Introduction to the Spiritual Disciplines
Burned out? Unending busyness? Spiritual dryness? While modern life seems to lead in this direction, such conditions are not inevitable. A life in true relationship with God is possible in the midst of the normal stresses of life. Wanting to keep company with God is the point of beginning.

Since New Testament times have linked their desire to keep company with Jesus with various practices and experiences which have been kept down through the centuries. Often called spiritual disciplines, they include having periods of silence and solitude, as well as engaging in prayer, meditation, fasting, personal examination, service, worship, and many other practices. In and of themselves, these practices do not earn us credits with God; they can, however, lead us to take notice of God and begin to respond to His presence.

The intent of this retreat is to provide an introduction to the broad sweep of spiritual disciplines and engage in the actual practice of a select few during the retreat. In particular, attention will be given to reading scripture for personal transformation (rather than for information), approaches to prayer, and discernment. The retreat is designed to help a person begin such practices, start their long-term pursuit, and begin a process of incorporating numerous disciplines into life.

The retreat will be individually tailored to each person present; it will not be conducted as if the practice of the spiritual disciplines is the same for everyone. Yet the spiritual disciplines generally are practiced in community and in a retreat there can be a community context for practice of the disciplines.