Drawing from the Well of Christ
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"Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain."

Is. 35:6-7, The Message

Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides, now in its 20th year, is a two-year training program in contemplative prayer and spiritual direction. During the two years, participants will experience and learn to practice the disciplines of contemplative prayer and the art of contemplative spiritual direction. Through both years, participants will discover the richness of contemplative community, the intimacy of small group interaction, and the depths of contemplative prayer.

"At this time of transition in my life, the Oasis SDSG program has offered the opportunity for gentle gestation, quiet transformation, and a gradual unfolding moving me to further growth in God."

~ Arlene Hoyt

Location

"For a very long time I have been searching for something that was missing in my life. I found it in SDSG. It has helped me in my personal journey and in journeying with others."

~ Marie S. Rodichok

“The SDSG program of Oasis Ministries provides a great opening and deepening for any called to a deeper spiritual life and the possibility that you are called to be a spiritual companion for others.”

~ Keith Braucher

For Whom

"SDSG has helped me rediscover the moment—here and now—and celebrate in it. Being well schooled in delayed gratification, I am relearning to enjoy life as it happens."
~ Verne Greiner

The intent of the first year of SDSG is to provide experiences of contemplative prayer and training in the art of being a spiritual director. Participants are asked to have a spiritual director and, by January 2008, to serve as a spiritual guide for two individuals.

The focus in the first year is twofold: grounding participants in the Christian contemplative tradition, through readings (both classical and contemporary), class presentations on a variety of topics and prayer experiences, along with assisting participants in being a guide for others in their spiritual journey. Meeting days include a rhythm of teaching sessions, prayer experiences, community building, individual reflection, discussion, and small group experience. Central to our process in both years, peer groups of 4-6 people spend time each month in spiritual support of one another and in reflecting together on the practice of spiritual direction in which the participants are engaged. Each peer group is facilitated by a trained spiritual director.

The intent of the second year of SDSG is to provide opportunities to continue practicing the disciplines of contemplative prayer, drawing on a unique spiritual tradition each month, as well as further training in spiritual direction. Each person is asked to have a spiritual director and to serve as a spiritual guide for two individuals. Two reflection papers are also required.

In the second year, the rhythm of meeting days is very similar to the first year; however, the content of the second year includes prayer experiences and sessions devoted to key issues of spiritual direction, further readings in spirituality, psychology, and Christian mysticism, and two-hour peer group sessions (4-6 people) for spiritual support and deepening the practice of spiritual direction.

"Year after year, I look out at the faces of the new participants on the opening retreat day of SDSG and I see something of who they and how they are. 
Two years later, in the closing retreat, I look out at these same faces and they are not the same persons.  That difference, enveloped in the coming of love and prayer, is Oasis." 
~ Glenn Mitchell, Director of Training and Program

LEADERS:

Glenn Mitchell, M.Div., is Director of Training and Program for Oasis Ministries and a lead teacher in SDSG. Glenn has a practice of spiritual direction and retreat leadership in State College, Pa. He is a Shalem graduate and has particular interest in the intersection of spirituality and the arts.

 Nancy L. Bieber, M.A., M.S. a lead teacher for SDSG, was a psychologist for 25 years but now has a practice as spiritual director and retreat leader in Lancaster, PA.  A Quaker and a graduate of Shalem Institute, Nancy regularly leads retreats  for Pendle Hill the Quaker Study Center and teaches classes on prayer at Lancaster Theological Seminary. 

 Bonita Rose Collins-Hobbs, M. Div., is pastor of Mt. Zion Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, located in Darby Twp., Sharon Hill, PA. She is a graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary, a spiritual director, an ordained elder with the CME Church since 1988, and founder of "Uniqueness with Faith Ministries”.

Jo Ann Kunz, M.A., serves as a Senior Pastor at a non-denominational Christian church located in Lititz, PA. She teaches
spiritual formation/spiritual direction at both Eastern University and Evangelical Theological Seminary, as well as being a certified Enneagram trainer. Jo Ann has been part of the faculty of Oasis Ministries since 2001. She serves as a retreat and workshop facilitator, maintains a private spiritual direction practice, and holds a special interest in dream work.

 Melissa Stock left a career in early childhood education to pursue a life of prayer. She completed training programs in spiritual formation and spiritual direction at both Kairos School of Spiritual Formation and Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development. Melissa has also been trained to offer the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She is active in her congregation and throughout the community in retreat work, spiritual direction, and Taize worship. Melissa enjoys the arts, reading, camping, spending time with family, and being out of doors for contemplative exploration.

Ruth Zeiders left a career in finance to follow her calling as a certified spiritual director and reiki master. Married to a Lutheran pastor, she has a ministry in Bloomsburg, PA,
serving as spiritual director, offering reiki treatments and training, and teaching TriYoga®. Ruth completed the Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides and

Dates -- 2010-2011 Year

YEAR I

OPENING RETREAT
10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 28, 2010 through 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 29, 2010

MONTHLY SESSIONS (Wednesdays)
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Nov. 3, Dec. 1, 2010
Jan. 5, Feb. 2, Mar. 2, Apr. 6, 2011
 

CLOSING RETREAT
10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 3, 2011
through 3:00 p.m., Wednesday,
May 4, 2011

SDSG Year I sparked a fire I didn’t know I was ready to light.     

  ~ Fern Gaffey

OPENING RETREAT

10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 30, 2010

through 3:00 p.m., Friday, October 1, 2010

MONTHLY SESSIONS (Thursdays)

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,

Nov. 4, Dec. 2, 2010

Jan. 6, Feb. 3, Mar. 3, Apr. 7, 2011

CLOSING RETREAT

10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 5, 2011

through 3:00 p.m., Friday, May 6, 2011

“My growth in faith and relationship with the Divine surpassed whatever I thought upon first entering SDSG…Out of that came the call to be a spiritual director which has brought breath, joy and enthusiasm in my daily life and ministry.”

~ Linda Bonfiglio

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TUITION PER YEAR: $1,950

Plus Application fee of $200 (non-refundable after program begins) sent with registration form.

If application fee received by May 30:

                 discount $50 from application fee

If application fee received after August 30:

                 add $50 to application fee

The balance of first year’s tuition is to be paid in five equal installments of $390 due upon acceptance into the program (by August) and on class meeting days in October, December, February, and April. [Second year’s tuition schedule will be the same, except, since you are already in the program,  the first payment of $390 is due in June 2010.]

Participants are asked to pay for and attend all sessions.  Payments by MasterCard, Visa and Discover are welcome.

    If withdrawing your application from the program, the Application fee less $50 is refundable if withdrawing prior to September 1, 2010.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Some scholarship help is available. Scholarship is granted based upon scholarship receipts and requests.  Contact us after seeking assistance from other local sources of funding (like your church or denomination).

TO APPLY, OR FOR ADDITIONAL, INFORMATION:

• Click here to download and print a PDF version* of the 2010-2011 Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides brochure and Application form.

• Call 717-737-8222 to request a copy of the program brochure.

• Email your request to oasismin@oasismin.org.

* Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print the brochure. If you do not have the software, a free copy can be downloaded by clicking