we are beloved children of God and that through us, God can do all things.  It can be pretty easy to identify an egocentric, standoffish person as not being humble—but what about those of us who don’t think we’re good enough, smart enough, articulate enough to do God’s work?  IT’S NOT ABOUT US!  No one can be the eternal best or have it all or constantly get ahead.  How do we embrace what we have always known—that we have been fooling ourselves and trying to fool everybody else.  At some point, we come to the realization that, sure, we probably aren’t enough—but God, working in and through us can do all things! We learn trust, and the focus changes from self to God.  If your group is ready to go deeper…to be challenged…to be changed…to grow in wholeness, this is the study for you!
Study Resource…	Twelve Steps to Inner Freedom:  Humility Revisited by Joan D. Chittister Week 1    Introduction to a living a humble life                facilitated by Marcie Watson Weeks 2-6:  A group facilitator may be chosen or participants may take turns facilitating.  Group members read the chapters according to the following reading schedule and bring their understandings to the group for shared growth in a life of humility. Week 2    Chapter 1:  Introduction Week 3    Chapter 2:  Centering Our Lives on God Week 4    Chapter 3:  When Power is Weakness Week 5    Chapter 4:  Shedding False Images Week 6    Chapter 5:  The Bond of Families, The Gift of Nations Week 7    Chapter 6:  Quieting the Noise Within Week 8    Chapter 7:  To Live in God’s Presence
Additional Resources…	Personal spiritual direction Call Marcie Watson, Spiritual Director, to set up an appointment.

  

What…	Spiritual Journaling 10-week small group resource
Week 1 Introduction by…	Jen Yukl
Contact Number…	(319) 362-3534
Synopsis…	Spiritual journaling is different from simply recording daily events.  Through journaling, believers give a more full expression of their thoughts and prayers in a form that nurtures a deepening spiritual life.  Spiritual journaling is a way to chart our progression from who we have been to who we are becoming.  Participants will be provided a variety of journaling methods to “try on” and see which one “fits” their particular style.  Exploring this new skill with a group not only helps participants to know themselves and God better, but also the ones with whom they have chosen to share their spiritual journey—their small group!
Study Resource…	Spiritual Journaling, Recording Your Journey Toward God by Richard Peace Week 1    Explanation of method and practice of                Spiritual Journaling facilitated by Jen Yukl Weeks 2-6:  A group facilitator may be chosen or participants may take turns facilitating.  Group members read the chapters according to the following reading schedule, do the exercises, and bring their journaling to the group for shared growth in a life of intimacy with God. Week 2    Session 1, Capture Your History  Week 3    Session 2, Understand the Present Week 4    Session 3, Recover Your Past Week 5    Session 4, Interact with Your History Week 6    Session 5, Realize Your Future Week 7    Session 6, Explore Your Emotional Responses Week 8    Session 7, Nurture Your Spiritual Life Week 9    Session 8, Reflect On the Bible Week 10   The Art of Journaling
Additional Resources…	Handout of journaling starters

What…	Storytelling 11-week small group resource
Week 1 Introduction by…	Micky McNeil
Contact Number…	(319) 310-0733
Synopsis…	“Nothing works anymore.  Everything I was taught about effectively communicating God’s Word doesn’t work like it used to.  People just don’t learn in the same ways.”  The art of Christian storytelling is a new, “very old,” way of conveying God’s on-going activity in the world through telling our personal stories.  As group members learn to write their spiritual autobiographies, they demonstrate that there is something bigger than themselves that gives meaning and perspective to the myriad of day-to-day events and that each life story is part of a Big Story that links us together as one.
Study Resource…	Remembering Your Story by Richard L. Morgan Week 1    Explanation of why and how we share our faith                through storytelling facilitated by Micky McNeil Weeks 2-8:  A group facilitator may be chosen or participants may take turns facilitating.  Group members read the chapters according to the following reading schedule, complete the exercises, and bring them to the group for sharing. Week 2    Chapter 1, From Memory to Faith: Life Stories Week 3    Chapter 2, The Spiritual Lifeline Week 4    Chapter 3, The River of Life Week 5    Chapter 4, Reclaiming Childhood Stories Week 6    Chapter 5, Family Relationships, Family Stories Week 7    Chapter 6, Stories Connect Generations Week 8    Chapter 7, Facing Life’s Transitions Week 9    Chapter 8, Healing of Memories Week 10   Chapter 9, An Ongoing Story—No Epilogue Week 11   Chapter 10, Finding the Pattern
Additional Resources…