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KEY PEOPLE
Rev. Cindy
Garis, M. Div., Executive Director
for Oasis Ministries, serves Oasis as her primary call to ministry, encouraging all to a deepening spiritual life.
She is a graduate of Oasis' two-year program, Spiritual
Direction for Spiritual Guides, and has served
on the Board of Directors for over 3 years. She received
her M.Div. from Lancaster Theological Seminary (Lancaster,
Pa.), and is an ordained minister in the United Church
of Christ. Before her present position with Oasis, Cindy
served as a co-pastor for six years to a congregation in Lebanon, Pa.
She resides with her family in Dillsburg, Pa.
Email Cindy:
cindygaris@oasismin.org
Rev. Glenn
Mitchell, M. Div., Director of Training and Program for Oasis Ministries, is
the lead presenter/facilitator for Spiritual
Direction for Spiritual Guides, Deepening Year
for Direction Ministries, and Returning
to the Well." Glenn
served as a Church of the Brethren pastor
for 23 years in Maryland, Minnesota and Pennsylvania,
before transitioning his ministry to the area
of spiritual formation and direction in 2001,
and is a graduate of Shalem Institute. Glenn
has led a variety of retreats around the country
on themes of prayer, spirituality, spiritual
direction, nature and spirituality and the
interplay of art and spirituality. He has a
practice of spiritual direction and retreat
leadership based in State College, Pa.
Email Glenn:
glenn@likeafeather.com
Betsy Keller, (Administrative Assistant)
has served in the Camp Hill office for 4 years, providing
day-to-day support for the programs of Oasis Ministries. She resides
in Camp Hill with her husband, Dennis, a United Methodist minister,
in Camp Hill, PA, and has two daughters, ages 21 and 26.
Email Betsy:
betsykeller@oasismin.org
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Blessing Prayer
What is a blessing but a rain of grace
falling generously on the lives of those in need;
and who among us is without need?
May the Spirit touch your spirit (in this midmorning pause)
May this day be a pathway strewn with blessings.
May your work this day be your love made visible.
May you breathe upon the wounds of those with whom you work.
May you open yourself to God’s breathing.
May you honor the flame of love that burns inside you.
May your voice this day be a voice of encouragement.
May your life be an answer to someone’s prayer.
May you own a grateful heart.
May you have enough joy to give you hope, enough pain to make you
wise.
May there be no room in your heart for hatred.
May you be free from violent thoughts.
When you look into the window of your soul may you see the face of
God.
May the lamp of your life shine upon all you meet.
---Macrina Wiederkehr, in Seven Sacred Pauses
Rev. Dr. Kent
Ira Groff, D.Rel. (Founding Mentor)
is a spiritual companion for spiritual journeyers and leaders, a
retreat director and writer now living in Denver, Colorado. He
describes his work as “one beggar showing other beggars where to
find bread.” You can travel with Kent in Active Spirituality: A
Spiritual Guide for Seekers and Ministers, Journeymen: A Spiritual
Guide for Men and The Soul of Tomorrow's Church: Weaving
Spiritual Practices in Ministry Together. Share his passion to
communicate within and beyond ourselves in What Would I Believe
if I Didn't Believe Anything?: A Handbook for Spiritual Orphans,
and in Writing Tides: Finding Grace and Growth through Writing. Kent invites those with friends in
Colorado area to spread the word that he is available as a retreat
leader and spiritual companion. To
learn more about Dr. Groff, click here. |
TEACHING STAFF
Nancy L. Bieber, M.A., M.S., has been on staff at Oasis
Ministries for thirteen years, 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 Sacred Art
of Finding Your Way (September 2010). A Quaker and a
graduate of Shalem Institute, Nancy leads retreats around the
country and has taught at Lancaster Theological Seminary
(Lancaster, PA). Besides her ministry, Nancy finds joy in her
garden, traveling with her husband Larry, and spending time
with their four small granddaughters.
Bonita
Rose Collins-Hobbs, M.Div., is pastor of Mt. Zion
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 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.
Marc Oehler,
M.Div., LCSW, has been on staff at Oasis Ministries for six
years serving as a leader in the Spiritual Direction for
Spiritual Guides program and has served over ten years as
Associate Pastor for Congregational Life at the
Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township.
