Spiritual Formation
Spiritual Formation group,
Leaven Center, 2005
This includes participation in a local group and attendance at both an opening and closing retreat along with members of other spiritual nurture groups.
For more general information on the program, please view this Brochure for Spiritual Formation, saved as a pdf file. For the 2010-2011 program, use the Flier and Registration Form for 2010-2011 Spiritual Formation Program.
Please check the LEYM News link (see left sidebar) for more information on upcoming events.
Through the retreats and regular local group meetings, participants create with one another a close faith community for spiritual growth, mutual support, and encouragement.
The group provides a structured, supportive community in which each member can discern the divine call and prepare to follow it.
LEYM Spiritual Formation Program 2011-2012
Retreat Leader: Richard LeeRetreat Theme: TBA
Fall Retreat September 9-11, 2011: Weber Retreat Center, Adrian, MI
Spring Retreat May 5, 2012: If you think your meeting might be interested in hosting this one-day retreat, please contact Mathilda Navias at galaxy@woh.rr.com
More information on the program will be posted later. Please check back.
LEYM Spiritual Formation Program 2010-2011
Retreat Leader: Patricia ThomasRetreat Theme: Companions Along the Way
September 10th-12th 2010: Weber Retreat Center: Adrian, MI
May 7th 2011: Location TBD
Get Flier and Registration Form
If you think of our spiritual/human lives as a journey, then ‘companions’ include the other people (Friends, friends, parents, mentors, etc) as well as the disciplines and scripture and writings from other faith traditions we can draw from. It also encompasses spiritual activities such as physical activity, meditation, prayer, art, music…
Patricia (Cartwright) Thomas grew up in Ann Arbor Friends Meeting and served as the first Presiding Clerk of the Junior Lake Erie YM. She has held clerking positions in many of our Quaker organizations including committees of FWCC, LEYM, Ministry & Counsel of Wilmington Yearly Meeting, Campus Monthly Meeting and Clerk of the Board of Advisers of the Earlham School of Religion (ESR). Patricia graduated from ESR with a Master of Ministry degree in 1990, and then was pastor at Chester Friends Meeting , WesternYearly Meeting (WYM( for four years following which she served as Campus Minister at Wilmington College until moving to London to be the Assistant General Secretary for FWCC after the death of her first husband. Patricia has been both coordinator and leader for workshops in Quarterly and Yearly Meeting gatherings as well as teaching Introduction to the Bible, Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline, Personal Spirituality and Exploring Christianity at Chatfield College and Wilmington College. Her membership is with Campus Friends Meeting, a bridge meeting with membership in both Western Yearly Meeting and Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting.
Overall Program
Who: The spiritual formation program is for anyone who longs or thirsts for a deeper spiritual life.What: The program provides a flexible structure for spiritual development. It balances between enough structure to guide and enough flexibility to be customized to individual needs.
When: It is a nine month program, with a kick-off (or renewal) retreat in the fall and a wrap up retreat in the spring. Both these retreats have participants from many Monthly Meetings across LEYM.
In between the retreats, local groups meet on a regular basis and participants practice a daily spiritual discipline. These spiritual disciplines are discerned by each individual.
Where: Local groups: Across the breadth of LEYM
Why: To share our spiritual journeys!
A shared journey:
• Gives us a shoulder to lean on when we need it.
• Helps us when we hit road blocks or detours.
• Gives us Friends to share our moments of excitement, joy, awe and wonder.