We entered a new liturgical year on November 28, 2021. We entered a new calendar year a few days ago. How are we entering into this newness? How will we move through this season of time? In the wake of the busyness and holiness of Advent/Christmas, this new year is an opportunity to reflect on the way we move through our days. It’s a good time to review and renew one’s rule or rhythm of life. (Below are links to a couple of websites with information and suggestions that may be helpful in this.)
A few scriptures that may guide our thinking about this:
- Isaiah 43:19, which speaks of God doing a new thing, and making a way….
- Lamentations 3:22, which speaks of the steadfast love and mercies of God – that are unceasing….
- Amos 7:7, which speaks of a plumb line – to align ourselves with God….
- Mark 12:28-31, which shares Jesus’ teaching to love God fully, and to love one’s neighbor fully….
- Galatians 5 which says the only thing that counts is faith working through love, and that we are called to freedom – an opportunity not for self-indulgence but to love one another….
Consider other passages that can inform this process.
John Wesley lived and taught that spiritual maturity includes both public and private dimensions of life: worship and devotion, justice and compassion.
The hymn “This Is a Day of New Beginnings” (UMH #383) offers some thoughts appropriate for this space of newness. Click here to view the full text, then scroll down the page.
It’s good to remember that our rules/rhythms of life will not look exactly alike. One size does not fit all – even for the same person, as our rhythms may change over time. Be flexible; this is a practice to support spiritual growth, so may need to be modified or adapted from time to time. Be realistic; again, this is to support us not to denigrate ourselves. Be sure to include self-care components; a rule of life is not just about heroics. “Regular” does not necessarily mean “daily.” Be sure to include regular times with your spiritual director, and if you are seeing directees, supervision is a must.
Here are a couple of links that may be helpful:
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/covenant-discipleship-groups-an-introduction
https://renovare.org/articles/rule-of-life-six-streams
Recalibration LIVE!
Mini Retreat on Zoom
Saturday, January 22
Self-Compassion with Anne Kertz Kernion
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
12 noon – 3:00 pm (Central)
11:00 am – 2:00 pm (Mountain)
10:00 am – 1:00 pm (Pacific)
Our retreat day will draw upon recent findings in neuroscience and psychology, illuminating self-care and spiritual practices that nurture gentleness, kindness, and patience towards ourselves.
These practices help us manage the many challenges and difficulties we face both individually and collectively. Far from being self-centered or selfish, when we generate deeper care for ourselves, we enhance our relationships and our ability to attend to others.
Helpful tips and exercises on how to practice Self-Compassion will be included throughout the afternoon. We will also utilize breakout rooms for small group sharing.
Click below for additional information about the day, and to register.
The next Recalibration LIVE! after January 22 will be March 12 with Dwight Judy.
The topic will be Practicing Discernment.
Retreat – In Person!!
July 17-22, 2022
Carrie Newcomer will be our retreat leader.
Christ the King Retreat Center
Buffalo, MN
Mark your calendar and plan now to attend!
Registration will be available soon!
Our Partners
Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center is now taking registrations for the next cohort in their Gateways to God Missional Spiritual Direction training which will begin IN-PERSON in Massachusetts with our first of six retreats in May 2022.
Click here for the registration information: Gateways to God 2022-2024 (rollingridge.org).
Words of Wisdom
If you love truth, be a lover of silence. Silence, like the sunlight, will illuminate you in God.
~ Saint Isaac of Nineveh
We all have a thirst for wonder. It’s a deeply human quality. Science and religion are both bound up with it. What I’m saying is, you don’t have to make stories up, you don’t have to exaggerate. There’s wonder and awe enough in the real world. Nature’s a lot better at inventing wonders than we are.
~ Carl Sagan
There’s a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.
~ Rumi