Spiritual Formation
St. Paul's offers several paths toward Spiritual Formation.
These include:
Prayer and Meditation.
- Centering Prayer. Centering Prayer is a practical and simple way of preparing/disposing oneself to the gift of contemplation.
- Intercessory Prayer Group. This is a small group of individuals who pray for the prayer concerns of the people of St. Paul's
- Labyrinth. The Labyrinth is an archetype of a spiritual journey, found in many religious traditions in various forms around the world. It is a symbol of unity and wholeness. Its winding path, which takes us from the center and out again, becomes a metaphor for our own spiritual journey. St. Paul's has an outdoor Labyrinth and a portable indoor Labyrinth.
- Prayers and Squares This group makes quilts as a "physical prayer of comfort and healing" for the intended recipient(s). Everyone is invited to "tie a knot and say a prayer."
- Taize Worship Taizé is a meditative and ecumenical service with repetitive words and music and periods of silence. This practice allows you to invite God's presence to penetrate your innermost being. The Taizé form of prayer comes from the Christian monastic community of Taizé, France, which was founded in 1940.
Retreat.
St. Paul's normally offers Spiritual Formation retreats in the spring and fall and at Advent.
Study.
- Enneagram Classes The Enneagram is a personality system that teaches emotional intelligence and helps us expand our relationship skills with others. It describes specifically how we unknowingly separate from God, ourselves, and others. It improves our understanding of ourselves and others by clearly outlining what drives each style to act, feel, and think the way they do.
- Spirituality Book Club A new Spirituality Book Club led by Rev. Gail Williford meets on Thursday afternoons during periods when seasonal studies, such as for Advent or Lent, are not being conducted. If interested, please email Rev. Williford, St. Paul's Minister for Spiritual Formation and Discipleship, or call her at 713-528-0527.
- Studies and Workshops.St. Paul's offers spiritual formation journeys through studies during Lent and Advent and often in the summer. Workshops also are offered periodically.
See also Studies and Special Events.
For more information about Spiritual Formation journeys at St. Paul's, please contact Rev. Gail Williford.
