Articles on Community
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Interfaith Reflections on Contemplation
As a peer group leader with Shalem’s Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups and Retreats program, my focus was on helping our associates to be fully present in the Presence through the many prayer practices taught throughout the program. Silence is one practice that plays a vital role in helping us to be fully present…
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Living and Leading from the Spiritual Heart
Do not forget that you servea Mysterythat neither you nor your father’s fathernor your mother’s mother began.And the laughter and the tearsthat accompany your laborare not bornof your clevernessor your holiness,but are reflections of the Mystery of Godin the still watersof the eternal lakeby moonlight…~ William C. MartinThe Art of Pastoring Nine years later, I…
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Five Gathered: A Reflection on Group Spiritual Direction
I had the bountiful blessing of making four very close friends this past week. It was not your typical friendship. Five individuals gathered together in faith, in silence, in prayer, and in profound empathy. The gathering was not by chance. No, something else, rather someone else, was at work — One I will call the…
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The Power of Fasting
(Roy is co-leading the upcoming Holy Week Fast For Peace with Rev. Dr. Margaret Benefiel) Fasting formerly was a common spiritual discipline dating back to Biblical times. The practice continued through the early church up to the Reformation. During the Middle Ages, however, fasting fell into disfavor as it became linked with excessive ascetical practices,…
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Growing Through Crossing the Threshold
When I began Crossing the Threshold two years ago, two things were apparent: I lacked a vital spiritual life and was overwhelmed by work. The two are interrelated of course and of serious concern for a pastor. My relatively new ministry at a Los Angeles protestant cathedral posed challenges as unique as that string of…