DESCRIPTION:

Spirituality has to do with receiving and participating in avenues of relationship between ourselves and God. We can encounter the large narratives of creation, redemption, and eschaton in the daily activities which are in the context of cultures and societies. Some regular practices are known to be "spiritual" --prayer, scripture reading, worship. Additionally, our daily activities at home, work, and play, the ways we relate to creation, world, cultures, and neighborhood, and our interaction with media and arts are all significant in our "spiritual" lives. The choices we make, the perceptions we nurture, and the practices we develop directly impact our relationship with God and our participation in the Holy Spirit's initiatives in and around us.

Ministry is about "shalom," the making whole of fragmented lives and communities. Participants will learn about the potential connections between the mundane and the holy. Church leaders can better nurture congregational life and mission if the graces and opportunities of daily life are known as the sacred contexts for our common life with God.

The class will meet for ninety minutes, twice weekly, for ten weeks. An optional overnight retreat will be offered (at student expense). Class times will include lectures, individual and group exercises, and reflective discussions of materials and experiences. Assignments will include readings, meditation, conversations, and reflective writing.

Chittister, Joan. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. HarperCollins, 1990.

Kenneson, Philip. Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Community. InterVarsity, 1999.

Class Reader.

Balswick, Judith and Boni Piper. Life Ties: Cultivating Relationships that Make Life Worth Living. InterVarsity, 1995.

Banks, Robert. God the Worker. Judson, 1994.

Clapp, R., ed. The Consuming Passion: Christianity & the Consumer Culture. InterVarsity, 1998.

Lewis, C. S. The Four Loves. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.

Peterson, Eugene. Take and Read: Spiritual Reading, An Annotated List. Eerdmans, 1996.

1) Attend and participate in all classes (20%). 2) Complete all reading assignments (10%). 3) Provide a reflection paper (200-300 word) due at the beginning of each class, on the topic of the readings; summarize the basic content of readings and describe your own reflections. At two sessions there will be two papers due (20 papers, 40%; see alternative in #5). 4) Term project: Choose one topic from readings and lectures for additional reading (200 pp. min.) and reflection. Write a 1200-1500 word paper that indicates interaction with class, texts, Bible, additional readings, at least two conversations with other Christians, and your personal reflections (30%). 5) Alternative Credit: An overnight retreat will be offered during the quarter. There will be brief teachings on "praying the Psalms" as a discipline for engaging prayer in daily life plus many hours for meditation and journaling. This can be simply for personal growth; for those wanting credit, a 1000-1200 word reflection paper can be substituted for 5 papers of assignment #3.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.