Oasis Ministries

Weaving Contemplative Practices in Ministry Together
by Kent Ira Goff
Endorsements Kent Groff has designed an excellent resource that brings together the whole picture of what it means to practice, with integrity, the presence of God incarnate in a fractured world where liturgy and life have lost their relatedness. Theological seminaries could profit from the interactive structure and content of this extremely well organized and creatively presented volume. — Melva Wilson Costen, Helmar Emil Nielsen Professor of Liturgy and Music, Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Author of African American Christian Worship.
From his rich practice in spiritual formation Kent Groff turns to the local congregation in this new book. He weaves a tapestry of life in the Spirit with the church’s functions of ministry. His sensitivity of soul and his congregational realism combine to make this an informing venture in Spirit-formed, lived-life mission. — Tex Sample, freelance lecturer and consultant and author of The Spectacle of Worship in a Wired World: Electronic Culture and The Gathered People of God. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Gathering Conversation Prelude: Honest to God Prayer—and Action Part I. The Soul of Tomorrow’s Church Chapter 1: Restoring the Soul: Integrity, Passion, and Wholeness Chapter 2: Contemplative Practices for Church Programs Interlude: Soul and “Multiple Intelligences” Part II. Weaving Spiritual Practices in Ministry Together Chapter 3. The Soul of Worship: The Liturgies of Our Lives Leitourgía—“Celebrating God’s work in people’s lives” Praying—and Leading Worship Discerning Ways of Worshipping Faith Stories-and the Worship Climate Silences in the Service of Worship Worship as Hospitality Chapter 4. The Soul of Administration: Contemplative Leadership Diakonía—“Administering to people’s needs” Discernment: The Soul of Contemplative Leadership Community Stories-and Administration Silences: Space for Grace in the Agenda Hospitality in Administration Prayer and Awareness in Church Business Chapter 5. The Soul of Education: Spiritual Formation Didaché—“Teaching by stories, questions, repetition, and example” Faith Stories: Multiple Intelligences Converge Faith Questions: Presence out of Emptiness Hospitality as Education by Example Prayer: Awareness as Learning Discerning as Learning Chapter 6. The Soul of Care: “One Anothering” Koinonía—“Living in community and communion” Silence and Presence: The Soul of Care Hospitality: Soul Care in the Service Prayer: Experimentation and Participation as Soul Care Discerning Love: Empower One Another Faith Stories as Corporate Soul Care Chapter 7. The Soul of Outreach: Both/And Hospitality Apostolé—“Being sent and sending” Hospitality, Reciprocity, and Simplicity Prayer as Global Awareness Discerning Vision—and Outreach Paradigm Story: Peter and Cornelius Silent Presence: Light and Salt Postlude: Finding Spiritual Direction in Ministry Resources Bibliograph Resource I. Praying With Scripture: Personal Lectio Divina Process Resource II. Scripture Sharing: Group Lectio Divina Process Resource III. Faith-Finding, Faith-Sharing Resource IV. Worship Interview: Re-inventing the Testimony Resource V. Space for Grace in the Agenda Resource VI. Meeting Space as Intercession Resource VII. Cross-Cultural Leadership “Retreat” (or Advent or Lenten Study) Resource VIII. Spiritual Wellness for Ministry Usages The book is written for interactive learning, reflection, prayer and retreat—especially with clergy and lay persons together, especially in board or committee meetings. You may adapt portions to particular needs: for a devotional reading at home or in a committee meeting; a discussion starter or program for a small group; a means of sharing between two friends—or for a leadership retreat. Features The Prelude, Interlude, and Postlude each highlight major “threads” woven into the chapters that follow or precede, creating a kind of musical tapestry. Prayers and prayer poems are interspersed throughout, so that ideas are counter-pointed by invitations to experience God’s desire for us. Leavening the Liturgies are sixty self-contained, practical methods for enriching five major functions of ministry (worship, administration, education, soul care, and outreach), related to the theme of each chapter—each one listed in the text as (LL #). Resources I–VIII spell out in more detail a few “Leavening the Liturgies” for personal life and community. A bibliography is included, along with a subject index. Rationale My passion is to make connections between spiritual practices and the nuts and bolts of community life—to draw from the well of Christ contemplatively and actively. “Contemplatively” refers to the title: The Soul of Tomorrow's Church, returning to the foundation of the church’s mandate: contemplate divine Love in order to love God and others (Deut. 6:4–5; Mark 12:29–31). Listen to Love, to love. “ Actively” speaks of the subtitle: Weaving Spiritual Practices in Ministry Together. After a year with lay folks in a contemplative program, a theologically articulate pastor said, “I was really skeptical, but I’ll tell you this is a really level playing field.” Contemplative practices open us to listen for God in the cries and joys of the world. [return to top]