Spiritual Formation is the growth and development of the whole person by intentionally focusing on one’s inner life, relationships with others and relationship with the Divine.  It is usually accomplished through various spiritual disciplines and/or through the help of a spiritual friend or director.  For Christians, spiritual formation is the process whereby we become more and more Christ-like by opening ourselves and responding authentically to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18 

Another way of describing spiritual formation is that it is the process of becoming authentic, awakening to LIFE. 

“The glory of God is a human being fully alive.”  
St.  Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, 2nd century

At First Congregational UCC there is a sense in which everything we do is for the purpose of spiritual formation.  Worship, pastoral care, works of social justice and beneficence, building a sense of the church as true community in which everyone is welcomed—all could be described as actions we take into order to deepen our faith and move toward becoming the people God is calling us to be.  In a more specific sense, we offer the following activities/programs focused on spiritual formation:

• Prayer.  (1) Our Prayer Circle prays for those in special need.  (2) Through our Prayer Sponsor Ministry all children and youth have an adult Prayer Sponsor, someone who is praying for them daily throughout the year.  (3) And our Prayer Shawl Ministry is a small group whose members knit beautiful shawls, bless them, and present them to those in need of healing.
• Spiritual direction is a ministry offered by our associate pastor.
• Evening Prayer.  Our Taizé-style contemplative service takes place each Wednesday at 6:00 pm.  This quiet, beautiful prayer service includes meditative singing, intercessory prayer, scripture reading, and silence.
• Bible Study.  We have a regular Bible study each Sundays at 10:00 am (check for summer schedule).
• Caring for our bodies.  We offer Gentle Yoga classes each Wednesday at 1:45 pm.  Classes are open to everyone and offered at a very reasonable price.
• Pastoral care and counseling is available from our ministerial staff.
• Sacred Conversations.  Based on the work of Parker Palmer and Courage and Renewal North Texas, we offer a bi-monthly small group that focuses on practicing authenticity

What is spiritual direction?