Bucks Quarter Spiritual Formation, The PYM Spiritual Formation Program: Spiritual growth in a community of seekers, supporting each other on individual journeys.
Designed and facilitated by PYM Spiritual Formation Collaborative volunteers, this program represents a unique opportunity to energize and elevate your spiritual practice, to deepen your spiritual life and in turn, the spiritual life of your Meeting and Bucks Quarter.
The Spiritual Formation Collaborative hopes to offer this wonderful program in Bucks Quarter September 2017 thru June 2018 as follows:
Opening weekend retreat: September 29, 30, and Oct. 1, 2017 (Friday evening 5-9pm; Saturday 830am-5pm; and Sunday 8:30 am held at Middletown MM, 453 W Maple Ave, Langhorne, PA 19047
Mid- year: Saturday January 20, 2018 (9 am-5 pm) (Snow date January 27, 2018) Wrightstown MM, held at 535 Durham Road, Newtown, PA 18940
Closing weekend retreat: June 15, 16, 17, 2018. Fri, Sat, Sun, same times as opening retreat) Makefield MM held at 877 Dolington Rd, Newtown, PA 18940
During the 9 month program:
o Each person undertakes a commitment to a spiritual discipline for the entire program. This is a critical component of spiritual formation.
o Each person is a member of two groups: a reading group and a spiritual friendship/accountability group that meet monthly
o Through the nine months the reading groups (six to twelve people) gather to share, worship and discuss responses to readings from devotional works. These are books about spiritual experience, scripture, prayer, community, the Religious Society of Friends and ministry.
o Smaller groups of three to six persons within the larger reading groups are also formed and meet on another day each month, usually after a meal. They relate their on-going experience of the daily spiritual practice undertaken and other aspects of their spiritual journey during the nine-month cycle.
Jesus said, “You did not choose me but I chose you (John 15:16). Similarly, we do not choose our spiritual discipline; rather, we experientially open to discern that which deeply speaks to and calls us. In that way, our discipline chooses us.
There is a $75 registration fee (payable to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting) and the cost of books is estimated at $175*. Cost of books may be reduced by using PYM library books. We do not want cost to foreclose someone from participating. If cost is a breakpoint, talk to us about subsidizing a part of the cost. You can register by completing and returning the registration form with the registration fee to Susan Thompson 5 Briarwood Court, Newtown PA 18940. Phone 267-847-6396. To save your place in the program, send your $75 deposit by July 15, 2017.
Bucks Quarter Spiritual Formation Care Committee
Holly Olson, Coordinator, Bucks Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends; Lance Mervine-Middletown Monthly Meeting; Sam Hartman, Wrightstown Monthly Meeting; Clare Eggers, Yardley Monthly Meeting; Camille Turner- Middletown Monthly Meeting; Maike Haehle, Makefield Monthly Meeting; Susan Thompson Newtown Monthly Meeting(SFC); Dale Myrtetus Middletown Monthly Meeting(SFC); John Brady, Abington Monthly Meeting(SFC).
________________________________________________________________________
The Spiritual Formation Collaborative (SFC) of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting provides facilitators and helps to plan and conduct Spiritual Formation Programs for the PYM as a whole and for individual Meetings. The current members are: Wade Wright (Lancaster MM) 717-881-2279, Clerk, John Brady (Abington MM), 215/659-3438; Amelia Diamond (Abington MM), 215-677-2868; Jane Keller (Lancaster, MM) 717-501-4535; Diane Kesler (Newark MM ) 302-368-4706; Dale Myrtetus (Middletown MM) 215-244-2624; Mary Noland (Haddonfield MM) 856-795-8922; Charlie Randall (Media MM) 610-566-5170; Susan Thompson (Newtown MM) 215-968-0927; Wanda Wyffels (Abington MM) 267-918-3671.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Some reflections by past participants of the Spiritual Formation Program to evaluation questions:
Friendship/accountability group: This is where the intimacy was deepened and formed. We have gained so much from the interaction that we are continuing as an unprogrammed group.
Tell about your experience with the readings: I would never have put together such a comprehensive list. It was deep, varied and often provocative – great basis for discussion.
Has your Meeting benefited as a result of your (and others) participation in this program? Oh, yes! It has become more openly spiritual, more aware of each other and more energetic.
• Friends say that the meetings for worship are more gathered. The adult class has been a place of sharing readings.
• My ministry is to continue to bring/keep sprit moving within the meeting through my work on the Worship and Ministry Committee and to nurture individuals, both spiritually and emotionally.
• It has come clear to me that I am in the right place and the way opened for me to be exactly where I am in the life of the Meeting as clerk of the Finance Committee.
—————————————————————————————————————————-
Your presence is important! Each and every person adds depth and strength. PLEASE REGISTER SOON
Name: ________________________________________ Special dietary needs: ______________________________
Address: ______________________________________ Phone: __________________Email:___________________
Monthly Meeting: ________________________ Enclosed is a check (payable to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting) for $75 (registration fee). *Cost of books may be reduced by using PYM library books.
______Please let us now if you need child care no later than July 15, 2017
Please send check with this form to Susan Thompson 5 Briarwood Ct, Newtown PA 18940 no later than September 1, 2017. No refunds after September 9, 2017