Marc leads retreats, does individual and group spiritual
direction and is a licensed social worker. He graduated from
Princeton Theological Seminary, from the University of
Pennsylvania School of Social Work, and trained with Oasis
Ministries' Spiritual Direction program. Marc and his
wife Nicole have two young children, and his joys include
playing with his children, reading at the beach, singing with a
folk band, and watching the Yankees play.
Melissa Stock has three grown children and three
grandchildren. She received her training at Oasis through
Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides, Years I and II. She
also completed three years of Spiritual Formation and two of Ignatian Spiritual Direction Training at the Kairos School of
Spiritual Formation. Melissa and her husband attend St. Luke's
Episcopal Church in Mechanicsburg, Pa. where she is active in
retreat leadership, spiritual direction, and Taize worship.
Melissa enjoys the arts, reading, camping, and especially being
out of doors for any reason.
Ruth Workman, Ed.M.,
M.A., is a Certified Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader, and
Certified Supervisor of Spiritual Directors. She earned a Master
of Education at Rutgers University and a Master of Arts in
Holistic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from Chestnut Hill
College. She has been offering Spiritual Direction since 1995.
In addition to her ministry of individual spiritual direction
she offers contemplative retreats at The Sanctuary, her home in
Stone Harbor, NJ, and facilitates spiritual direction groups at
Princeton Theological Seminary. Ruth retired from the Langhorne
Presbyterian Church in 2009 after 20 years of service as
Pastoral Care Associate. She is ordained as an elder in the
Presbyterian Church USA.
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
Deepening Year for Direction Ministries programs of Oasis
Ministries and serves as staff for SDSG.
Additional Leadership and Support
2010-2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Mike Mumma, (Chair) is
former
President of Cell-Con, manufacturers of high technology battery
chargers and battery assemblies, and continues to mentor the company
in his retirement.
Mike resides in Lancaster, Pa, and is a graduate of the University
of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio with a degree in Psychology and
Business. He completed the training in spiritual direction
through Oasis Ministries, hoping to one day teach contemplative
prayer and lead retreats.
Sandy Gordon
(Vice Chair) is a licensed clinical social worker who worked in a
large group practice for eight years before beginning private
practice at Capital Area Counseling Services (1013 Mumma Rd., Suite
302, Wormleysburg 17043) in 2007. Her previous experience includes
hospital social work, home health and hospice social work, and
nursing home consulting and social work. Sandy is a 2009 graduate of
the SDSG program and enjoys contemplative walking, knitting prayer
shawls and spending time with her husband, Richard, who is also a
graduate of the 2009 SDSG program.
Loraine Johnson
(Secretary) is a retired teacher of art in the public schools and
reading/writing in the Middle School. She is a fellow of the
National Writing Project through Penn State and a strong
advocate of poetry and poets. She completed
SDSG in 2007 and
DYDM in 2008. A member of Trinity Episcopal Church in
Bethlehem, she volunteers in the Soup Kitchen and serves on the
Vestry as a liaison to Contemplative Life.
Margaret
Hardy,
(Treasurer) is a graduate of Oasis'
Spiritual Direction for
Spiritual Guides program. She is a
spiritual director and retreat leader. Margaret also is a
Servant Leader on the board of The Anchorage, a contemplative
ministry based in Greenville SC. She has been a kitchen
volunteer in the Iona Community and a pilgrim to Taize. Clergy
renewal is a special area of concern and interest for Margaret.
Mike
Allwein currently serves as senior pastor at St. James Lutheran
(ELCA) Church in Gettysburg. Mike was ordained a Roman Catholic
priest in 1980 and transitioned to be rostered as a Lutheran pastor
in 1994. In addition to his Education and Divinity degrees, Mike is
a Board Certified Counselor. Mike completed the SDSG program in
2003. In the congregation, Mike provides pastoral support in the
various administrative areas, as well as their childcare program. He
coordinates and supervises their Stephen Ministry program. He is
married to Lois, an English teacher at Gettysburg High School, has
two sons and one grandson. He enjoys skiing and tennis, as well as
trying to get his garden grow more than weeds.
