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Spiritual Practices: An Experiential Consultation for Men by The Rev. Hartshorn Murphy The Annual Men's Retreat will be held after dinner Friday June 9th through Sunday lunch on June 11th; at the Mary and Joseph's Retreat Center in Rancho Palos Verdes. The focus this year will be on spiritual practices as a form of disciple for the spiritual journey of life. Many adult men find that their prayer life is a struggle to maintain in the face of family and work obligations in the context of very busy lives. If we are able to stop long enough to say a brief grace before meals and attend corporate worship as we are able, many of us are doing well. But we often discover that such a practice will not lead to wellness. And if the goal of the spiritual life is to find wholeness and holiness, such undiscipline can not lead to life. We each need a rule of life (the monastic rule of poverty, chastity and obedience has echoes outside the convent) but that likely begins with adopting a disciple that we can maintain us through the dark valleys of life. In time, discipline can grow stale however and when that happens, we are caused to move on to new practices that bring life and renewal. At the weekend, we will explore several practices by the use of a brief historical introduction, a "provisional try" and an opportunity to discuss the experience. Those who have experience with a practice will be encouraged to share their experience with it over time. The practices I will offer are: lectio divina, centering prayer, breath prayer, the labyrinth, the rosary, chant and movement and the daily office from the Book of Common Prayer. As always, there will be time to simply rest and reads and pray and, if that is God's gift to you, take a nap. The Men's Weekend is a time to get away and be together in a different way and through this, to build deeper relationships. I would hope that each participant would come away with one or two new disciples to incorporate as a part of their rule of life for this stage of their journey to God's heart. Registration forms are found on the patio on Sundays. The cost is $200 for a private room and $165 for semi-private (shared with one other person) and this includes five meals and a party on Saturday night. Space is limited so you are encouraged to respond soon. "Now when Jesus heard this (the story of the martyrdom of the Baptist), he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him…When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a lonely place and the day is now over, send the crowds away…'" (From Matthew 14) Come away for a time apart and find rest for your soul and renewal for your spirit…
Copyright © 2006 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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