Spiritual Formation is the ongoing transformation of a person into the likeness of Christ. In spiritual formation, as in baptism, God is the primary actor.  God's grace initiates our spiritual growth; it does not arise from human effort alone.  

The change comes from God, but we open ourselves to it by a variety of spiritual disciplines or prayer practices.  We yoke ourselves with Christ in cooperation with God's work in us. We order our lives in such a way that we are more likely

• to hear a word of scripture addressed to us
• to sense a quickening of our spirit that reveals the Holy Spirit's nearness
• to see the light of Christ shining forth from another's eyes.

The Center for Ministry affirms the significance of spiritual formation and creates settings in which you may experience a variety of ways to pray and to move closer to God.  You will find more about these opportunities below.

Prayer Retreats  
“Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee, O Lord.”  (Saint Augustine)   Going on retreat allows us to step aside from busy lives and hectic schedules.  We enter sacred space and can once again be present to God and find rest.  Some prayer retreats are guided, focusing on a theme from scripture or on classic prayer practices. Others are silent, inviting us to curb our restlessness and listen for God's voice in the stillness.   We offer a variety of retreat formats including one- and multiple-day experiences. We are available either to work with your leadership team to plan a retreat or to direct one for you ourselves.  

Altar Design
"Taste and see that the Lord is good."   (Psalm  34:8)   Scripture is full of concrete images that help tell the story of God's presence and action in the world.  Trees, mountains, deserts.  Wind, water, fire.  Seeds, vineyards, birds of the air.  How can our worship spaces incorporate such visual cues?  How can we open our eyes as well as our ears to the good news the Bible delivers?   The Center for Ministry delights in sharing specific ways to bring worship to life visually.  Working with sacred images and symbols of the faith, you can add richness and variety to services, classes, retreats, and other occasions where God's people gather.    We welcome your inquiries.

Discernment              
How do we make faithful decisions about matters both big and small?  How do we recognize God's leading when we must choose between options?  The Christian practice of discernment, of prayerful listening and questioning with trusted spiritual companions, is a reliable pathway to wise  judgment.   Center for Ministry staff and others trained in the process of discernment work with individuals and groups seeking clarity.  Discernment work can be done in one-time gatherings or over time, in one-day or overnight retreat settings.