A one year programme (30 x 2½ hour sessions) for those who want a
closer relationship with God, who struggle with prayer, who want to
make choices that are in tune with God’s dream for the world. No expertise
in prayer or reflection is required. The course is open to all, of whatever
denomination or none. So come along, whether you have a specific reason
for doing the course of simply want space to explore and reflect on
your life in relationship to God, self and others. Course application
deadline is 15 September 2017 (though see below if financial assistance is
required)
The Course
The course aims to provide participants with prayer resources and
reflection skills that will help them:
- Deepen their relationship with God
- Become more aware of the sense and direction of their lives
- Make choices that reflect their self-identity within an understanding
of God’s hopes for the world
- Develop a spirituality that shapes their response to life.
Towards this end, and within the framework of the Christian liturgical
year, the course provides opportunities to:
- Reflect on our understanding of God and self
- Become aware of the many ways in which God communicates with us
- Become familiar with different methods of prayer as tools for engaging
in conversation with God
- Explore some spiritualities as responses to God’s communication
- Develop skills for reflective living
- Explore the relationship between prayer and engagement with the
world.
- Explore how to support your faith journey
- Develop a personal spirituality that integrates prayer and life,
and helps shape your response to the latter.
Method
The method is reflective and experience-based. Sessions include team
input, guided experiences of prayer, time for quiet personal prayer,
and opportunities for listening and sharing. The five full days
allow more time for personal prayer. The fifth of these, the final day
of the course, will be a day of retreat.
Included for participants are six sessions of individual spiritual accompaniment. These will
run from December till May.
What Follows the Course?
The course is complete in itself. However, it is also a foundation for
future possibilities, such as:
- Individual spiritual accompaniment;
- Retreats of various kinds, including the full Spiritual Exercises
of St Ignatius
- Training to facilitate days/afternoons/evenings with groups;
- Training in spiritual conversation;
- Training as a spiritual guide for one-to-one and retreat work, with
the possibility of eventual work in this area.
Suggested Offering
£440
Deposit of £50
Those in need of financial support should contact the ISC as soon as
possible, and at the latest by August 12th, to allow time to apply for
a grant. These applications should be made three months before the course
begins.
Payment may be made by cheque, cash or standing order and may be made
in instalments over the year, according to need.
Balances should be cleared by 31 March 2018.
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Apply Online
Information Sheet