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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 21st 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., has been on staff at Oasis Ministries since 1996, and serves as a lead teacher for the Spiritual Direction program and the Contemplative Living program.  Nancy is a clinical psychologist, but focuses now on retreat leadership and spiritual direction.  She is the author of Decision-Making and Spiritual Discernment: the art of Finding Your Way. Link to Nancy's website

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. Jo Ann has been part of the faculty of Oasis Ministries since 2001.

Melissa Stock received her training through Oasis’ Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides. She also completed three years of Spiritual Formation and two of Ignatian Spiritual Direction Training at the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation. Melissa is active in retreat leadership, spiritual direction, and Taize worship.

Ruth Zeiders has a practice in spiritual direction, reiki, and TriYoga® in Bloomsburg, PA. She completed the Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides and Deepening Year for Direction Ministries programs of Oasis and has served as staff for SDSG since 2005. Ruth earned an MBA in finance and worked in administration at Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College. She is married to a Lutheran pastor. They share a love of hiking, gardening, contemplative prayer, and time with the families of their five children and eight grandchildren.

Dates -- 2011-2012 Year

YEAR I

OPENING RETREAT
10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 6, 2011
through 3:00 p.m., Friday, October 7, 2011

MONTHLY SESSIONS (Thursdays)
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Nov. 3, Dec. 1, 2011
Jan. 5, Feb. 2, Mar. 1, Mar. 29, 2012

CLOSING RETREAT
10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 3, 2012
through 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 4, 2012
 

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

  ~ Fern Gaffey

OPENING RETREAT
10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 4, 2011
through 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 5, 2011

MONTHLY SESSIONS (Wednesdays)
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Nov. 2, Nov. 30, 2011
Jan. 4, Feb. 1, Feb. 29, Mar. 28, 2012

CLOSING RETREAT
10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 1, 2012
through 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 2, 2012
 

“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: $1,990
Plus Application Fee of $200 (non-refundable after September 1*) sent with registration form (attached).
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 $398 due within two weeks of your acceptance into the program 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, with no application fee]

Participants are asked to pay for and attend all sessions.

Payments by MasterCard/Visa/Discover are welcome.
*The Application Fee less $50 is refundable if withdrawing prior to September 1, 2011.

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 2011-2012 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