Retreat Designs and Meditation Exercises

With Guidelines for Retreat Leaders and Covenant Groups

Suzanne G. Farnham

• Publisher: Morehouse Publishing
• Year: 1994
• Print ISBN: 9780819216212
• eBook ISBN: 9780819224828
• Topic: Theology & Religion

A practical guide to planning spiritual retreats.

Step-by-step retreat designs, accompanying meditation exercises, and leader's guidelines based on the bestseller Listening Hearts, are presented in this unique resource. Songs, from the Listening Hearts Songbook, specially-planned Eucharists, Scripture readings, meaningful projects, and meditation options are arranged to result in a Spirit-filled community bonding.

Retreats designed to

• Create an atmosphere that will develop a sense of the meaning and value of spiritual community.
• Present a variety of opportunities to reflect on God's call to each participant.
• Allow retreatants time to present centered in God.

Retreat Designs and Meditation Exercises can be used with other Listening Hearts series books: Listening Hearts, Grounded in God (Revised Edition ), and the Manual for Discussion Leaders.

Listening Hearts

Retreat on Call, Ministry, and Discernment

OBJECFIVES

To spend time present to God.
To reflect on call, ministry, and discernment as they relate to our own lives.
To deepen the bonds of Christian community.

CONTENTS

Orientation Session
Meditation Session	“The Introduction”
Meditation Session	“Call and Ministry”
Meditation Session	“Discernment”
Meditation Session	“Helpful Conditions”
Meditation Session	“Is It God Speaking?”

Closing Eucharist

Great Thanksgiving:

Invitation Pilgrims

Feedback Form

Supplies Checklist

Introductory Segment For Optional Second Retreat

ORIENTATION SESSION

Hymn
“Spirit, Be Our Spirit”

Greetings

Introductions

1. Please introduce yourself by name.

2. Then respond to a few of these questions:

What do you consider your primary work?

Do you ever hear God in silence?

Do you hear God through people?

Does God seem to speak to you through the events of your life?

Do you hear God speaking through art? dance? drama? nature? literature? music? your senses? your imagination? your dreams? your pain? pleasure?

Does God reach you through Scripture? liturgy? Communion?

Are there other ways God communicates with you?

If you do not want to respond to these questions say, “I pass.”

3. Nod to the person to your left when you are through.

Overview

SESSION: “THE INTRODUCTION”

Hymn
“Be Still and Know”

Exercise

Find a place in your heart and speak there with
the Lord. It is the Lord's reception room.

Words of Theophan the Recluse

Ware, The Art of Prayer

(Listening Hearts, p. 1)

In silence, slowly read and reread the above words until they take root at the center of your being.

Then feel the words within yourself as you focus on the flame that has been placed at the center of the circle.

Period Of Silence

Chant
“Stay Here and Keep Watch”

Shared Reflections

Thomas Merton Prayer

Announcements

Hymn
“Jacob's Ladder Sequel”

SESSION: “CALL AND MINISTRY”

BASED ON CHAPTERS 1 & 2

Hymn
“Jesus Calls Us”

Gathering Time

Exercise

Option A Morning by morning he wakens… wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord has opened my ear… Isaiah 50:4-5		Option B Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also… John 12:26
1. Select a quiet, comfortable space. 2. Take the circumstances of your daily life into your meditation with you, especially any question or issue with which you may be wrestling. 3. Silently say the above passage over and over to yourself, taking the words into your body, mind, and soul. 4. Eventually you may (but not necessarily) consolidate the passage into a few words or even one word. 5. Finally, let yourself fall still. • Take coloring pens. Express your feelings in colors. Express your feelings through the movement of the pens. It does not matter what it looks like; the objective is to communicate with God and yourself. You are not required to show others. When done, silently gaze at your drawing if time permits. and/or • Take pen and paper. Write a stream-of-consciousness passage, expressing your feelings in words without thinking about what is coming out and without concern about grammar, sentence structure, spelling or punctuation. When finished, become still again.		Use the above passage as a springboard for your thoughts, a place to begin, a reference point. Or select any small segment of Chapter 2 as your text. • Draw a religious symbol such as a cross, a circle, a butterfly, a river. Then sit in silence with your symbol as a focal point. Meditate on the text you chose. and/or • Select a hymn tune or some simple melody. Write a short hymn or song based on your thoughts and feelings about ministry, especially in relation to your own life.

SESSION: “CALL AND MINISTRY”

(continued)

Shared Reflections

Informal Prayers

Thomas Merton Prayer

Announcements

Hymn
“Lord, You Give the Great Commission”

SESSION: “DISCERNMENT”

BASED ON CHAPTER 3

Chant
“Changeless and Changing”

Gathering Time

Exercise

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will
counsel you with my eye upon you.

Ps. 32:8

…the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and
in your heart, so that you...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Dedication Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Using the Meditation Exercises for Private Prayer
• Leading Listening Hearts Retreats for Groups
• Listening Hearts Retreat on Call, Ministry, and Discernment
• Listening Hearts Retreat on Community
• Listening Hearts Group Rock Garden: A Self-conducted Retreat for 3, 4, or 5 People
• Leader Guidelines for Specific Retreats