Silence, Solitude and Sabbath Retreat
. . . Internet Retreat with Kathy Bence, M. Div., D. Min.; begins June 13, 2007
|
|
Sabbath is the spiritual glue that holds us together.
Silence is the healing for our weary souls.
Solitude affords rest from performance.
|
Are you longing for real rest?
Give yourself permission to feed your soul instead of your mind or your appetites for a change.
And if you did give yourself permission, what would silence, solitude and Sabbath look like in your life?
Jesus did not wait until everyone was cared for to rest. He obeyed a deeper rhythm, built into the universe--Sabbath.
|
God's plan for our fruitfulness is a rhythm of rest and work. Jewish rabbis believe God exhaled on the 7th day. Exhaled in Hebrew means refreshed. Many rabbis believe that on the 7th day God created tranquility, serenity, peace and rest for our healing and wholeness.
|
What is the Sabbath's purpose?
- creating sacred time to focus our hearts on spiritual matters
- gathering to celebrate love with family and friends
- taking delight in the present
- feasting and fellowship
- paying attention to God
- rest and renewal
Commands to honor Sabbath are not about LAW. Rather the Sabbath is a gift--permission to STOP. Stop working, stop worrying, stop making money, stop being seduced by our desires, stop and listen to your life.
What if God wants to spend time with us and this is the way He created of making it possible for us to feel free from our busyness?
This Internet retreat on Silence, Solitude and Sabbath will consist of four sessions:
- Silence heals
- Solitude frees
- Sabbath renews
- Sabbath Lifestyle enables a comfortable rhythm
Partipants will receive these conferences via email and will be part of an Internet discussion forum, where they can share experiences and interact with the presenter and one another.
Kathy Bence is an ordained minister, teacher, spiritual director and retreat leader. Her passion is spiritual direction. She both offers direction and trains spiritual directors through Koinos, a nonprofit dedicated to offering theological education to churches (which she and her husband direct). They offer training in spiritual formation, retreats, consulting on adult education and a variety of seminars. Check out their website at: www.koinos.org. Kathy studied at Asbury Theological Seminary (M.Div) and Azusa Pacific University (D.Min in spiritual formation). Her most recent book is Under Her Wings: Spiritual Guidance from Women Saints.Phil and Kathy have two grown daughters: Angela and Elizabeth, and two young grandsons, Preston and Jacob. They live quite happily four blocks from the Puget Sound, in Richmond Beach, WA.
|