Shared Spiritual Practice & Transformative Experimentation
People come to religious community to transform as individuals, as a collective, and to bring about transformation in the world around us; whether it’s feeding the hungry, learning to live through hard times with grace, challenging oppressive power structures, or building the beloved community where each person can be their whole and authentic selves, the work of our congregation is the work of bringing about transformation.
But transformation is not something one can do casually; it takes practice, effort, and commitment. The caterpillar doesn’t turn into a butterfly by squeezing the process of metamorphosis into the cracks of its caterpillar life; it devotes itself to transformation, dissolving its being into an unformed soup that will later take on a new form. It’s not something we can try on like a hat, but a process which touches every corner of our lives.
Transformation is not easy. Sometimes it might feel scary, but when a community shares a common practice, we become better equipped to face personal and communal transformation and change. We hope that by bringing the congregation together around, not only a common theme, but also, a common practice, we will create deeper, more meaningful worship and congregational life experiences for our community.
Transformation doesn’t happen by thinking alone; there must also be doing. In that spirit, we invite you to try out the shared spiritual practices suggested through the year. We encourage you to do the practices on your own or with your family. We will gather monthly during the social hour after worship to briefly discuss our experiences.
This year we invite you to transform!
But transformation is not something one can do casually; it takes practice, effort, and commitment. The caterpillar doesn’t turn into a butterfly by squeezing the process of metamorphosis into the cracks of its caterpillar life; it devotes itself to transformation, dissolving its being into an unformed soup that will later take on a new form. It’s not something we can try on like a hat, but a process which touches every corner of our lives.
Transformation is not easy. Sometimes it might feel scary, but when a community shares a common practice, we become better equipped to face personal and communal transformation and change. We hope that by bringing the congregation together around, not only a common theme, but also, a common practice, we will create deeper, more meaningful worship and congregational life experiences for our community.
Transformation doesn’t happen by thinking alone; there must also be doing. In that spirit, we invite you to try out the shared spiritual practices suggested through the year. We encourage you to do the practices on your own or with your family. We will gather monthly during the social hour after worship to briefly discuss our experiences.
This year we invite you to transform!
Shared Practice for September 2024
Take photographs of anything you see that makes you think of transformation.
Send these to [email protected], if you are willing to have them shared publicly.
Take photographs of anything you see that makes you think of transformation.
Send these to [email protected], if you are willing to have them shared publicly.
We hope you will come to discuss your experience working with this shared spiritual practice at our monthly Social Hour Discussion Circles after the worship service on September 22. You can participate in these discussions in-person or online.
You are welcome to participate in the discussions whether you have done the practices.
You are welcome to participate in the discussions whether you have done the practices.
Social Hour Discussion Circles Schedule:
Sunday, September 22, 2024 - Transformation
Sunday, October 20, 2024 - Preparation
Sunday, November 17, 2024 - Preparation
Sunday, December 22, 2024 - Beginning
Sunday, January 19, 2025 - Becoming
Sunday, February 23, 2025 - Becoming
Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Emerging
Sunday, May, 18, 2025 - Emerging
Sunday, September 22, 2024 - Transformation
Sunday, October 20, 2024 - Preparation
Sunday, November 17, 2024 - Preparation
Sunday, December 22, 2024 - Beginning
Sunday, January 19, 2025 - Becoming
Sunday, February 23, 2025 - Becoming
Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Emerging
Sunday, May, 18, 2025 - Emerging