Sue Barley - details coming
Fern Gaffey is ordained in the Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC). Fern has a passion for the
mission of Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development. She has
completed the Leading Contemplative Gatherings, Spiritual
Direction for Spiritual Guides, and Deepening Year for
Direction Ministries courses through Oasis. She serves as a
Ministry Consultant for Oasis Ministries.
Dave
Harris, M.Div, D.Min., is a pastor, writer, teacher, spiritual
director and musician who loves to explore, play and collaborate.
Dave & his wife Penny have a grown son and a grandson. Both Dave &
Penny have been trained through Oasis Spiritual Direction for
Spiritual Guides I & II and enjoy working together on training,
counseling, consulting, retreats and working with couples. Home is
in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. Dave is an ordained Elder and Certified
Minister of Christian Education in the United Methodist Church.
Jane
Hoover is a member of St. Stephens Episcopal
Cathedral in Harrisburg. PA. Jane graduated from
the Oasis Spiritual Direction program and from the Group
Leaders program at Shalem Institute. Jane
writes, "My experiences at Oasis and Shalem have
helped me to grow in faith and prayer and in recognizing
the movement of God within the soul. I don't practice
as a spiritual director, but I do try, with God's help,
to be a contemplative presence in my communities. I
love gardening and working with animals -- things that
keep me close to the earth."
Sara
Jane Munshower is a native of PA, a 2010 graduate of SDSG, and
an ordained minister in the UCC. She graduated from Kutztown State
College and has resided in CT with her husband, Bruce, since 1973.
They have lived in Glastonbury since 1979 and have two adult
children. Since 1990, she has served on church staffs in CT and PA ,
graduating from Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS) in 1999.
Sara Jane also serves on a CTUCC committee for interim ministry and
the Board of Directors for the Spiritual Life Center currently
located in Bloomfield, CT (www.spiritlifectr.org).
She is practicing direction with three individuals and hoping to
receive more in the months ahead. Sara Jane enjoys a little golf and
gardening, lots of reading and prayer shawl knitting, and visiting
friends and family in PA . She is available for women's retreats and
church leadership workshops while not in a parish setting.
Kathy Spitzer is a United Methodist minister serving Arden UMC
in Martinsburg, WV. She graduated from the two-year program of
spiritual direction and offers spiritual direction in her area and
church. She graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary with a
doctorate in Spirituality and Story. In the past year, she published
Lenten Reflections: When Narratives Collapse. She lives in
Berkeley Springs, WV with her dog, Ebony; her two cats, Peek-a-Boo
and Spirit; and her two frogs, Kari and Kristian. She loves tennis
and golf and an evening of cards with her local friends.
Cindy Thompson is a graduate of Dickinson College, the mother of
five, and lives with her husband in Mechanicsburg, PA. She is a
member of and participates fully in the life of the Camp Hill
Presbyterian Church. She is part of the Red Cross Spiritual Care
Team and a volunteer for the Hospice of Central Pennsylvania. Cindy
is a 2004 graduate of the
SDSG program and a 2008 graduate of
the DYDM
class. She enthusiastically attends the
Souls on the
Journey monthly retreat days and numerous other
Oasis offerings because she has found them to be 'life-giving.'
Wayne R. Walker, Esq.
is an attorney licensed by the State Bar of Georgia and is the
Principal of Walker Nell Consultants, Inc. (“WNC”), a business
consulting firm. For three years, Mr. Walker served as Chairman of
the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity International, a then
$400 million plus global non-profit housing organization spanning
sixty countries. Mr. Walker led the twenty-seven - member Board,
governed 650 employees and turned the organization’s losses into a
reserve. Mr. Walker also held positions of corporate secretary and
chairman of the Executive and Human Resource Committees of the Board
during his eight year tenure. Mr. Walker has a Doctor of
Jurisprudence from Catholic University (Washington, DC) and a
Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University (New Orleans). Mr.
Walker studied Finance for Non-Financial Manager at the University
of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.
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Board Members Share Reflections
At the 2010-2011 Board of Directors retreat, directors were
asked to share a simple paragraph on their passion for Oasis, why
they participate in Oasis, and/or what Oasis is about that is worth
sharing with others. Here are their responses:
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